What's Happening Now

Sound Transit Board Adopts Updated ST3 System Plan

The new plan builds Graham Street Station and light rail to West Seattle and Seattle Center, while charting a course to Ballard. 

On May 28, the Sound Transit Board voted to adopt an updated ST3 System Plan that addresses a $34.5 billion long-term funding gap. The plan includes projects throughout the region (see the map above), but here are the key decisions for Seattle. The Board voted to:

• Build the West Seattle Link Extension from SODO to Alaska Junction without the Avalon Station and along a modified route that saves money and reduces the impact on homes and businesses.
• Build Graham Street Station as outlined in Amendment 8, which was introduced by Mayor Wilson, Executive Zahilay, and King County Councilmember Mosqueda in solidarity with community organizers who have fought for Graham Street Station for more than a decade.
• Build the first part of the Ballard Link Extension from the Chinatown-International District to Seattle Center.
• Fully design the second part of the Ballard Link Extension from Seattle Center to Ballard and seek additional funds and/or further cost-savings to build the line.

Charting a course to Ballard

Public support for building light rail to Ballard was loud and clear. Community members sent emails, filled out surveys, organized rallies, and spoke out at Sound Transit Board meetings and town halls.

Councilmember Strauss, along with Mayor Wilson, Executive Zahilay, and King County Councilmembers Mosqueda and Balducci successfully added amendments to the updated ST3 System Plan that provide a path for future funding, cost-savings, and innovative approaches that will help get light rail to Ballard.

Sound Transit is committed to moving the Ballard project forward, though they have not provided a date – for now. Councilmember Strauss successfully added Amendment 12 that requires Sound Transit to “provide the public with a fixed date, or date range” for service to Smith Cove, Interbay, and Ballard.