Sound Transit bumps up timelines for next phases of light rail Draft plan pushes several lines ahead by years

The interior of the new University of Washington light rail station is seen during a Sound Transit-hosted first-look ride for the media from the University of Washington station to the Capitol Hill station, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. less The interior of the new University of Washington light rail station is seen during a Sound Transit-hosted first-look ride for the media from the University of Washington station to the Capitol Hill station, ... more Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Sound Transit bumps up timelines for next phases of light rail 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Sound Transit's board on Thursday rolled out an updated timeline for light rail expansion under the proposed "Sound Transit 3" plan that would move up several lines by two to five years.

The draft 25-year regional transit plan, carrying a price tag of around $50 billion, includes expansion of light rail to Everett, West Seattle, Ballard, Redmond and Issaquah, among many other projects.

But initial feedback after the first draft was released in March led the board to update the timeline, moving up the completion dates of light rail components of the plan and changing or adding to the plan in other places (see specifics below).

Changes to the timeline were announced at the Thursday board meeting, but will go up for final approval by the board at a special meeting June 2.

The draft plan has to be finalized by June 23 and voters will get the final say on the matter when the massive transit plan finds its way to the fall ballot.

Here are the updated timelines, directly from Sound Transit's release:

Everett via the Southwest Everett Industrial Center would open 5 years sooner, in 2036

Downtown Redmond would open 4 years sooner, in 2024, only one year following the completion of the voter-approved East Link light rail extension

Federal Way would open 4 years sooner, in 2024

Tacoma would open 3 years sooner, in 2030

West Seattle would open 3 years sooner, in 2030

Seattle's Ballard extension would open 3 years sooner, in 2035

The Tacoma Link extension to Tacoma Community College would open 2 years sooner in 2039

New light rail stations at Seattle's Graham Street and Tukwila's Boeing Access Road would open 5 years sooner, in 2031

Daniel DeMay covers Seattle culture, business and transportation for seattlepi.com. He can be reached at 206-448-8362 or danieldemay@seattlepi.com. Follow him on Twitter: @Daniel_DeMay.