Sound Transit is on track to release its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) at the end of this month for the 8.5-mile light rail extension that will run from Northgate Mall in Seattle, through Mountlake Terrace, and ending at the Lynnwood Transit Center.

Currently Sound Transit operates light rail from near Sea-Tac Airport to downtown Seattle; the agency is currently building rail line and stations to accommodate light rail to the University of Washington, with plans to extend the line to Northgate.

Following release of the DEIS, Sound Transit will provide a 60-day public review and comment period, and host a number of open houses and public hearings on the document.

The Sound Transit Executive Board is expected to select a preferred route for the Lynnwood Link Extension late this year; the crafting of a final Environmental Impact Statement on the extension will follow. Construction of the light rail line and accompanying stations is scheduled to begin in 2018, with train service beginning in 2023.

The Lynnwood City Council will be considering two policy questions at its 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 17 work session.

The questions are:

Based upon the information available to date, does the City Council have a position on which of the three track alignments and station locations is in the best long term interest of the City?

In advance of the DEIS being issued, does the Council have issues and/ or concerns that should be raised during the response period?

City staff currently does not have a recommendation on a specific route alignment at this time.

A representative from Sound Transit is scheduled to provide an update on the Lynnwood Link Extension to the Mountlake Terrace City Council at the council’s regular meeting on Monday, July 15, 7 p.m. in the council chambers at Interim City Hall, 6100-219th St. S.W., #200.