West Seattle, Washington
15 Monday
Sound Transit Board members are still months away from decision-making on a revised long-range plan and ways to pop projects’ ballooning budgets. But their committees are getting briefings along the way, and the West Seattle Link Extension was one of the focuses when the board’s System Expansion Committee met Thursday.
Starting at 1 hour, 25 minutes into the meeting video (see it here), deputy CEO Terri Mestas led the briefing on the “cost workplan” for capital projects, then focusing in on West Seattle (followed by Everett), concluding at the end, “We’re really turning over every stone.” She noted that the West Seattle project is now at 30 percent design.
CEO Dow Constantine said that since they’re now using “bottom-up” cost estimating, they are more confident about their numbers. Shortly afterward, ST’s Brad Owen revealed that the West Seattle estimate has risen again, now $7.1 billion to $7.9 billion – potentially almost twice as much as what the finance plan from four years ago covers.
He clarified that the number includes “total contingency” as required by a particular federal policy. That represents more than a fourth of the estimated cost, Owen said.
Then it was on to possible ways to reduce the costs. The only way to get the project within what the finance would cover would be the most dramatic proposal, phasing – cutting the project down to the SODO and Delridge stations, building the latter in a way that would enable some future extension to The Junction (and possibly beyond). This isn’t a formal proposal right now, just an example of what’s possible. Here are the details on that:
(Note that ST says going only to Delridge would drop estimated ridership dramatically, and would change the type of station needed there. In Q&A, board member Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss declared it to be “one of the worst ideas I’ve ever seen.”) Meantime, Owen also brought up the idea of dropping the Avalon station, which has been suggested and studied previously, including in the official environmental-impact statement. This could, he said, mean less impact on Longfellow Creek and the West Seattle Health Club; possible savings could be nearly half a billion dollars.
And “optimization” of the Junction station could save almost a quarter-billion dollars (stations are the costliest items on project lists, Owen noted) – one component of this would remove “tail tracks” that currently would stretch underground construction all the way to SW Hudson, a removal that they now believe would not have an operational effect, with benefits including less right-of-way needing to be obtained:
Other cost-saving possibilities included design changes in the SODO station and “aerial guideway and foundation optimization” for the entire WS project. No board member questions after the presentation, which again was just a briefing, not a formal proposal nor anything requiring a vote. Here’s the full slide deck (including the Everett project info, for a project that also could cost nearly $8 billion, though it’s a 16-mile extension, four times the SODO-to-WS Junction distance).
WHAT’S NEXT: It was noted in Q&A that the board will have to authorize more money and time before year’s end for the consultant that’s working on cost savings, if they want the consultant to keep ferreting out more possibilities. More discussions are ahead at other board/committee meetings as they move toward revising future plans next year.
7:31 PM: New developments since we first reported Tuesday on a sudden announcement from Seattle Public Schools that they’ll change multiple high schools’ schedules tomorrow – a week and a half into the new school year – so that all “comprehensive high schools” have two lunch periods (currently most have one). First, the district-wide student walkout that one West Seattle High School student mentioned has become a rally at district headquarters at noon Monday, after students walk out at 11 am. Second, School Board president Gina Topp – who is the West Seattle/South Park rep on the board – answered our original inquiry to her this weekend by saying she doesn’t “have more information than what the district has already shared” but expects a briefing at this Wednesday’s board meeting. Before then, Topp says, “I’ll be holding a listening session for students with some other board directors on Monday, and staff is coordinating one with ASB officers from all the schools.” The district did not answer our question about why the change is happening with the school year under way, nor did they explain the change beyond what was also in the original message to parents:
Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is implementing a two-lunch schedule across all comprehensive high school campuses for the 2025–26 school year. This reflects thoughtful planning to ensure compliance with applicable laws and policies while meeting the needs of students and staff.
This change ensures all students have adequate time for seated lunch while meeting Washington state’s required instructional minutes. Additionally, this schedule will support increased and equitable access to school meals, and ensure compliance with staffing, instructional time, and labor contract requirements.
A follow-up message to families, reported here, also cites safety.
8:21 PM: Just checked the district website and there’s now an FAQ posted about the change, dated today. Among other things, it says schools have until October 6 to implement this, while saying some will do so “as soon as (tomorrow).” It also cites specific policies behind the change.
Many coyote videos are fairly fleeting. Not this one. It was sent by Jordan, who explains, “We discovered some large animal scat in our small fenced front yard (Friday) morning (and) found that it was a coyote, captured on our security camera around 1 am. We have a small dog and we’re fortunate the coyote wasn’t there when we were out there earlier (that night).” Jordan adds, “We live at the corner of Lander and Walnut, the NE corner of Hiawatha. The back of our house is the Fairmount Ravine.” But coyotes turn up far from greenbelts, too; here’s what you need to know in case you encounter one.
