I’ve written previously about the need to serve more of Paine Field with quality transit. After doing research on the proposed amendment to Sound Transit 3, or ST3, to accelerate light rail to Paine Field by 2036, I’m cautiously endorsing.

I believe that after taxpayers and tourists alike have paid for many years into Sound Transit to serve Snohomish County and eventually Paine Field; it’s only equitable that Paine Field receive light rail. However, I have a sincere concern that what must be coupled to light rail for Paine is a public commitment to serve the light rail station with bus routes to Paine Field’s educational facilities plus factories, the city of Mukilteo, and yes, nearby housing for maximum ridership.

Perhaps it could be better to revisit the cunning Sound Transit Planning proposal of “N-02cmod + BRT” of light rail to Everett Station in 2031; but with the trade-off of bus rapid transit or BRT for Paine Field. The problem is either new bus-only lanes would have to be built or general purpose traffic lanes converted to bus-only lanes for BRT to work. Therefore, I doubt many publicly share my enthusiasm.

So if you support light rail to Everett Station by 2036 if not sooner, please let the Sound Transit Board know at EmailTheBoard@soundtransit.org before their Thursday 9 a.m. meeting at Union Station in Seattle to decide the structure of the ST3 ballot proposal.

Joe Kunzler

Sedro Wooley