What is a "Preferred Alternative?" Why doesn't the CID segment have one?
Alternatives, defined. Before a draft environmental impact statement is done, there is a long process called "scoping" which is basically when agencies figure out what the project is and how it can be built. They come up with "alternatives" which are ideas of where to put that project and what it will consist of -- in the CID segment, a tunnel for the trains that starts in SODO and goes north to Ballard.
Preferred alternatives: Usually, in the scoping process, one idea stands out as the best one from the point of view of the engineers and transit planners. It connects up better to other segments, or is easier to build. A little more study usually goes into those segments.
In the CID segment, the communities requested that Sound Transit study possible ways to build on both 4th Ave and 5th Ave. So NO PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE has been chosen. All ideas are on the table still.
[photo above taken in 1929, looking south along 2nd Ave Ext from Smith Tower. Courtesy of Seattle Municipal Archives, item 3454]
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