Bringing light-rail transit along Interstate 5 to Edmonds has been unanimously approved by the Greater Edmonds Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Approval took place at the June 15 meeting of the Chamber’s economic development committee, which proposed the endorsement to board members, who approved it.
“We understand the great value regional transportation is to our city, as well as to all of Snohomish County,” said Quentin Clark, chair of the economic development committee.
“We believe bringing light rail up the I-5 corridor is the best way to meet commuter needs and the savings will be considerable,” he added.
The Chamber’s endorsement of the I-5 path also includes:
• Support for constructing the Edmonds route directly north from King County, serving the high-demand areas — including Edmonds — that are most productive through Snohomish County.
This is in opposition to the proposal to start construction at the north end between Everett and Paine Field, eventually connecting to King County. In that proposal, called “the golden spike,” a gap in the construction of the light rail system through Edmonds would remain until funding becomes available.
• Opposition to a proposed amendment to divert light-rail service to Paine Field at a cost of $760 million more than the I-5 alignment would cost, according to a city of Edmonds staff report. The same report stated that “given the severe limitations on Sound Transit funding, this diversion is not in keeping with the mission of Sound Transit to provide optimal and cost effective light-rail service.”
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