In 2023: Sound Transit introduces North and South of Chinatown International District alignments, in addition to 4th and 5th Ave options still on the table. While being proposed as more "hands-off" options away from the CID, they pose new concerns:

• Introduced no more than 3 months ahead of the announcement of a Preferred Alternative (March 2023), there simply have not been enough studies and analysis of North/South options impacts compared to the years-long review and community education about 4th and 5th Ave options.
• North/South options will include the removal of stops and potential connections from the existing Link station, which extends travel time and complicates transfers that "will mystify and anger riders of all incomes, backgrounds, and home counties for decades."
• The "hands-off" assumption about North/South's placement dismisses their potential disruption to historic Pioneer Square, which includes portions of the former Chinatown prior to early 20th Century displacement, as well as the northern edge of current Japantown, the National Register of Historic Places listed/eligible King County Administration building to the north and the former Immigration and Naturalization Services building to the south. 

RIGHT NOW: Our concerns with North/South options and our reasoning for continuing to Move Forward on 4th include:

• For CID residents, it’s a farther walk to N of CID Station on 3rd and James to get to other parts of the region
• The extra distance to get to transit from CID is difficult for frail seniors and those with mobility or neurological challenges, considering the numerous up and downhill slopes just between Pioneer Square and the CID.
• Loss of accessibility to transit for those using walkers, canes, and wheelchairs.
• In by-passing the CID, it isolates CID businesses from economic opportunities that was introduces during 4th and 5th Ave options in the first place.
• N & S of CID do not spare CID from construction impacts, considering the immediate proximity to historic Pioneer Square, Japantown, and the former Immigration and Naturalization Services building.
• Choosing 4th means the city can coordinate with Sound Transit on other major infrastructure projects at the same time: re-builds of 4th Ave. Viaduct, 2nd Ave. Extension South, Jackson St bridges, Main Street Bridge,
• Denny Transmission line instead of serially tying up the CID with one major project after another.
• Equity issue in that other neighborhoods benefit while CID does not
  4th is the only station that connects to the 2 Line and 3 Line and is closest to other transit modes (trains, busses, ferries, streetcar)
• 4th Avenue has been studied the most and is in the DEIS; the others are not and will require up to a year to do a supplemental draft EIS and public comment period
• ST studies of 4th Avenue have already reduced business and resident impacts and shortened construction time by a year

4th Ave Tunnel Station avoids 5th Ave impacts while North and South options extend travel times and complicate transfers and not without adverse impacts of their own!