Editing Sound Transit (section)

===Service expansion and ST2 plans===
[[File:Tacoma Link Skoda 10T car at Tacoma Dome station (2008).jpg|thumb|right|The first light rail line the region, [[T Line (Sound Transit)|Tacoma Link]], opened in August 2003]]

The first section of the Link light rail system to be constructed was [[T Line (Sound Transit)|Tacoma Link]] (now the T{{nbsp}}Line), a local [[streetcar]] that connects Tacoma Dome Station to Downtown Tacoma. The {{convert|1.6|mi|km|adj=mid}} line opened on August 22, 2003, and cost $80.4{{nbsp}}million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|80400000|2003}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars){{inflation-fn|US-GDP}} to construct over a three-year period.<ref>{{cite news |last=Corvin |first=Aaron |date=August 23, 2003 |title=Tacoma Link makes its debut |page=A1 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-tacoma-link-makes-its-d/161351040/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hadley |first=Jane |date=August 22, 2003 |title=Tacoma's light rail—1.6 historic miles |page=B1 |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Tacoma-s-light-rail-1-6-historic-miles-1122471.php |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref> A second commuter rail line for Sounder, the [[N Line (Sound Transit)|North Line]] (now the N{{nbsp}}Line), began service on December 21, 2003, and extended the network north from Seattle to [[Edmonds station (Washington)|Edmonds]] and [[Everett Station|Everett]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Velush |first=Lukas |date=December 22, 2003 |title=Sounder pleases crowd |page=A1 |work=The Everett Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-sounder-pleases-crowd/144148617/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref> Earlier that month, Sound Transit signed a 97-year lease of the track rights with BNSF for $258{{nbsp}}million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|258000000|2003}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars);{{inflation-fn|US-GDP}} the agreement also included acquisition of the [[Lakeview Subdivision]] for an extension of the South Line to Lakewood.<ref>{{cite news |last=Silver |first=Beth |date=December 18, 2003 |title=Sounder to start Everett run |page=B1 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-sounder-to-start-everet/161351259/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref>

Sound Transit began forming its long-range plan in 2004, which would include a new funding package for the remainder of Central Link as well as other projects to expand the rail and bus network.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hadley |first=Jane |date=September 24, 2004 |title=Sound Transit puts off completion of Phase 2 plan |page=B1 |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/local/transportation/article/sound-transit-puts-off-completion-of-phase-2-plan-1154944.php |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref> A total of 81 projects were included in the adopted plan, including near-term light rail extensions to the Eastside via [[Interstate 90 in Washington|Interstate 90]], north to Lynnwood, and south to Tacoma.<ref>{{cite news |last=Velush |first=Lukas |date=December 16, 2005 |title=Plan for Everett light rail survives |page=B1 |work=The Everett Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-plan-for-everett-light/161403493/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hadley |first=Jane |date=October 14, 2005 |title=Expanded light rail plan envisioned for region |page=B2 |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/local/transportation/article/expanded-light-rail-plan-envisioned-for-region-1185110.php |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref> The northern tunneled section of the original Central Link route was divided into two new projects in 2005: [[University Link tunnel|University Link]] from Downtown Seattle to Capitol Hill and the [[Montlake, Seattle|Montlake]] area; and [[Northgate Link tunnel|North Link]] (later Northgate Link) from Montlake to the University District and Northgate.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 2005 |title=Sound Transit Staff Report: Resolution No. R2005-20 |pages=1–4 |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/st_sharepoint/download/sites/PRDA/FinalRecords/2005/Resolution%20R2005-20.pdf |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Pryne |first=Eric |date=November 4, 2005 |title=North light-rail route gets top federal rating |page=B1 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/north-light-rail-route-gets-top-federal-rating/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref> The routing for University Link avoided the Portage Bay crossing but also eliminated a station on [[First Hill, Seattle|First Hill]], which had been deemed a risk to securing federal funding. To serve the neighborhood, Sound Transit offered to include the [[First Hill Streetcar]] project in its next transit package.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=January 23, 2016 |title=Streetcar wait over, and first rides free |page=A6 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/seattles-first-hill-streetcar-to-open-saturday-with-free-rides/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Times-Overruns2016">{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=August 21, 2016 |title=Sound Transit's cost overruns for first phase hit about 86 percent |page=B1 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/sound-transits-cost-overruns-for-first-phase-hit-about-86-percent/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref>

