A Kemper Freeman-backed slate of candidates for Bellevue City Council won handily on election day, setting up a 4-3 majority on the council that opposes light rail through downtown Bellevue. (Prior to the election, when Kevin Wallace narrowly defeated incumbent Patsy Bonincontri, and Jennifer Robertson soundly defeated incumbent Mike Creighton, the pro-rail majority on the council was 5-2).

Yesterday, as Seattle Transit Blog reported, Wallace rolled out what he (and others on the anti-rail Bellevue council majority) hope will be the future of Eastside light rail: A so-called "Vision Line" that would run along the existing Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail corridor—right along the I-405 freeway and far away from downtown Bellevue, with its residential high-rises, office parks, and shopping centers.

Ridership along the downtown alignments preferred by Sound Transit is estimated to be four times higher than on the out-of-the-way BNSF route. In addition to bypassing Bellevue's homes and businesses, the BNSF alignment would skip over the South Bellevue Park and Ride, which is supposed to serve transit commuters. Supporters say the BNSF route would carry more traffic than Sound Transit estimates because it's closer to the freeway; additionally, they argue that it "protects residential homes and downtown businesses," as the Bellevue Reporter put it.

Currently, the BNSF line is not under consideration. The second choice of Wallace and his allies is an underground tunnel through downtown Bellevue—an option Sound Transit estimates would add as much as half a billion dollars to the cost of Eastside light rail.

Bellevue rail opponents like Freeman have suggested that the city council hold Sound Transit's permits hostage until they get their way. Light rail passed in Bellevue with 58 percent of the vote.

If you want to weigh in on what light rail will look on the Eastside, head to Bellevue City Hall (450 110th Ave. NE; 550 bus line from downtown Seattle) any time after 4:00 today for a Sound Transit-sponsored workshop on East Link.