Sound Transit is expected to make a decision in April 2015 regarding light rail station locations in the Northgate to Lynnwood extension. One station being considered is a NE 130th Street Station at NE 130th and I-5. The proposed 130th Street station would not have a parking structure and would rely on walkers, bikers, transit riders and a proposed Bitter Lake-Lake City METRO bus connection. Planned future cycle tracks in the area would also feed to the station. Service at the station would be scheduled to start in 2023.A NE 130th station:
- Would ensure better access for Lake City and Bitterlake riders. The 130th/125th corridor has far greater capacity and shorter distance to Lake City and Bitterlake, two underserved and dense communities in the northernmost part of Seattle. A new bus route could easily and efficiently serve both communities with quick access to light rail without the delays and congestion on NE 145th and Northgate Way.
- Promote more walking and biking to light rail. Many Haller Lake and Pinehurst commuters in the walkshed of a NE 130th station would easily be able to walk to light rail at NE 130th when they would otherwise need to drive or take a bus to the Northgate or NE 145th stations. This would reduce pressure on demand for building expensive parking garages at both the Northgate and NE 145th stations.
- Would increase ridership on LINK light rail.
While this project is relatively inexpensive (about $25 million) compared with other stations and Sound Transit has been coming in significantly under budget, what I have been able to learn so far is that Seattle and Sound Transit decision makers are leaning toward not recommending a NE 130th Street station. However, nothing is yet final and an extremely strong showing of community and business support can impact this decision. Now is the time to show your support.
You can show your support by emailing the following and sharing your support for commitment to a LINK light rail station at NE 130th to open in 2013:
Sound Transit Board: EmailTheBoard@soundtransit.org
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray: ed.murray@seattle.gov
Seattle Councilmember Tom Rasmusen: tom.rasmussen@seatle.gov
Seattle Councilmember Mike O’Brien: mike.obrien@seattle.gov
King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski: rod.dembowski@kingcounty.gov
Director Seattle Department of Transportation, Scott Kubly: scott.kubly@seattle.gov
Director King County METRO, Kevin Desmond: kevin.desmond@kingcounty.govFor more information:
130th Station Informational Flyer
http://seattletransitblog.com/
http://lakecitylive.net/2013/
http://council.seattle.gov/
http://www.soundtransit.org/
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray: ed.murray@seattle.gov
Seattle Councilmember Tom Rasmusen: tom.rasmussen@seatle.gov
Seattle Councilmember Mike O’Brien: mike.obrien@seattle.gov
King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski: rod.dembowski@kingcounty.gov
Director Seattle Department of Transportation, Scott Kubly: scott.kubly@seattle.gov
Director King County METRO, Kevin Desmond: kevin.desmond@kingcounty.govFor more information:
130th Station Informational Flyer
http://seattletransitblog.com/
http://lakecitylive.net/2013/
http://council.seattle.gov/
http://www.soundtransit.org/
If it were not for the inevitable zoning changes which would devastate every property on the doorstep of the proposed 130th St station, I would be in favor. But I live within a hundred yards of the site and I’ve been to the planning meetings and seen what’s proposed for the MILE radius around the 145th St station in Shoreline – edge to edge townhouses up to seven stories, and the leveling of all the mature trees in the area, and the paving over of all gardens. You might as well just burn my house down right now. And don’t preach to me about the greatest good of the greatest number – unless you are prepared to suffer the same consequences that I will have to. Thanks for the addresses – I will be writing to those folks for sure.
Emily – My house is in the walk shed as well and I live in an area that seems even more likely to be rezoned. I have thought long and hard about this and am willing to put my house where my mouth is. I fully support this station even if my home won’t be there. I want to see the community as a whole benefit.
To be clear though, Shoreline is leading the 145th zoning changes while Seattle is working on the 130th Street changes. All discussions to date have not indicated the type of zoning changes at 130th (if any) that Shoreline plans for 145th.
I think the city and Sound Transit should place very little emphasis on rezoning this property. I’m not sure what a compromise would be, but if they promised, say, that a rezone wouldn’t occur for ten years (to get the support of folks like e jewell) than I would be fully in support. I would go as far as 20 or 30 years, actually.
This station is all about the bus transfer (and it would be a great one). In general I support upzoning, but I think you will get very little walkup riders at this station. The freeway takes up a huge chunk of land. So does 5th, and there is no housing between 5th and the freeway. There is a park directly to the southeast. There is also the golf course, which takes up most of the northwest. As you get further down Roosevelt, there already are apartments, and people don’t tear down apartments just so they can add a couple floors. Even if the city decided to completely change the zoning, and allow Roosevelt style development, you simply wouldn’t see that many buildings there. I don’t think it is worth the fight.
Oh, and even if they did rezone it, there is no reason to assume that houses would change overnight. They could rezone my property to twenty stories, but I own it, and I’m not selling. I know most of my neighbors feel the same way, which is why a lot of property takes forever to catch up to the upzoning. The areas that change very quickly already had lots of (flat) rental property or parking lots. Remember what South Lake Union looked like? Not a lot of houses (and many of the houses are still there).
I would welcome that which reduces congestion on neighborhood buses traveling cross town through the Northgate Transit Center (NTC)on their routes. Depending on time of day and direction of commute, the buses can be full to and from the NTC. A light rail station would be an alternative to everyone congregating at the NTC then having to walk a couple of blocks to the light rail at Northgate. As a property owner, I’m okay with improved land values as long as the taxes don’t increase at the same time. I live close to the “new” Safeway at 15th &130th. I appreciate all the changes made including bus stop improvements.
I can’t welcome or show support for something that with current preferred choice of route, wants to get rid of a church/community center and many peoples homes. I don’t know why they feel the best route is one where they must displace a community and people from their homes. There are many options but Sound Transit feels the best one for some reason is running along the east side of the freeway and taking all the peoples homes who live there to build this route. They have come to my home gathered information and stated it was their preferred choice. I know myself and neighbors have told them no on moving but, sure they will get what they want.
This doesn’t change the route at all. The route is being decided separately by Sound Transit. It’s my understanding that the church is being preserved in the preferred route that they have suggested. http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/News-release-archive/Sound-Transit-board-picks-preferred-alternative–for-Lynnwood-Link-light-rail-112113
This proposal is to build the planned station along the line that is already being built. That line from Northgate to Lynnwood is already being designed to support a station at NE 130th St. They just haven’t committed to spending the money on it.