The second phase of the regional transit plan, a 20-year program named Sound Transit 2 (ST2), was adopted by the Sound Transit Board in May 2007. It would cost $10.8{{nbsp}}billion in 2006 dollars (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|10800000000|2006}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars){{inflation-fn|US-GDP}} and include {{convert|50|mi|km}} of light rail expansion, the First Hill Streetcar, and planning for further expansions to be built with outside funding.<ref>{{cite press release |date=May 23, 2007 |title=Board adopts Sound Transit 2 Plan proposing 50 miles of light rail expansions |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/news-events/news-releases/board-adopts-sound-transit-2-plan-proposing-50-miles-light |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Gregory |date=September 25, 2007 |title=Proposition 1: How much will it really cost? |page=A1 |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/local/transportation/article/proposition-1-how-much-will-it-really-cost-1250729.php |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref> ST2 was one component of the joint [[Roads and Transit]] ballot measure, which also included $7{{nbsp}}billion (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|7000000000|2007}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars){{inflation-fn|US-GDP}} in highway and road projects proposed by the Regional Transportation Investment District (RTID), which included areas in the three counties beyond the Sound Transit district.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cornfield |first=Jerry |date=October 28, 2007 |title=Is roads and transit plan worth the price tag? |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-is-roads-and-transit-pl/161404619/ A1], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-is-roads-and-transit-pl/161404628/ A8] |work=The Everett Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-is-roads-and-transit-pl/161404619/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref> The RTID had previously proposed a joint ballot measure for the November 2004; a 2006 bill passed by the state legislature required both issues to be on the same ballot, but allowed them to run separately.<ref>{{cite news |last=Turner |first=Joseph |date=January 22, 2007 |title=Two transit issues might merge |page=B1 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-two-transit-issues-migh/161404106/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref> The joint package—the largest tax proposal in the state's history—was opposed by Kemper Freeman on financial grounds and the local [[Sierra Club]] chapter for its road expansions; the proposal also found little support among major political figures and opposition from some, including [[King County Executive]] and former Sound Transit Board chair [[Ron Sims]].<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref name="Times-RT2007">{{cite news |last=Garber |first=Andrew |date=November 7, 2007 |title=Huge roads-transit plan gets trounced |page=A1 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20071107/elexroadsandtransit07m/huge-roads-transit-plan-gets-trounced |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref> On November 6, 2007, the Roads and Transit package (officially Proposition 1) was rejected by 56{{nbsp}}percent of voters in the three-county region; a post-election survey commissioned by Sound Transit found that most respondents were uncertain of the package's costs and tax impacts or were opposed to the high cost.<ref>{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Gregory |date=November 29, 2007 |title=Roads-and-transit package too big and too pricey, voters feared |page=B5 |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/local/transportation/article/roads-and-transit-package-too-big-and-too-pricey-1257143.php |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref> In response to the failure of Roads and Transit, a bill to expand Sound Transit into a regional transportation agency that was also responsible for highway development was proposed in the state legislature but died in the 2008 session.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lange |first=Larry |date=February 22, 2008 |title=Sound Transit expansion denied |page=B3 |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/local/transportation/article/sound-transit-expansion-denied-1265186.php |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref>

A standalone ballot measure for ST2 was proposed for the 2008 or 2010 elections, the latter after the scheduled completion of Central Link in Seattle.<ref name="TNT-Proposals2008">{{cite news |last=Wickert |first=David |date=March 25, 2008 |title=Sound Transit board weighs expansion proposals |page=A6 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-sound-transit-board-wei/161406325/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lange |first=Larry |date=January 25, 2008 |title=Sound Transit weighs new ballot issue |page=B1 |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/local/transportation/article/sound-transit-weighs-new-ballot-issue-1262606.php |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref> Ridership on Sound Transit services grew by 25{{nbsp}}percent from July 2007 to July 2008 amid a national increase in transit ridership driven by higher [[gasoline prices]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Wickert |first=David |date=September 16, 2008 |title=Sound Transit to expand service |page=B1 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-sound-transit-to-expand/161406637/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref> The increase in ridership and favorable political environment led to a push to prepare the ST2 ballot measure for the November 2008 election, which was expected to have greater turnout due to the concurrent [[2008 United States presidential election|presidential election]].<ref name="TNT-Proposals2008"/> In July, the Sound Transit Board voted to place a 15-year version of the ST2 package on the November ballot; its cost was reduced to $17.9{{nbsp}}billion (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|17900000000|2008}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars){{inflation-fn|US-GDP}} and would require a 0.5{{nbsp}}percent sales tax increase. The plan included {{convert|34|mi|km}} of light rail extensions that would reach Lynnwood, the [[Microsoft campus]] in Redmond, and northern [[Federal Way, Washington|Federal Way]] by 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=July 25, 2008 |title=Sound Transit sending voters $17.9 billion rail-and-bus plan |page=A1 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/sound-transit-sending-voters-179-billion-rail-and-bus-plan/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref> It also retained the First Hill Streetcar and funded additional Sounder and Sound Transit Express service in the near-term to address crowding.<ref>{{cite news |last=Turner |first=Joseph |date=July 25, 2008 |title=Transit tax heads to vote |page=A1 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-transit-tax-heads-to-vo/161406917/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref> On November 4, 2008, Proposition 1 (which authorized the ST2 plan) was approved by 58{{nbsp}}percent of voters despite the [[Great Recession|ongoing economic crisis]].<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Sheets |first=Bill |date=November 9, 2008 |title=Where $17 billion takes you: Buses will arrive first |page=A12 |work=The Everett Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-where-17-billion-takes/161407676/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref> The "pro" campaign raised nearly $1{{nbsp}}million in funds (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|1000000|2008}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars){{inflation-fn|US-GDP}} over a four-month period and used targeted campaigning to improve turnout among young voters.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=November 6, 2008 |title=How transit supporters closed deal with voters |page=A1 |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/lightrailinitiative/2008357499_soundtransit06m.html |work=The Seattle Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209150950/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/lightrailinitiative/2008357499_soundtransit06m.html |archive-date=December 9, 2008 |accessdate=December 22, 2024}}</ref>