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Sound Transit mulls delaying Link projects to meet $35 billion gap
By Venice Buhain
Last month, just as the regional public agency celebrated the launch of the Link connection across Lake Washington, the Sound Transit board floated three different scenarios to help the agency take on its $35 billion shortfall over the next two decades.
The scenarios and options were considered at a board retreat in March. Sound Transit Board Chair Dave Somers, who also is the Snohomish County executive, said on April 23 that the board could have a formal proposal on the table in May or June.
Each of the three scenarios indefinitely defers building light rail all the way to Ballard, stopping either at Seattle Center or Smith Cove. Estimated construction costs to build the entire Ballard extension nearly doubled from $12 billion to $20 billion.
One approach would complete the light rail to Everett, Tacoma and West Seattle, though it would also skip one of West Seattle’s three planned stations. It would indefinitely defer building a planned line between Kirkland and Issaquah and a T Line connection to Tacoma Community College. Sound Transit officials say the West Seattle extension, which is scheduled to be completed in 2032, is the project closest to breaking ground next.
The second approach would build a new Kirkland-Issaquah line, and completes the Link light rail to Tacoma and Everett. But West Seattle and the T Line extension to Tacoma Community College would be skipped. Officials say this approach would emphasize regional connectivity.
The third approach would build out some of each planned branch of the regional system, but stop short of planned end points in Tacoma, downtown Everett and Alaska Junction. It would also start construction on the initial phases of the Kirkland-Issaquah line and the T Line extension.
As Sound Transit considers the options, advocates from Ballard, West Seattle, Everett, Tacoma and on the Eastside have all pushed for the agency to finish the light rail lines to their communities.
