At its Sept. 5 meeting, the Issaquah City Council voted unanimously to hold a public hearing for the Sound Transit 3 ballot measure, as well as to direct the administration to write a resolution in favor of the measure.

The $54 billion measure on the Nov. 8 ballot proposes adding 62 miles of light rail to cities in between Everett and Tacoma, including a line between Kirkland and Issaquah. Additionally, ST3 would provide new bus rapid transit service on the Eastside.

At the Sept. 5 meeting, council members heard a presentation on ST3 given by the CEO of Sound Transit, Peter Rogoff.

Issaquah Mayor Fred Butler noted that although Rogoff “has been CEO [of Sound Transit] less than a year …his leadership has played an important role in getting Sound Transit to this point.”

Rogoff said that in the next 24 years, the Puget Sound can expect to increase by 800,000 — the equivalent of another Seattle and nearly another Tacoma, he noted. The greater Seattle area, he explained, is one of the top 10 most rapidly-growing “mega-regions” in the country.

“You can plan for it or be completely overwhelmed by it,” he said.

Rogoff described how the goal of ST3 is not just to accomodate more population, but to add to the quality of life of commuters. With increased public transit options, commuters could make it home early enough to have dinner with their families instead of sitting in rush hour traffic.

For example, with light rail, riders could go between south Kirkland and central Issaquah in just 23 minutes, avoiding the rush hour traffic jams that are common to I-405.

The public hearing is set for the Sept. 19 council meeting. According to RCW 42.17.130 (1), there must be an opportunity for both proponents and opponents of the measure to voice their opinions before the council votes to support or oppose the ballot measure.