FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sound Transit Board Selects Final Route and Stations 
Lynnwood Link Extension construction to begin in 2018

LYNNWOOD, WA (April 24, 2015) - On April 23, 2015, the Sound Transit Board of Directors selected the Lynnwood Link Extension light rail route and station locations from Northgate to Lynnwood. The City of Lynnwood would like to express appreciation to the Sound Transit Board and staff for their collaborative work over the past several years to select a route and station location that best fits the needs of the Lynnwood community. 

In 2013, Sound Transit released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement which identified three potential station locations at the Lynnwood Transit Center. With guidance from the community, Lynnwood city staff proposed an alternative station location that serves as a better connection to Community Transit bus service, adds pedestrian plazas offering improved connections from the street, provides multi-modal connectivity and mitigates impacts to the surrounding neighborhood and better protects the wetlands and natural environment.

"I want to commend our city staff for tirelessly working with Sound Transit on a Lynnwood station location that positively benefits our community, and thank the Lynnwood City Council for their support of this important work," said Mayor Nicola Smith. "Sound Transit is a crucial piece of our City Center plan and multi-modal plan, and it ties directly to our city's vision of being a regional model for a sustainable, vibrant community that invests in efficient, integrated, local and regional transportation."

The Lynnwood station is projected to have 20,000 riders per day. Trains will operate every 10 minutes during rush hour with lower frequencies on evenings, weekends and holidays. The station will have direct access to the corner of 44th Ave W and 200th St SW allowing people that live and work in the Lynnwood City Center a quick and easy walk to the station. The trip from downtown Seattle to Lynnwood will take 28 minutes. 

“Every day thousands of commuters from Snohomish County sit on I-5 while getting to and from their jobs in King County,” said Sound Transit Vice Chair and Everett City Councilmember Paul Roberts. “Lynnwood Link will give those commuters a fast, reliable trip every day no matter how bad traffic is on I-5.” Construction of the Lynnwood Link Extension is schedule to begin in 2018, and service will begin in 2023. 

For more information about the Lynnwood Link Extension project, contact Roger Iwata of Sound Transit at 206-689-4904 or roger.iwata@soundtransit.org. Or contact Lynnwood's Community Development Director Paul Krauss at 425-670-5401 or pkrauss@ci.lynnwood.wa.us. 

About Lynnwood City Center

Lynnwood City Center is in the only Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) Regional Growth Center along Interstate 5 between Seattle's Northgate area and Everett. City Center will provide new high density development, pedestrian and bicycle connectivity, streets, parks and open spaces. The Lynnwood City Center accommodates new population and employment growth, and is home to the Lynnwood Convention Center and transit opportunities including the Lynnwood Transit Center, expansion plans for Sound Transit’s Light Rail system (Lynnwood Link) and future bus rapid transit. To learn more, visit www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us/CityCenter.

About City of Lynnwood

Incorporated in 1959, Lynnwood is the economic hub of South Snohomish County. Situated at the convergence of interstates I- 5 and I-405, Lynnwood’s accessibility, variety of housing and employment options, colleges and outstanding park system attract a wide variety of businesses and residents. For its diverse population of more than 36,000, Lynnwood is a great place to live, work and play. Lynnwood Moving Forward: Our Community Vision – the City will be a regional model for a sustainable, vibrant community with engaged citizens and accountable government. Lynnwood is…a great deal more!

Contact:

Julie Moore, Manager of Communications & Public Affairs
jmoore@ci.lynnwood.wa.us
425-670-5023

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