East Link Train Yard, Permitting Topics on Deck at Two Different Meetings

Two different aspects of Sound Transit's East Link project will be the topics of two different public meetings tonight. One meeting regards the potential locations of a train yard and maintenance facility, and the other concerns the standards and requirements of the permitting process.

The City of Bellevue provided the following information about the meetings:

Two meetings on Monday, Oct. 8, will deal with different aspects related to the future East Link light rail project. Bellevue’s City Council will consider permitting provisions for the light rail line. Sound Transit will host a public meeting concerning potential sites for a satellite light rail car maintenance facility. 

The City Council will consider a draft land use code amendment to provide clear requirements and standards to handle the complicated permitting process needed for the East Link light rail project.

The code amendment discussion will take place during the council study session, which begins at 6 p.m. in Room 1E-113 at City Hall, 450 110th Ave. NE. The council will not vote on the draft amendment Monday; a public hearing on the issue is scheduled for Oct. 22.

Also on Monday, Sound Transit, the agency responsible for building and operating East Link, will hold the first of two public meetings as it begins the process of identifying and evaluating where to locate a light rail vehicle storage and maintenance facility. Five potential sites have been identified, four in Bellevue and one in Lynnwood.

Sound Transit’s meeting in Bellevue will run from 4 to 6 p.m. at Highland Community Center, 14224 Bel-Red Road. A presentation begins at 4:30 p.m.

During a 30-day scoping period, from Sept. 21 to Oct. 22, the public can provide input on Sound Transit’s choice by attending a meeting or commenting on Sound Transit’s website at http://projects.soundtransit.org/Projects-Home/Link-Operations-and-Maintenance-Satellite-Facility.xml.

Sound Transit has scheduled a second meeting in Lynnwood, from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 11, at the Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 196th St. SW. A presentation begins at 5:30 p.m.