Seattle’s long-awaited West Seattle light rail just got pushed back. Sound Transit announced Thursday, Aug. 13 that the West Seattle Link Extension is now expected to open in 2035, three years later than the 2032 date that has been in place since the agency’s 2021 “realignment.”
The 3.9-mile extension will run from SODO to Alaska Junction.
The timeline has shifted several times. The project was originally proposed for 2033 in the ST3 ballot measure, though 2030 ultimately made it onto the ballot. The date was revised to 2031 during the pandemic, then to 2032 in 2021. Now, it’s 2035.
Sound Transit says two main factors are behind the latest delay: cost-saving work and a more detailed look at construction timelines. After costs came in much higher than expected in late 2024, the agency launched a cost-saving effort. The project team identified more than $2 billion in savings, while Sound Transit’s broader Enterprise Initiative is addressing a projected $35 billion funding gap over the next 25 years.
The agency also determined that building a new light rail-only crossing of the Duwamish River will take longer than previously planned. Sound Transit says the two factors add about two to three years to the schedule, a timeline reviewed independently.
There is some good news. A new SODO design will keep Seattle City Light’s 230-kilovolt and 26-kilovolt power lines within the light rail project footprint, avoiding major work on 6th Avenue S. Sound Transit says the change should save more than $100 million and reduce impacts on nearby businesses and infrastructure.
The agency is also seeking approval to acquire 55 properties, roughly half in SODO and half in West Seattle. Sound Transit says it has contacted affected owners and will use a “vacant property strategy” to avoid leaving properties empty for long periods.
The full Sound Transit Board is expected to vote on the property acquisitions and funding August 27. Construction management services are planned for this winter, with major construction contracts expected in 2027 for the bridge, tunnel, guideways and stations.
Sound Transit executive Brad Owen called the delay “difficult news to share” at Thursday’s meeting, while the agency said it remains committed to delivering the project on a timeline it can confidently stand behind.
