Despite the enormous environmental cost to Lake Forest Park (LFP) and the negligible benefit for transit riders (perhaps one minute saved commuting north/eastbound weekdays between 4 and 6PM), the Sound Transit (ST) 145th/SR522 Bus Rapid Transit project is moving forward, albeit with significant delays.
ST now says, “We anticipate starting construction in 2025 and ending by 2028”, suggesting that the timeframe will be longer than the two-years previously stated. On time and under budget is not Sound Transit’s motto.
CORE has already pointed out that traffic congestion will be a nightmare during construction as ST periodically operates only one lane in each direction of Bothell Way and creates detours through our narrow residential streets. But that’s not the perfect storm.
The perfect storm will arise because of other concurrent highway projects that will greatly magnify the congestion and public safety risks in our area (see “List of Other Concurrent Projects Affecting Traffic” below). Congestion on I-5 and Ballinger Way together with the disruption on Bothell Way will greatly increase “cut-through” traffic on our neighborhood streets. It would be bad enough if we were just getting a 17-foot high concrete retaining wall to replace over five acres of oxygen-producing and water-retaining trees at a cost of over $200 Million for dubious benefits. But now a construction period of up to three years will mean driver frustration and risks to public safety.
Even in the absence of detours, frustrated drivers will use “cut-through” means to reach their destinations. Google Maps and modern in-car navigation systems don’t care about the safety of neighborhood children when plotting these “alternative” routes for drivers, only how fast it gets them from point A to point B. And don't forget that 372 and 522 bus riders will not escape this perfect storm. 522 riders still have to connect to light rail at the Roosevelt station, not the much closer 148th station.
This perfect storm will impact more than just LFP, but also those in our neighboring cities of Shoreline, Montlake Terrace, Kenmore, Bothell, and North Puget Sound generally.
Consequences of the perfect storm will include:
Increased backups and delays impacting emergency response times and travel times for public service vehicles
Traffic rerouting planned by Sound Transit along with a far larger number of cars on Bothell Way, dramatically increasing traffic volumes
A vast increase in vehicle pollution resulting from slowed and idling vehicles, including over 5,600 industrial dump truck loads that will be transporting over 90,000 tons of dirt and debris through our area
Many additional frustrated drivers using our narrow neighborhood streets to “cut-through”
Does Sound Transit’s SEPA Conform to State and Federal Laws?
Washington’s State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requires agencies assess the combined effects of the proposed project alongside other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions. Based on these requirements, Sound Transit must evaluate the cumulative impacts of the Stride S3 line when combined with other current and planned projects as part of its environmental review. If cumulative effects result in significant adverse impacts, mitigation measures or alternative actions may be required (WAC 197-11-060, WAC 197-11-330, WAC 197-11-340, WAC 197-11-792, WAC 365-196-640).
Notably, three recent Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) prepared by Sound Transit for other projects each devote an entire chapter to the assessment of cumulative impacts. Those EIS reports all contain language along the following lines:
As defined in 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1508.7, cumulative impacts on the environment result “from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions, regardless of what agency or person undertakes such other actions. Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time. The public and government agencies need to understand cumulative impacts to evaluate a proposed action and its alternatives in a broad perspective, including how the project might interact with impacts that persist from past actions, with present-day activities, and with other projects that are planned but have not been built yet. A cumulative impact assessment can reveal unintended consequences that might not be apparent when the project is evaluated in isolation instead of in a broader context.
ST was required under Washington law to assess transportation, and a transportation report accompanies the 2021 SEPA environmental review. The SEPA, including the transportation report, was updated in August 2024.
They concluded that “No transportation impacts were predicted in the 2021 Transportation Technical Memorandum (TTM), and no transportation impacts are predicted based on this additional analysis.”
There was no consideration in the original 2021 SEPA nor the 2024 update of other concurrent major construction projects which will surely have adverse impacts. Washington law requires “the lead agency shall withdraw a DNS if there is significant new information indicating, or on, a proposal's probable significant adverse environmental impacts” (WAC 197-11-340).
