FOLLOWUP: Here’s the mayor’s promised executive order, hoping to speed up West Seattle light rail

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(Image from Final Environmental Impact Statement for West Seattle Link Extension, page 176 of appendix N.2)

As reported here two days ago, Mayor Bruce Harrell‘s State of the City speech on Tuesday included a mention that he planned an executive order aimed at accelerating Sound Transit light rail expanded to West Seattle and Ballard. (Currently, the WS extension is expected to open 2032, while the Ballard date is 2039.) When we followed up with his office about the details, they said the actual order would be out later in the week – and now we have it. Read the executive order here. It still is short on actual details of what kind of zoning changes will be proposed, among other things, saying only “In 2025 and 2026, my administration will develop several bodies of legislation, including land use code amendments, formal adoption of the ST3 projects, and necessary real property transactions to allow the projects to proceed as quickly as possible.” The order also says that while there’s currently a team with 20 full-time city employees focused on ST3 (the ballot measure that included the West Seattle/Ballard extensions), that will be multiplied: “The detailed plan will identify up to 50 additional staff in various City departments who will collaborate with Sound Transit on project design and engineering, environmental review and project permitting, and construction management and project impact mitigation, as well as lead on station area planning and access projects to support the new light rail station communities.” Read the announcement about the executive order here.

Seniors February 20, 2025 (7:13 pm)

I hope I will still be alive to use it….or be able to walk to the station.

Ron M February 20, 2025 (7:23 pm)

I wish they would find an alternate route that won’t displace so many homes and businesses.

Jeff February 20, 2025 (8:12 pm)

It could easily be done, just claim the existing transportation rights of way necessary and close them to all other use. But if you think the complaints about existing plans are a lot, see what people think about dedicating the transportation right of way to public transportation (the horror!)
- Bbron February 21, 2025 (12:53 pm)
  
  +1, Jeff. I’ve said it before too that there’s plenty of space to add light rail without disrupting home and businesses if people actually pushed to reuse existing ROW, but most of those concerned would rather block it’s construction outright.
Nick February 20, 2025 (9:07 pm)

we’d love to see your drawing of the mythical non-displacement urban train route.
CARGUY February 21, 2025 (11:55 am)

Its crazy to me that they could not somehow utilize the enormous Bartlles HQ (the American Flag building by Nucor)Its been for sale for years right?My dream would be to have an elevated station run right through the center of the building and have small businesses utilize the remainder of the space. Then have it continue on the preferred alternative after.
- k February 21, 2025 (2:49 pm)
  
  There are other businesses in that building. The sign out front is for individual spaces for lease. Bartell’s HQ was always just a tenant in that building.

k February 20, 2025 (8:24 pm)

Confirming this light rail thing is an election-year hail Mary. After knowing the timeline for three years, he waits until election is looming and promises to take action–in 2026 after he’s reelected–to move up the timeline. Tossing zoning regulations to shave a year off light rail construction isn’t going to undo four years of inaction, pandering to businesses, and promising to “work with” the Trump administration (Seattle is one of the only major cities not signed onto a lawsuit about the cuts to federal funding).

thomas February 20, 2025 (9:26 pm)

a big waste of money

Corla February 21, 2025 (6:55 am)

Wish they would just invest the money into the existing public transportation options that already exist. We literally are a stones throw away from downtown and to the existing light rail station. Almost would be easier to just have a dedicated bus that only goes to the light rail station in Sodo. Should have pushed for the light rail in the 70s…..

Martin February 22, 2025 (2:47 pm)

Yes! If the mayor wants to improve transit to West Seattle, he would add a bus ramp from the Spokane viaduct to the busway so that West Seattle buses could drop riders off at the SODO station (to Rainier Valley and Seatac or UW) or the International District (to Bellevue). That would give riders from Westwood a two-seat ride to the Eastside rather than having to transfer at Delridge, SODO, and CID for a four-seat ride with the West Seattle Link.

Westseattle123 February 21, 2025 (7:54 am)

Love it!!

Frustrated February 21, 2025 (8:43 am)

Total waste of money plus it will destroy many businesses, homes, and ecosystems – just to get people from West Seattle to Sodo. Not sure why mayor is suddenly making this a priority when cost of living and crime prevention are much more important. West Seattle will be a massive construction zone for years if this goes through.

walkerws February 21, 2025 (9:16 am)

West Seattle to SoDo allows transfers and eventually easy rides all over the region. Saying that this is just a line from West Seattle to SoDo is such a disingenuous claim that it’s a good way to get nothing you say taken seriously.
Bbron February 21, 2025 (12:57 pm)

Link wouldn’t just be for WS residents, it also makes the peninsula more accessible for anyone living along the Spine. Our farmer’s market alone would be a huge beneficiary; not to mention any business at Alaska

Mellow Kitty February 21, 2025 (8:55 am)

Hmmm. It’s like I say, just because something is listed for sale at a high price doesn’t mean people are buying it. I’ll believe it when I see it.

LQB February 21, 2025 (8:56 am)

Finally, the mayor hears what the vast majority of people are saying – that we needed the West Seattle and Ballard expansions yesterday. It’s time to finally make Seattle public transportation a viable option and I’m glad to see the mayor recognize this.

Ah February 21, 2025 (9:14 am)

It really is too expensive and it will not have the ridership to justify such an expense to community businesses. We just need the buses routes to cater to people’s needs. AND buses are working to get into downtown. AND buses can flex for the people in the future. There is going to be lots more housing in west Seattle and scattered throughout so buses are the way to go! It saddens me a great deal that we will lose the West Seattle Health club that gets used by many and is a service to the community. It is place for children to learn to swim. We have so few good pools in the Seattle area.Take the 7 billion and give people a bus pass, add side walks where there are none, add west seattle shuttles throughout all of west seattle’s junctions and give a hoot about local non-chain businesses.Such a waste of money. We need our local businesses. The C works to get into downtown. And as they build 3 stations the small businesses in the construction area will suffer. I sure as hell won’t be going near that area if I can help it.Also curious if there is Federal money for this project that will dry up because of the current fed administration and who knows what will happen in 4 years and after that. sheesh.

Sunny February 21, 2025 (11:11 am)

The cost of public transportation is a lot BUT so is the cost of building and maintaining roads. And they in aggregate take more land. I wish that the cost of roads was published in conjunction with that of light rail more often to throw light on these costs.

Scarlett February 21, 2025 (12:54 pm)

Yeah, Bruce, steamroll – “amend” – over existing land use codes, re-assign city personnel to throw at it, and push this absurd monstrosity through!

Desperately Seeking Saka February 21, 2025 (4:57 pm)

I hope Trump’s funding cuts kill the Sound Transit West Seattle expansion, completely.

Martin February 22, 2025 (2:52 pm)

I’m very happy that the mayor wants to simplify permitting and get various city departments to work together. Interesting how this urgency usually happens right before a reelection campaign. I’m not quite sure however how this will help Sound Transit to bridge the funding gap between what was originally promised to voters ($1.5b) and what the latest estimate revealed ($7b).