Sound Transit has voted to delay Seattle’s planned light rail expansion to Ballard as the agency works to address a projected $35 billion budget shortfall.
After a six-hour meeting Thursday, the Sound Transit Board approved a revised spending plan that scales back parts of the voter-approved Sound Transit 3 package passed nearly a decade ago. Officials cited rising land acquisition and construction costs as major reasons for the growing gap.
Under the new plan, the Ballard extension will stop at Seattle Center instead of continuing to Ballard’s Market Street, as originally proposed. The agency will prioritize building a second downtown Seattle tunnel running about three miles from Chinatown/International District to Seattle Center—a project expected to cost more than $17 billion.
The revised plan also removes two previously planned stations between Seattle Center and Ballard: Smith Cove and Interbay. Despite the cuts, Sound Transit said it still intends to eventually complete the Ballard line. For now, the board approved $300 million for continued design work on the full extension.
Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss had proposed an alternative plan that would have built a shorter light rail line from Ballard to Westlake while delaying construction of the second downtown tunnel. Strauss, who represents Ballard and also sits on the Sound Transit Board, argued the tunnel should be a lower priority because it would largely run parallel to the existing downtown tunnel and serve areas that already have light rail access.
Under Strauss’ proposal, riders traveling from Ballard would have transferred at Westlake to connect with the broader light rail system. The idea was rejected by the Sound Transit Board in a 14-4 vote, with several board members arguing it could jeopardize other regional transit projects.
Strauss was also one of two members who voted against the final revised plan. He successfully added amendments requiring Sound Transit to announce by August 1 when the full Ballard line could open and to explore additional funding options (including a possible bond measure) if other financing solutions are not available.
Other regional projects remain in place, including light rail expansions to Tacoma, Everett, and West Seattle. However, the Everett extension is now expected to open in 2041, several years later than originally planned.
The revised ST3 plan ultimately passed with support from 16 board members.
