The top three governing officials of the Sound Transit board today announced their support for putting a mass transit ballot measure on the November ballot. The full Sound Transit board may vote July 24 on the 15-year proposal, which will offer expanded bus, commuter and light rail in Snohomish, King and Pierce counties.

"This plan provides a mass transit package that is faster, better and cheaper than last year's Proposition 1," said Sound Transit Board Chair and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. "We can't afford to wait when we have the solutions to our transportation crisis right now. For the price of one tank of gas per year, we move forward with a regional mass transit network in three counties that gives people what they need most: an alternative to paying high gas prices. The best way to avoid the high cost of gas is not to buy it in the first place."

The Sound Transit Board today discussed a new 15-year option for expanding mass transit. The new option heeds the call for further light rail extensions while delivering a series of significant Sounder commuter rail and ST Express regional bus service expansions between 2009 and 2023.

"This package would achieve a 53-mile regional light rail system by 2023 while focusing on moving quickly to launch major commuter rail and regional express bus expansions," said Sound Transit Board Chair and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. "It responds to the loud and clear call we’ve heard for major mass transit expansions, while maintaining faster completion dates and a lower price tag than last year’s package."

The Sound Transit Board today heard the public’s latest input on expanding the region’s mass transit system. The Board thanked the thousands of community members who responded to the call to help shape the expansion options through 6,077 responses to a Website and telephone questionnaire and 4,015 written responses.

The input reflects a strong sense of urgency for expanding light rail, commuter rail and regional express bus service around the region. Among citizens who took the non-scientific questionnaire:

• 91 percent say it’s extremely or somewhat urgent to expand mass transit
• 81 percent say it's extremely or somewhat urgent to add more light rail
• 81 percent say it's extremely or somewhat urgent to add more commuter rail
• 81 percent say it's extremely or somewhat urgent to add more express bus

Public input provided over the next month on options for expanding the mass transit system will help determine how far and how soon the region’s mass transit system expands.

Starting today, residents throughout the region will begin receiving postcards inviting them to take part in the most intensive public involvement effort Sound Transit has undertaken. In addition to open houses around the region, community members can sound off on their views about mass transit through an online questionnaire and, for the first time, using touch-tone phones.

On Tuesday, May 13, the Joint Transportation Committee of the Washington State Legislature held a hearing at Sound Transit on a variety of transportation topics important to the Puget Sound.

The Sound Transit Board today moved to kick off a public involvement process seeking input on new options that would modify last year’s mass transit expansion plan to form a faster and lower-cost package.

"Again and again our region's residents tell us we face an urgent need to expand mass transit," said Sound Transit Board Chair and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. "These train and bus service expansions respond to that urgent call in a way that is faster and more affordable. I urge people to get involved and let us know what they think about this proposal."

More than 9,000 people responded to Sound Transit’s call for public feedback to help shape the future of mass transit in the Puget Sound region.

"The strong response we received to our call for input shows the urgency people feel about expanding our regional transit system," said Sound Transit Board Chair and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. "With light rail on track to open next year from Seattle to the airport we are making progress on regional transit, but people want more expansion in the years ahead. The public input we received will help the Sound Transit Board identify the top priorities for a revised plan."

Sound Transit today asked Puget Sound residents to shape the future of mass transit in this region.

Postcards will start arriving in people’s mailboxes across the region today inviting ideas and views on improving transit through an online survey. The survey will help Sound Transit decide how best to tackle increasingly poor commuting conditions with the right expansions of regional light rail, commuter rail and express bus service and infrastructure.