Sound Transit’s Central Link, which runs from Tukwila to downtown Seattle, officially opened last month. The Redmond Reporter posed some questions to Redmond Mayor John Marchione, who is also a Sound Transit board member and proponent of light rail on the Eastside, specifically here in Redmond.

Here are the questions and answers.

Q: Do you think this will help cure congestion in the region?

A: No, Light rail is part of a greater transportation system that moves a large volume of people. This adds capacity to our roads for commerce and trade and our buses for more local service. We need a coordinated bus, light rail and road system to alleviate our region’s traffic problems. No one tool will solve it.

Q: How important is Light Rail this to the region?

A: Light rail is an important tool in creating a complete transportation system that moves people, goods, and creates access to services.

Q: How important will it be to get it to Redmond, the region’s technology capital? And what’s your guess when that will happen?

A: Redmond hosts nearly 90,000 jobs. With only 52,000 residents, Redmond is a net importer of people every workday. Light rail is much more efficient than cars to move that many people. Redmond needs to connect to the region to bring in employees. The region needs to connect to Redmond for its technology, talent, and trade. Sound Transit will arrive in Overlake at 40th Street Northeast by 2021. I am working for the line to continue to downtown Redmond, without interruption, shortly afterwards. The key is finding funding to extend the route to downtown Redmond.

Q: Have you ridden a light rail train yet and if so, what were your impressions?

A: I did ride on light rail during a test ride, from Safeco Field to Tukwila and back. It was a smooth ride. It was exciting to see the new development planned near the stations in the Rainier Valley and the ease to which we can ride to the airport in the near future.

Q: Has the city or Sound Transit secured any funding for a downtown station in Redmond? If not, do you have any funding ideas or plans?

A: No funding has been secured for the segment from Overlake Transit Center to downtown Redmond, except to complete the environmental impact statement and some preliminary design work. If Sound Transit continues to be successful, there is a possibility for votes to extend the tax in 2016 or later so we can complete the line to Downtown Redmond.