Challenge against Seattle light rail route dismissed

Sound Transit has said that a legal challenge against plans to run light rail vehicles on the I-90 over Lake Washington has been quashed by the Washington State Supreme Court.

Construction of the East Link light project remains on course to start in 2015, including a section that will take up the centre lanes of the I-90.

A lawsuit that was lodged against the proposed route has now been rejected, according to the project leaders Sound Transit.

The court ruled in favour of the project, citing documents from the 1970s, before the bridge was even built, giving priority to public transport when it came to the use of the centre lanes.

Sound Transit board chair and Pierce County executive Pat McCarthy said after the ruling: “Design work for extending light rail to East King County is moving forward and we remain focused on opening for service in 2023.

“We are grateful for the Supreme Court’s confirmation today (September 12) that the I-90 bridge was built with the clear intent to use the center lanes for mass transit.

“Our partnership with WSDOT will make this longtime vision a reality while at the same time preserving the current number of vehicle lanes.”




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