City to sue Sound Transit, WSDOT over light rail expansion plans

SEATTLE — The city of Mercer Island intends to sue Sound Transit and the state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) over the loss of access to Interstate 90’s carpool lanes due to light rail expansion, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports.

Since a deal was struck in 1976 during pre-construction planning for the freeway, Mercer Island residents — even when driving solo — have had access to I-90's high-occupancy vehicle lanes, however later this year when construction gets underway to add light rail across the I-90 express lanes, that access will go away.

The 14-mile East Link project is scheduled to open in 2023, with Sound Transit and WSDOT saying they are committed to staying on schedule. For the full story, click here.