Those are some of the 1,100 peace flags that West Seattle Indivisible volunteers had just finished assembling and decorating when we stopped by the High Point Library meeting room at noon today. They’ll be distributed to everyone who shows up to be part of a “human banner” next Sunday morning at the Harbor Avenue Pier 1 property. Here’s the explanation/invitation that WSI sent us:
West Seattle Indivisible is celebrating the International Day of Peace, observed around the world each year on September 21. Established in 1981 by United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.
(Simulation)
To this end, you are invited to help us form a ‘human banner’ to spell out PEACE FOR ALL along the West Seattle waterfront! We are creating a beautiful image with the skyline of Seattle as our background, to share around the world. Everyone is invited to be part of this banner; the way it works is that we’ll have a thousand flags stencilled with the image of a dove, and chalk lines for the letters on the ground. At the signal, we all take our places on the lines, holding our banners above our heads and waving. Photographers will take our picture with Seattle in the background.
We’ll meet at 2130 Harbor Ave SW, between Salty’s and Jack Block Park, Sunday morning, September 21. We plan to have music, inspirational speakers, and a thousand people demonstrating for peace.
Please sign up so we get a head count for planning (and for us to email the picture afterward):
Already preparations are underway. Here’s our team laying out the letters ….
The site is privately owned, known as Pier 1, and a WSI spokesperson tells WSB that the land owner has given their permission for this gathering. The event is set to start at 8:30 am, and a separate media advisory lists these expected speakers:
Hamdi Mohamed, Port of Seattle Commissioner (Event MC)
Mayor Bruce Harrell
Malou Chavez, Executive Director, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
Rev. Andrew Conley-Holcom, Admiral UCC
Irene Danysh, Development Officer, Ukrainian Catholic University
(WSB file photo)
Puget Ridge Edible Park (18th/Brandon) is a park where food is grown. The lessons community volunteers have learned while making it happen and helping it thrive are lessons you can learn from – and a “community garden leadership camp” this fall will give you that chance. PREP’s Stu Hennessey sent the announcement:
What: Urban farming, community garden leadership camp
When: September 20th through October 18th on consecutive Saturdays from 9 am to 11 am
Where: Puget Ridge Edible Park
1801 SW Brandon St. West SeattleWhy: Puget Ridge Edible Park is a permaculture community garden that supplies free local and fresh produce to many families in and near the Puget Ridge neighborhood.
With food security being a concern and with prices of high quality and healthy food prices climbing the fastest, growing locally is the best answer. We will share with you our story of success from acquiring space to season by season methods that you can use to develop your own neighborhood park as well as use in your own garden. To show commitment, a $25 donation the the Puget Ridge Edible Park group, a 501c3 is suggested but not required.
Interested? Find out more here.
Family and friends will gather next Saturday (September 20) to remember longtime community advocate Ed Dupras. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with his community now:
Ed Dupras passed away on August 7, 2025 at the age of 78, after a battle with cancer.
Ed made his home in West Seattle, where he was a passionate and engaged member of the community. Known for his sharp wit, generous spirit, and strong sense of civic duty, Ed dedicated much of his time to local causes and political engagement. He was an active supporter of the 34th District Democrats and a proud participant in Drinking Liberally, where spirited conversation was always on tap.
Whether he was volunteering for neighborhood initiatives or advocating for progressive change, Ed brought warmth, humor, and integrity to everything he did. He will be remembered not only for his activism, but for his friendship, his kindness, and his willingness to go on a Costco run for you because he was going to go there anyway and it was no problem at all.
A memorial gathering will be held at The Hall at Fauntleroy on September 20th at 1-4 pm, where friends and loved ones are invited to share stories and celebrate Ed’s life.
Ed would have wanted his memorial to be informal. Open microphone – if there are memories you want to share.
“No flowers,” he would say. “The guest of honor wouldn’t have wanted them.”
Ed is survived by his two children, Sarah and Edward Dupras.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
(In honor of Colman Pool’s last day of the year, Janelle Otterholt caught a seagull on its tarp)
Good morning – here’s what’s up for your Sunday, featuring some one-time-only experiences, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:
‘WE ARE WEST SEATTLE’: West Seattle small businesses band together for a spotlight week, concluding today, explained in our calendar listing.
GARAGE/YARD SALES: Check for listings in the WSB Community Forums. (If you have a sale to add, but don’t have a WSB Forums login, go to westseattleblog/log-in – thanks!)
