Transit ballot measure up in the air

Sound Transit board members likely will not decide Thursday whether to place another transit expansion measure on the ballot this year, sources said Wednesday.

Members plan to continue pondering what projects to include in a second ballot measure after the defeat of Proposition 1 last fall.

Board vice chairwoman Claudia Thomas said a possible measure will be discussed at the 1 p.m. Thursday board session. Last month, board members expected to decide by Thursday, but Thomas said she doesn't think a decision will be reached.

"People (on the board) are still raising questions that need to be clarified and that kind of thing," Thomas said. "We don't feel it's something we can rush into."

Thomas said it could be later this month or early May before the 18-member board makes a decision.

The next two scheduled board meetings after Thursday are April 24 and May 8.

Board members have discussed putting a less costly measure on the ballot, possibly covering a 12-year construction period instead of the 20 years proposed last year.

They've debated whether to put a measure to voters again this year, a presidential election year, or wait until 2010.

Two environmental groups, Transportation Choices Coalition and Fuse Washington, are expected to present board members with petitions calling for a vote this year, but some board members worry the presidential turnout may also bring out more opponents.

King County Executive Ron Sims, a transit advocate who opposed last year's measure, has expressed reservations about submitting another measure this year "given the economic climate," spokeswoman Carolyn Duncan said.

But putting off another vote will drive project costs higher at a time when gas prices are soaring and "there's an insatiable appetite for transit service," said Rob Johnson of Transportation Choices Coalition.

Other major questions discussed by the board include how far to extend light rail to the north, south and east beyond the initial segment now under construction. Another question is how much in taxes to ask voters to approve.