I would like to correct a misinterpretation of Sound Transit’s position in a recent Herald story regarding state funds targeted for our Sounder commuter rail service (“Legislators prepare to weigh road and rail funding options,” Jan. 2).
The story dealt with planned efforts in the coming session of the Legislature to recover $46 million that was lost in the state Department of Transportation budget following the passage of Initiative 695. Make no mistake; restoring that money to the state DOT budget is of the utmost importance to this agency. The $46 million was designated to help fund signal and rail improvements to extend Sounder service from Seattle to Everett.
In the article, incoming Rep. Brian Sullivan (D-Mukilteo) was quoted as saying “we need to put that on a fast track.” In the very next paragraph the reporter wrote, “Even so, Sound Transit officials don’t believe the issue is urgent just yet.” In fact, no Sound Transit official ever told the reporter this was not an urgent issue for the agency.
Allow me to clarify.
I was the sole Sound Transit “official” interviewed for this story and was never asked about the urgency of this issue. Instead, I was asked if Sound Transit would be “going after” that money this session and when the agency would need the funds. I explained that our first priority was to complete negotiations with the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Railroad over use of their right-of-way. I further explained that the money was part of the state DOT budget and therefore it was up to that agency to seek restoration. Sound Transit will strongly support those efforts. I urged the reporter to call Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald for comment.
Sound Transit feels it is, indeed, most urgent that the Legislature restore the money to the Washington state Department of Transportation budget as soon as possible.
Media Relations
Sound Transit
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