CORE has retained legal services to understand more fully whether there is a legal basis to reopen the SEPA environmental review to provide analysis and mitigations for these cumulative impacts. CORE is encouraging donations to support this effort.
There’s a Better Way
CORE and LFP leadership have formally requested that Sound Transit pursue a cheaper, less damaging alternative that would preserve nearly all transit benefits: essentially just leave alone the .6 -mile section between 153rd and 165th on Bothell Way. This change affects only 8% of the Stride 3 route, avoids shifting the highway to the west, avoids the tall retaining walls, and retains over five acres of trees. Construction would take less time and significantly ease traffic congestion cumulative effects. For details, see our November 2024 blog post.
Show Community Support at the Feb. 13 City Council Meeting
It is commendable that LFP has lowered speed limits on our neighborhood streets, but how is the city planning to enforce them when hordes of frustrated drivers try to find faster routes?
Please come to the LFP City Council meeting on Thursday, February 13 at 7:00 PM to show your continued support for the sensible alternative and ask the Council how the city can help us mitigate coming the perfect storm. CORE members will present details about the perfect storm and provide an update on the legal review. You don't need to speak, but we are hoping for a large turnout.
Feb. 22, 2025 Update
Thanks to the community for the great turnout at our new conference Saturday, Feb. 22! KIRO TV news and the Seattle Times were there to cover the event.
Download the letter submitted from our law firm to Sound Transit:
Read the letter to the editor published in the Sunday, February 23 Seattle Times
List of Other Concurrent Projects Affecting Traffic
City of Shoreline roundabouts at 145th and I-5
Timeline: Construction of multi-lane roundabouts at SR 523/I-5 interchange will begin in 2025
Details: A long-term closure of N 145th Street between 1st Ave NE and I-5 (on the east side) was extended to early 2025, delaying utility work and roundabout construction. This closure impacts access to I-5 and the South Shoreline Light Rail Station
Impact: Ongoing delays and closures will force additional traffic onto SR 522 and surrounding streets
Timeline: May 2025 through early 2027. Based on recent reports, this project may be delayed to early 2026, which would overlap it with the S3 construction timeline.
Details: Pavement repair, seismic upgrades, and expansion joint replacements will require reducing I-5 to two lanes between SR 520 and Northgate in both directions. Northbound closures will occur May 2025 to early 2026, while southbound closures will follow from early 2026 to early 2027. Speed limits will also drop to 50 mph, and period month-long ramp closures are planned
Impact: These closures will divert more regional traffic to alternative routes, including SR 522 (Lake City Way and Bothell Way), adding pressure to an already congested area
I-5/McAleer Creek Fish Passage
Timeline: Mid-2026 through Fall 2029
Details: Fish passage construction at I-5 and SR 104 will require lane reductions and potentially interstate closures
Impact: Additional strain on I-5 will divert traffic to nearby roadways, worsening congestion in Lake Forest Park
WSDOT Lyon Creek Culvert Replacement at 35th Ave NE and Ballinger Way
Timeline: Summer 2025 to Summer 2026
Details: Replacement of a fish passage barrier on SR 104 will require a five-week closure of Ballinger Way NE at 35th Avenue.
Impact: Closures will further constrain traffic flow on Ballinger Way, a key arterial connecting to southbound Bothell Way and SR 522 and northbound to I-5
City of Lake Forest Park Roundabout at 40th Pl NE and Ballinger Way – construction of a roundabout will disrupt traffic along Ballinger Way and impact access to nearby neighborhoods.
Timeline: Spring 2025 through Fall 2026
Details: Construction of a roundabout will disrupt traffic along Ballinger Way in both directions and impact access to nearby neighborhoods
Impact: Increased congestion will spill over to adjacent routes, including SR 522
City of Kenmore/WSDOT: Swamp Creek Tributary Culvert Replacement Project - Swamp Creek Tributary Culvert Replacement Project will replace a culvert that is currently blocking the passage of migrating salmon and other fish.
Timeline: Construction dates TBD. Most likely early 2026
Details: Culvert to be replaced runs under HWY522/Bothell Way between 61st NE and 62nd NE
Impact: Ongoing delays and lane closures required for extensive periods on HWY522/Bothell Way
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