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Seattle-area residents are mulling several options to expand the region’s transit system. Later this summer, Sound Transit and the Regional Transit Investment District will hold public meetings to discuss three transit expansion projects. The agency is seeking feedback to help determine which project to include in the 2007 transit and roads ballot measure.

Under the first option, Sound Transit would extend light-rail service north from the University District to Northgate, east to Bellevue/Overlake Hospital and south from Sea-Tac airport to Kent-Des Moines Road. The agency also would extend Tacoma Link light-rail service to Tacoma Community College.

The second option calls for expanding light rail north from the University District to Mountlake Terrace, south from Sea-Tac Airport to the Federal Way Transit Center and east to Bellevue/Overlake Hospital or the Redmond/Overlake Transit Center. Sound Transit also would add Tacoma Link light-rail service to Tacoma General Hospital.

Under the third option, the agency would extend light-rail service north from the University District to Lynnwood, south from Sea-Tac Airport to the Port of Tacoma, and east to the Overlake Transit Center or downtown Redmond.

Meanwhile, Sound Transit and the Port of Seattle have awarded a $93.5 million contract to Mowat Construction to relocate roadways and widen a median to make room for a one-mile light-rail guideway between the northbound and southbound lanes of the Airport Expressway.

To be managed by the port, the contract is the first of three major construction contracts to be awarded as part of the light-rail expansion to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Scheduled to be complete in December 2009, the extension will open in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia.