WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: New chair for Sound Transit Board

A West Seattle resident will be presiding over the Sound Transit Board when the final decision about West Seattle routing is made next year. King County Executive Dow Constantine was elected this afternoon as the board’s new chair, a role he held 2014-2016. He’ll become chair in January, succeeding Kent Keel, a city councilmember from University Place in Pierce County, who has chaired the ST Board for the past three years. Keel and Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers will serve as vice chairs. As explained here, “The board includes three members from Snohomish County, ten from King County, four from Pierce County and the secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation.” The current King County members include one other West Seattleite, County Councilmember Joe McDermott. ST is currently working on the final Environmental Impact Statement for the West Seattle extension, due out next year, with a final routing/stations decision to follow. Latest timeline is for West Seattle to SODO light rail to open in 2032.

TM7302 December 15, 2022 (10:25 pm)

2032, ridiculous!

Joe Z December 16, 2022 (12:19 pm)

2032 is a pie in the sky at this point. The timeline is going to slip again.

Lola December 16, 2022 (7:44 am)

Sorry I have no faith in anything Dow does for this State.

lucy December 16, 2022 (7:49 am)

I would like to know what Dow will be paid for this new position, what his responsibilities are and why he was more qualified over other applicants (if there were any). I want to know what standard he will be held to and what “success” looks like in his position. I want metrics, not platitudes.

General Info December 16, 2022 (3:34 pm)

He doesn’t get paid for this. Elected officials often serve on boards for organizations like ST and PSRC. The ST Board chooses its officers from those who sit on the board. Board members and responsibilities are available on the ST website. https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/board-directors.As for metrics, ST does release an annual progress report. https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/progress-report.As a note, Board Chair is different from the CEO position, which is paid and ST recently chose a new CEO. https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/executive-leadership 
- Eldorado December 17, 2022 (7:02 am)
  
  He might not get ‘paid’ but he sure ain’t doing it for free either. That’s how it works. And I think this is a huge conflict of interest. And I also think 2043 is a more realistic estimate for project completion.

Rick December 16, 2022 (8:52 am)

One way or the other, I’ll be long gone and won’t have to deal with it.

Derek December 16, 2022 (1:37 pm)

How do we expedite Light Rail??? This is so sorely needed. I want to be fully car-free but it’s hard.

Question Authority December 16, 2022 (6:20 pm)

Move to a locale that offers it now, that’s how you beat the waiting and quit being so disappointed with the rate of progress. It’s a win, win.