A number of issues merit clarification in the Oct. 8 Auburn Reporter article (“Mayor: Sound Transit reneges on promise to build second garage”) as well as the City of Auburn’s related news release.

Sounder commuter rail service to Auburn is a big success, with 900 riders climbing aboard every morning. In addition, more than 250 ST Express riders use the station each day. As a result, parking at Auburn Station — like every Sounder station — is outstripping demand. But as CEO of Sound Transit, I want to be clear with residents about what is included in the plan voters adopted in 2008 to handle parking, and also about the hard choices that have been forced on us by the recession.

Mayor Pete Lewis always has stated his belief, expectation and want for a second parking garage near the Auburn Sounder Station. I need to clarify, however, that I didn’t (and couldn’t) promise a second garage. My representations of the Sound Transit 2 Plan always have been faithful to what our board put before the voters, and fact is, Board members have yet to make a decision on future investments.

The Station Access Project that is mentioned on pages 6 and A13 of the ST2 Plan could conceivably fund parking expansion or other potential improvements to bus, pedestrian and bicycle connections. The plan establishes a flexible funding source that is subject to future Sound Transit Board decisions in collaboration with local jurisdictions.

Unfortunately, the board now faces hard decisions throughout the Sound Transit District due to the impact of the national recession.

Sound Transit tax revenues are forecasted to be $3.9 billion (25 percent) lower than assumed over the 15-year time frame of the ST2 Plan approved by voters in 2008. Such a severe revenue loss means hard choices have to be made at Sound Transit, just like they are being made by all levels of government, the private sector, families and individuals. Sound Transit is not immune to the recession.

It is my job as CEO to be transparent about the agency’s finances and to provide options and recommendations. It also is my responsibility to present the board with a proposed balanced budget that is equitable to the entire Sound Transit District. The ST2 Plan provides the board with several tools to deal with the current financial challenge. They include phasing projects, reducing project size and scope, eliminating projects, extending the project schedules beyond the 15-year plan and finding new funding revenue sources.

On Sept. 23, I presented a proposed 2011 annual budget and proposed “program realignment” and informed the board we are no longer able to complete the entire ST2 Plan within the 15-year horizon.

Both the 1996 and 2008 voter-approved plans contain the principle of “subarea equity,” which means revenue raised in a subarea can only be spent to benefit that subarea. Cities south of Seattle to the north Pierce County line are in the South King subarea, Auburn included. Although overall agency revenues are down 25 percent, the South King subarea is actually hit the hardest with a loss of almost 31 percent. All five subareas in the Sound Transit district face hard decisions.

The shortage of parking in Auburn is why we are working with the City and other partners to study options for improving access to Sounder, including possible parking expansions. The study has just begun and is in the early data collection and assessment phase. It is expected to be completed in 12-18 months.

Although the study is under way, our long-term financial plan suspends funding for the actual construction of future improvements in Auburn and Kent. As costs and revenue uncertainties are resolved, the board can evaluate options for restoring funding. Working collaboratively and creatively, we may come up with great solutions.

My recommendations for the South King subarea also suspend construction funding for two other major projects pending the Board’s evaluation: expanding the Sounder platforms to accommodate eight cars instead of seven, and even more unfortunate, the dollars for extension of light rail to South 272nd Street.

A round of public open houses has been scheduled for October. South King County’s will take place from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 27 at the Burien Library, 400 SW 152nd St. Other open houses, as well as a public hearing scheduled for Nov. 4, are detailed here www.soundtransit.org/News-and-Events/News-Releases/SIP-and-Budget-meetings.xml. Documents associated with the 2011 budget process and realignment efforts can be found here.

Sound Transit remains steadfast in its commitment to work in close partnerships with communities throughout the region.

Joni Earl is CEO of Sound Transit.