Public Interest Transportation Forum - http://www.bettertransport.info/pitf

Sound Transit's Environmental Requirements for Light Rail Initial Segment are Described in the Record of Decision

by PITF staff

As the opening day of Link Light Rail in Seattle drew closer, several environmental issues arose related to noise, safety, obstruction of views, neighborhood parking, and additional traffic congestion.

For example, KOMO's Bryan Johnson reported a story on new electric power lines that are required for light rail.

As another example,  Sonia Krishnan of the Seattle Times has reported on parking issues near light rail stations.

Still a third example is the noise from light rail trains experienced by homeowners in Tukwila, also reported by KOMO.

Citizens who decide to following up on environmental issues with Sound Transit need to understand Sound Transit's legal obligations as documented in the Record of Decision for the Initial Segment issued in May 2002.  This document from the U.S. Government provides a concise description of the Initial Segment project for Link Light Rail, as well as the responsibilities of Sound Transit for mitigating environmental impacts.

The reason for the U.S. Government involvement is that Sound Transit accepted $500 million in Federal grant funding for light rail from downtown Seattle to the Airport.

A copy of the Record of Decision without attachments but with government signatures is posted here in pdf. It makes reference to the steps Sound Transit must take with respect to the environmental issues listed in Appendix E.

Appendix E of this document is titled "Summary of Required Mitigation Measures for the Initial Segment of the Central Link Light Rail Transit Project" and is posted here in pdf (1.2 megabytes).

The following is a key paragraph in Appendix E for the attention of those who face environmental impacts that Sound Transit is not yet mitigating, including those that have never before been identified:

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Last modified: February 07, 2011

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