Mode: Light rail
Project phase: Alternatives analysis
Milestone: EIS Scoping public comment period through July 17, 2013

Phase 1: Alternatives analysis (mid 2012 to mid 2013)

The goal of the alternative analysis is to identify several possible routes and station locations, evaluate their benefits and impacts and collect public feedback.

• Sound Transit held public and agency scoping meetings in November 2012 to collect input about possible routes and station locations (alternatives). The 30-day public comment period ended November 19^th.
• Sound Transit reviews data and input from the public and other agencies to analyze the benefits and impacts of each alternative.
•  Sound Transit Board identifies a short list of alternatives to examine more closely in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Related documents:
Alternatives Analysis Summary
Level 1 Alternatives Screening Report
Level 2 Alternatives Screening Report part A and part B

Phase 2: Draft EIS and conceptual engineering (mid 2013 to late 2014)

• Sound Transit completes conceptual engineering to learn about the technical issues and challenges that may come up with each alternative.
• Sound Transit publishes a Draft EIS that describes the benefits and impacts of each alternative.
• Sound Transit asks for input during a public comment period and records all comments received during this time.

Phase 3: Final EIS and preliminary engineering (early 2015 to mid 2016)

•  Sound Transit publishes a Final EIS describing the benefits and impacts of each alternative, and listing and responding to all public comments about the Draft EIS.
• Using the information in the Final EIS, the Sound Transit Board identifies preferred route and station locations (a preferred alternative) to design and construct. All Sound Transit Board meetings are open to the public.
• The Federal Transit Administration issues a Record of Decision finalizing the route and station locations and completing the environmental process required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
• Sound Transit completes preliminary engineering for the segment between South 200th Street in SeaTac to Kent/Des Moines in the vicinity of Highline Community College.