RESOLUTION ON SOUTH END TRANSIT HUB

WHEREAS, Due to wide-spread community opposition, the Sound Transit Board informally paused plans to move forward on a new Chinatown International District (CID) light rail station on 5th Avenue, and despite super-majority community and regional consensus on the second-choice 4th Avenue Union Station alternative, the Sound Transit Board voted on March 23, 2023 to adopt two new alternatives called North of CID (Midtown James St.) and South of CID (Dearborn Street) stations as its preferred alternatives, which require a new DEIS and project delay of up to three years; AND

WHEREAS, the Seattle Chinatown International District is on the Washington state and nation’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places Lists because of the long history of redlining in real estate and financing, harmful placement of large infrastructure projects, systemic disinvestment, and anti-Asian hate and violence; AND

WHEREAS, over the past thirty years, our region has committed itself to building a comprehensive network of fast and reliable transit centered on delivering connectivity and opportunity to the region; AND

WHEREAS, the super-majority of Chinatown International District organizations, residents, businesses and Region need and support light rail access; AND

WHEREAS, eliminating the creation of a south hub station between all services will degrade the value of all services because the number of locations that can be reached efficiently will decrease; AND

WHEREAS, the burden of bad transfers will fall hardest on those least able to afford it. Critically, for Eastside residents, the elimination of the direct connection to the Ballard-SeaTac Airport Line will add a severe time penalty for connections to SeaTac Airport and West Seattle; AND

WHEREAS, over 1200+ CID seniors of color with health and mobility challenges need close, easy access to First Hill hospitals, health care and clinics, according to ADA provisions; AND

WHEREAS, the CID is a major attraction and cultural home for thousands in the Seattle area, a Transit Hub in south Downtown provides regional connectivity and accessibility, yielding social, racial, and economic benefits; AND

WHEREAS, providing a station would provide disproportionate benefits to this community by increasing accessibility to its many businesses while providing critical connections to its residents; AND

WHEREAS, the benefits of a well-planned and constructed light rail system approved by voters in 2016 provide the maximum benefits for all; AND

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the 41st LD Democrats fully endorse light rail station construction that provides the greatest connectivity and accessibility, as well as social, racial and economic justice for the CID, an historically marginalized district of color that includes the last surviving Chinatown in the State of Washington; AND

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the 41st LD Democrats call upon the Sound Transit Board to build stations with the greatest connectivity and accessibility for the CID and the ridership of the Region.

Adopted by 41st Legislative District Democrats on July 24, 2024.

Signed by

Jeremy Barksdale
Chair, 41st Legislative District Democrats