For the Reporter<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The Sound Transit Board on Thursday unanimously approved changes to the Sound Transit 3 plan that will speed up Sound Transit 3 light rail extensions by two to five years and add projects in Renton, Kirkland and North Seattle.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “The public sent us a clear message: We want light rail and other high-capacity mass transit, and we want it as soon as possible. That’s exactly what the Sound Transit Board approved today (Thursday),\u201d said Sound Transit Board Chair and King County Executive Dow Constantine in a media release. “We’ll continue to work with cities, communities and other partners to deliver rail and bus rapid transit even sooner.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The final ST3 projects, selected following extensive public involvement, would build a total of 62 new miles of light rail with 37 new stations. The board’s action directs the projects to be the basis for the final documents the board will consider on June 23.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Light rail to Everett via Paine Field would open five years earlier than proposed in the ST3 Draft Plan that was released for public review in March. Extensions to downtown Redmond and Federal Way would be completed four years sooner, while the Ballard, West Seattle and Tacoma extensions would open three years sooner. During the delivery of projects the agency will work with partners to further improve timelines where feasible.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Other changes include:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u2022 Seattle’s light rail extension to Ballard would be completely grade separated on 15th Avenue<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u2022 A new light rail line between Issaquah and Bellevue would extend further to reach south Kirkland<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u2022 New facilities in Kirkland and Renton would be added to the Bus Rapid Transit on I-405 between Lynnwood and Burien that is planned to be among the first-completed projects<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u2022 A new station at Northeast 130th Street in Seattle would move from provisional to fully funded status<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u2022 Expanded Sounder commuter rail capital investments in South King County and Pierce County would increase system capacity, enhance service, and extend the line to Tillicum and DuPont<\/p>\n<\/p>\n