Ask Seattleites to pay more for full ST3 delivery? ‘Inappropriate,’ says lone city councilmember on Sound Transit Board

| Sound Transit | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(WSB photo: Councilmember Dan Strauss with Council President Joy Hollingsworth at this morning’s Q&A)

Also in attendance at today’s informal periodic city councilmember Q&A session with reporters (earlier coverage here) was Councilmember Dan Strauss, who is the lone Seattle councilmember also on the Sound Transit Board. After the board vote a week and a half ago to approve a revised ST3 plan that does not include funding to get light rail to Ballard – which was part of what voters passed a decade ago – there were suggestions that Seattle voters who wanted more than the new plan might want to consider raising the needed money themselves. We asked Strauss his thoughts on the idea. “Inappropriate at best,” he replied, considering Seattle residents have been paying for a “Sound Transit project already promised.” He said he continues to believe that the second downtown tunnel could be dropped from the plan to clear enough funding to build all the way to Ballard. “We need to have a deeper conversation about that,” he said, adding that he considers the tunnel a regional amenity for ST, not a feature necessary to complete light rail in Seattle.

SIDE NOTE: Strauss and Council President Joy Hollingsworth also were asked about another transit-funding issue, Mayor Katie Wilson‘s proposed doubling of the sales tax that buys more Metro service for Seattle. Both said they have “concerns” about how the revenue would be apportioned.

Les June 8, 2026 (5:10 pm)

My wallet is empty, move along.

Marcus June 8, 2026 (5:25 pm)

Commuting patterns change. Who would have guessed 10 years ago that many employers are decentralizing and find it more economical to allow work from home. The pattern of employees commuting to downtown Seattle has changed. I would bet that the percentage of people commuting out of Ballard and WS to downtown is lower than 10 years ago. Adapt!!!

Foop June 8, 2026 (7:15 pm)

Yes but I also like visiting downtown and Ballard when I am not working. A lot of great things to see, do, and eat all over the city. The places that don’t require me to drive to will get my money. Driving and parking somewhere isn’t my idea of unwinding after a day of work.
- Bill#1 June 8, 2026 (9:05 pm)
  
  What’s wrong with the buses?
  - Duwamesque June 9, 2026 (10:33 am)
    
    Bill, have you ever tried bussing from West Seattle to Ballard & back? 2-3 transfers each way; those routes are slow & crowded. I usually bite the bullet and use rideshare which is upwards of $40 one way.
    - CarDriver June 9, 2026 (2:53 pm)
      
      I used to go to school at the maritime an academy in Ballard. Got on the #57 at 55th and Dakota and got off on the north side of the Ballard bridge. Bus continued north on 15th. Why did Metro cancel that route?
    - Amy June 9, 2026 (4:48 pm)
      
      You can get to Ballard from WS with one transfer, using the C or H and transferring to the D.
- Brandon June 8, 2026 (9:37 pm)
  
  I like to visit White Center and Renton, but you dont see me expecting everybody and their future children to pay for an expensive train to get me there because I personally choose not to move closer, catch a bus, or drive there myself.
  - Huft June 9, 2026 (11:37 am)
    
    Pretty sure you get those places driving on a very expensive system of publicly built and maintained roads. Trains are the same principal – but without the countless road deaths, astronomical carbon emissions, and Puget Sound-killing runoff.
    - don'tblockme June 9, 2026 (4:36 pm)
      
      So why did the Dept of Ecology say it was OK to stop emission testing if there is still as you say “astronomical carbon emissions, and Puget Sound-killing runoff???https://ecology.wa.gov/air-climate/air-quality/vehicle-emissions/emissions-check-ends/
K June 8, 2026 (7:15 pm)

It changed for a little while and then there was a huge push to get everyone back into the office and now commutes are the same as they were pre-pandemic. Adaptation is preparing for a continually growing population to have an alternative way around town.
- Pookie June 9, 2026 (1:31 pm)
  
  Wrong. Try some simple research. This is from Seattle.gov Approximately 60,000 vehicles cross the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge daily, recovering about 70% of its pre-pandemic volume. Historic volumes frequently exceeded 84,000 to 100,000 daily cars.

Dysfunction June 8, 2026 (5:37 pm)

Yeah, inappropriate to say the least. Sound Transit is in a taxing district that covers parts of King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties. Even thinking of trying to have Seattle pay for something already promised would be the final bail in the coffin for Sound Transit. They need to make do with what they have and not ask for any more for this. Ask the entire tax district if they want to, which would fail miserably as there is no way that would pass. Sound Transit is a joke. I honestly don’t know how anyone can trust them anymore, or even entertain the thought of them trying to add more after ST3 is finally finished (if ever)

The King June 9, 2026 (4:39 am)

Triple all taxes could hit the ballots tomorrow and it would pass, sound transit knows this. 1995 was the last time voters turned down a project, the Seattle Commons which was going to gut Denny Way and turn it into a park downtown. The proposal was going to cost taxpayers $111 million. Just a couple of years ago voters decided a property tax bill of $1.55 billion for transportation was a good deal.

Michael Waldo June 8, 2026 (5:52 pm)

No, I can’t afford it. And I won’t be taking it.

bill June 8, 2026 (8:08 pm)

“Seattle’s daily light rail ridership jumps to No. 1 in U.S.”

Uh, maybe Sound Transit isn’t a joke?

Mark June 9, 2026 (6:50 am)

The shortsightedness of this region, in terms of mass transit, is always odd. The ferries, are a part of the highway system but we view them as a novelty, we can’t-or won’t-maintain our roads, and this nonsense about the light rail is amazing. I can’t believe how long it’s taken to get anywhere on this project, and the lack of political will to just get it done is staggering. This is on top if the process addicted denizens of Western Washington who demand study after study after study.Mass transit is a worthy place to spend money. It is. It’s not a question, it’s not something that still needs study, it just is. It’s a fact.As for those that prate about how busses should be sufficient: they’re not sufficient. They are impacted by the vagaries of traffic, they are exceedingly crowded, and they are but a part of what a mass transit system should be in a region like this. Busses should a minor vessel to the artery that the light rail should be.All of this is academic, though, seeing that Seattle Metro and ST refuse to enforce fares or promote ridership safety. AS things are, I don’t want to use the bus, all things considered, so why would others?

HS June 10, 2026 (7:10 am)

Agreed!

Lola June 9, 2026 (7:43 am)

You already took my money for years now when the the Monarail was supposed to go into West Seattle. Took my money and never delivered. Sorry but I am not falling for that again.

Sorry, comment time is over.