Before 1988: Forward Thrust and Corridor Studies
The voters rejected several bond measures which would finance rail and bus transit. Metro Transit was created. Metro Transit and the Puget Sound Council of Governments conducted numerous studies to analyze new public transit alternatives for the Puget Sound Region.
Feb 1968 Forward Thrust transit proposal (1st ballot)
Forward Thrust bond measure dedicated to financing a $1.15 billion Seattle rapid rail and bus transit
system fails to receive the required 60% super-majority vote.
May 1970 Forward Thrust transit proposal (2nd ballot)
Bond measure to finance revised $1.32 billion rail and bus system again fails at the ballot.
May 1972 Metropolitan Area Transit Plan adopted
Puget Sound Governmental Conference adopts an all-bus transit plan in response to Forward Thrust
votes, creating Metro Transit.
Mar 1981 Regional light rail feasibility study completed
A consultant study for the Puget Sound Council of Governments (PSCOG) assesses the potential use of light rail for heavily used transportation corridors, concluding that rail transit is feasible and warrants detailed evaluation.
Mar 1982 Regional rail evaluation begins
Based on the results of the 1981 study, PSCOG proceeds with detailed evaluation of rail transit in priority transportation corridors.
May 1984 Analysis of north corridor transit alternatives completed
Analysis of transit alternatives for the north corridor within King County is completed by PSCOG and
Metro, concluding that light rail transit and advanced-technology bus service in the general I-5 corridor are preferred for further analysis.
Jan 1986 North corridor transit analysis extended to Snohomish County
Analysis of transit alternatives by PSCOG, in conjunction with the Snohomish County planning agency Sno-Tran, is extended to Everett and recommends the use of rail transit in the general I-5 corridor.
Jul 1986 Multi-corridor transit studies completed
PSCOG and Metro analyze transit alternatives for King County's east and south corridors, and refine
analysis of the north corridor, recommending that a rail transit system be implemented by 2020 and that new transportation facilities being planned account for potential conversion to rail in the future.
Jan 1987 South corridor transit analysis extended to Pierce County PSCOG and Pierce Transit extend the analysis of transit alternatives in the south corridor to Tacoma, recommending rail transit as the preferred alternative.
Mar 1987 Regional Transportation Plan amended to include rail transit
Based on its analyses, PSCOG, the regional planning body, amends its federally required Regional
Transportation Plan to incorporate recommendations for rail transit in the north, south and east
transportation corridors.
Aug 1987 Commuter rail deemed feasible for serving South King County
Initial evaluation of using existing railroad tracks to provide commuter rail service in the Green River Valley of South King County concludes such service is feasible and should be analyzed further.
