Come tell Sound Transit what you think of Tacoma Link Hilltop expansion plans

Sound Transit will hold an open house Thursday (Dec. 15) to give people a chance to review and comment on design plans for an extension of the Tacoma Link into the Hilltop neighborhood.

The open house will run from 5-7 p.m. at the Tacoma campus of The Evergreen State College, 1210 Sixth Ave.

People can review and comment on proposed station designs as well as proposals to screen traction-power substations. They also can suggest station names and learn about art that might adorn the project.

The location of passenger platforms might be a topic of discussion.

Some people who live, work and worship on the Hilltop have objected to Sound Transit’s plans to build passenger platforms in the center of Martin Luther King Jr. Way as opposed to on the sides of the street.

Anthony Steele is pastor at Allen AME Church, which fronts MLK Way. He told The News Tribune on Wednesday that he and others believe side platforms are safer and more business friendly than center platforms.

“We want the train. We just want it to stop on the side,” said Steele, who intends to make his thoughts known at the open house.

Sound Transit spokeswoman Kimberly Reason said the regional transit agency still plans center platforms on MLK Way.

The 2.4-mile expansion will extend Link service from its current terminus in the Theater District. The new line will run primarily along Stadium Way, North First Street, Division Avenue and MLK Way and include one relocated station and six new ones.

Construction is expected to begin in 2018 with service starting about 2022. Survey crews already have been in the area taking measurements.

The current Tacoma Link runs from the Tacoma Dome Station 1.6 miles to the Theater District and provides about 1 million rides annually.

This story was originally published December 14, 2016 at 3:09 PM with the headline "Come tell Sound Transit what you think of Tacoma Link Hilltop expansion plans."