PANCAKES! All are welcome at Holy Rosary School‘s pancake breakfast, 9 am-12:30 pm. Prices and menu here! (42nd/Genesee)
WESTIES RUN CLUB: This week’s 9 am Sunday Funday run leaves from Top Pot Doughnuts (4709 California SW).
FREE GARDENING CLASS: Learn about “Native Plants for the Fall Garden,” 10 am at West Seattle Nursery (5275 California SW; WSB sponsor). Attendees get a discount on purchases today, too.
PAINT PEACE DAY FLAGS: Join West Seattle Indivisible in getting ready for next Sunday’s big International Peace Day gathering – 10 am-1 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: The Sunday games are on hiatus until The Missing Piece reopens in its new Junction location.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Find the market on California between Oregon and Alaska, 10 am-2 pm, now in late-summer produce season (stone fruit, berries, tomatoes, greens, roots), plus lots of baked goods, cheeses, meats, fish, prepared foods, condiments, flowers, more.
FREE NIA CLASS: 10:30 am, first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Sanctuary/Studio (3618 SW Alaska)
ALKI KAYAK TOURS’ END-OF-SEASON SALE: Watercraft and gear, both new and used, with deals, demos, and a chance to try before you buy! Details in our calendar listing. 11 am-6 pm at AKT HQ at Seacrest Boathouse (1660 Harbor SW).
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool but don’t need to, or can’t, buy it? You’ll probably be able to borrow it from the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
COMMUNITY POTLUCK FOR CARLSON FAMILY: Their twin baby girls are fighting cancer – we told their story here – and their community is doing what can be done to help. You’re invited to a community potluck at 11:30 am today at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW) to support the Carlsons.
SECOND-TIME SALE: Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) has its big sale this weekend, concluding with shopping hours 11:30 am-3 pm today, as previewed here.
WEST SEATTLE RESISTS: Sunday signholding in The Junction (California/Alaska), 11:30 am-1:30 pm.
COLMAN POOL FINALE: The heated salt-water outdoor pool at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open one last time for 2025, noon-7 pm, wrapping up its second of two postseason weekends – see the schedule here.
COMMUNITY VINYL GARAGE SALE: Record-lovers, Tim’s Tavern is the place to be for this hosted sale noon-4 pm today. (16th SW/SW 98th, White Center)
IMAGINE ECONOMIES OF GIFT, GRACE, AND ENOUGH: Talk about two books that can help you envision just that, 12:30 pm with Admiral Church at SJB. (3050 California SW)
WELCOME ROAD WINERY: Kick back and enjoy your Sunday afternoon at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)
COMMUNITY VOCAL TONING: Our calendar listing explains what you’re invited to do at Alki Arts (6030 California SW), 2:30-3:30 pm.
CHORAL CONCERT: The Evergreen Ensemble returns to West Seattle today, and “Where You Belong” is their fall concert’s theme, 3 pm at Holy Rosary Church (42nd SW/SW Genesee).
WEST SEATTLE INDIVISIBLE MONTHLY MEETING: 3:30 pm at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon) – agenda highlights are on the group’s newly redesigned website.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: 8-10 pm, Sunday night music with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW).
Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that we could feature on the WSB community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
12:41 AM: Southbound Highway 509 is closed right now at Cloverdale – which is where you get on from the east end of the Roxbury corridor – because of a crash. The State Patrol is investigating, but a bulletin on Seattle Police radio described it as a “fatality collision,” saying the search was on for a suspected hit-run driver. No estimate yet how long the highway will stay closed.
3:04 AM: No updates yet. If you have to head out in the next few hours, you can check WSDOT’s traffic-alert map here.
6:20 AM: Reopened as of 4:30.
10:43 AM: The State Patrol’s summary of the crash says it involved a 50-year-old man on a motorcycle and two drivers in cars. All were headed southbound on 509 approaching the Myers Way exit. The motorcyclist changed lanes to exit; the hit-run driver hit him “at a high rate,” then veered into the right-side barrier. In a chain reaction, the other car then hit the car driver and veered into the motorcyclist. The first car driver left the scene; the rider’s bike wound up in the inside lane but he was found on the right shoulder and pronounced dead at the scene (the summary notes he was wearing a helmet). All the WSP has released about the hit-run driver is that they were in a Toyota (possibly white, it was noted on SPD radio last night) and that their car would be notably damaged.
4:07 PM: Additional information from WSP, which says the hit-run driver was last seen taking the Myers Way exit:
Parts from the suspect vehicle were left at the scene. It appears that the bumper of this vehicle was metallic blue painted white. The vehicle will have front and rear end damage.
WSP detectives are seeking anyone that witnessed this horrible collision or has information that would help identify the suspect vehicle. Please email Detective Gagley at Matthew.Gagley@wsp.wa.gov.
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