InterIm CDA statement of support for North and South station locations for light rail expansion
Sound Transit has proposed four options for a new light rail station to serve Chinatown-International District (CID). No matter the option, there will be massive impacts on the neighborhood affecting businesses, residents and all who utilize, visit, work and live in the CID. The options include the following:
1. A station on 4th avenue south near Union Station
2. A station on 4th avenue near the King County administration building “North Station”
3. A station on 6th avenue south near the INS building “South Station”
4. A combination of both options #2 and #3 “North and South options”
InterIm CDA statement of support for North and South station locations for light rail expansion
ATTN: Julie Timm
401 S Jackson Street
Seattle, WA 98104
Dear CEO Timm, Board Chair Constantine, and other leaders,
Sound Transit is currently working on a proposal that will significantly impact our CID community for 100 years. We were appalled by the way in which both the original 4th and 5th avenue options did not adequately address the displacement pressures in our community that will be generated over time from the new light rail line. Significant amounts of displacement pressures are inherent to light rail expansions. These options added to the burden through significant traffic disruptions, road closures, and dust from construction impacts. In the case of 4th Ave. South, roughly 9 to 11 years of impacts will surely harm property owners, businesses, community organizations, and residents. Some people will be displaced from the community because of these construction impacts. Our values lead us to write our DEIS letter with a focus on physical, economic, and cultural displacement, along with other concerns for the health, safety, and well-being of the community members we serve. When the North and South station options were revealed, we were intrigued based on our values and the topics above.
We saw the potential for these new station locations to remove damage to the CID compared to the 4th avenue station location. The potential TOD development opportunities could also help push back against displacement pressures in the area and possibly provide affordable housing in a community where many are either living in lower quality housing or simply locked out of the opportunity to live near the CID due to cost. However, we still had questions for Sound Transit staff about various details of these options and the process overall. After our discussion with Sound Transit staff, we have come to this conclusion.
InterIm CDA supports the Sound Transit board in choosing the North and South station locations to serve our CID community. We are making this choice because, based on our values, we believe this is the best option for the community.
· This combination maintains regional connectivity to all three Sound Transit lines, allowing CID community members to utilize the 1, 2, or 3 lines.
· This combination keeps the stations accessible to and serving the CID, providing access to light rail for community members.
· This combination makes construction duration significantly shorter with significantly less potential impact due to distance. This will harm fewer residents, businesses, property owners, and community organizations and help reduce one specific avenue for displacement.
· This combination allows for a significant opportunity for equitable transit-oriented development and open space, benefits direly needed that could be utilized by the CID community.
These options have the potential to reduce significant harm to CID. In combination with the equitable transit-oriented development opportunities, these new options significantly impact addressing displacement in the CID related to this project.
This does not eliminate our overall concern about physical, economic, and cultural displacement related to any light rail project in proximity to the CID or in addressing past harms committed to the community. Many other details still need to be addressed to make these stations optimal for the community. Sound transit must act on the fact that it is working in a community at high risk for displacement and its own racial equity commitments. We still believe that even if the North and South station locations are chosen, there still needs to be a strong mitigation and community benefits discussion which, amongst other items, implements a Community Based Affordable Housing and Affordable Commercial Space Framework.
We look forward to the next phase of the West Seattle to Ballard Link Extension project and are proud of the community for making its voice heard. Sound Transit must reduce harm while still providing transit benefits. Regardless of the station location chosen, we will continue to work with the community and Sound Transit, along with other government stakeholders, to produce the best outcome for the community.
InterIm CDA