West Seattle, Washington
10 Tuesday
Though the Sound Transit Board is still weeks/months away from decisions about revising West Seattle light rail to get the projected cost closer to the available funding, a new city survey about station-area planning is out today. The survey only asks about Delridge and Junction station areas, a further reminder that the Avalon station is in the cost-cutting crosshairs. The survey is from the city Office of Planning and Community Development, which has planning processes under way for the Junction station area and Delridge station area, and that’s reflected in the survey, which only asks about those two, and includes this map – note that the areas of focus go far beyond the immediate vicinity of even just those two station locations:
Here’s how the survey is explained:
The City of Seattle’s Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) and the Seattle Department of Transportation are kicking off a Station Area Planning effort in the West Seattle Junction and Delridge areas.
“Station area planning” is separate from Sound Transit’s light rail station design and construction. While Sound Transit determines where and how stations are built, the City of Seattle’s role is to work with communities to decide what happens in the neighborhoods that are ½ mile to 1 mile from the stations over the next 20 years. This includes decisions about housing, transportation, places for community to gather, safe streets, job access, and local businesses.
How to be involved
Take a brief community survey. Share your insights and experiences by March 27, 2026: bit.ly/StationAreaSurvey
The survey deadline is March 27. A major touchpoint ahead in Sound Transit planning, meantime, is the board retreat March 18, by which time the board is supposed to receive cost-cutting “scenarios” for projects including West Seattle light rail.
Just out of the inbox … the announcement of another West Seattle light-rail forum, on April 1st. The invitation comes from County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, currently the only West Seattleite on the Sound Transit Board.
I’m pleased to invite you to join me on April 1st at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center for a spring West Seattle Light Rail Forum. This West Seattle Forum will be an opportunity to get more detailed information and analyses on potential cost-savings and service delivery updates to West Seattle. This event is intended to follow-up on last year’s November forum where I committed to gathering this spring to get greater details on cost-reductions and design efficiency. This April 1st forum will discuss options for cost-savings and continuing momentum on the West Seattle light rail expansion. I hope you can join us for this important discussion on April 1st!
West Seattle Light Rail Forum: Momentum and Updates
Date: Wednesday, April 1st
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM (Doors open at 6:00 PM)
Location: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
4408 Delridge Way SWPlease join me and Sound Transit Boardmember Mayor Katie Wilson, Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine, Capital Delivery ED Brad Owen, and guest district City Councilmember Rob Saka. Thanks to our community partners elevating this forum, including the West Seattle Chamber, West Seattle Junction Association, MLK Labor and the 34th Legislative District.
Thanks also for your patience as Sound Transit worked to develop responses to the questions submitted at last year’s November West Seattle Forum. Sound Transit team has organized and consolidated related questions thematically and worked to provide direct, complete, and concise answers in an accessible format. The goal in the attachment is to create a digestible document that reflects the full range of questions and feedback we heard from the community. At the upcoming April 1st forum we will have more time for questions and answers, both on note cards and at roaming microphones.
I will continue working with Sound Transit staff to help facilitate clearer, more consistent, and up-to-date information for the West Seattle community throughout this year as the Sound Transit Board is poised to make critical decisions about how to move forward with the promised ST3 light rail expansion across the region.
At least one key date will precede this – ST Board members are supposed to have cost-cutting “scenarios” before their retreat on March 18th, which will be two weeks before the forum. (Here’s our coverage of the November event.)
38 minutes into that video of today’s Seattle City Council briefing meeting – their weekly meeting to both get briefings and offer individual updates – you’ll see a guest appearance by Sound Transit reps offering updates on Seattle projects: West Seattle Link Extension (due in 2032), Ballard Link Expansion (due in 2039), and the South Graham Street Infill Station (due in 2031). Alex Krieg presented an overview of the Enterprise Initiative, noting its intent is to remedy a “misalignment” of projected costs and projected funding for the entirety of ST3 – currently a $34.5 billion projected “misalignment.” (Here’s the full slide deck.) Neither he nor ST’s Brad Owen broke any news – that will come in a little over three weeks, when the Sound Transit Board gets a look at “scenarios” meant to bring down the price tag, for review at their scheduled March 18 retreat. “Everything is on the table,” the ST reps said. Councilmembers had an opportunity for Q&A; District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka was one of three councilmembers announced as having excused absences today, so he wasn’t there to ask West Seattle questions, but Councilmember Dan Strauss – whose District 5 includes Ballard and who also sits on the ST Board – called attention to what he considers a “really awkward situation,” the city’s responsibility to cover more than half the cost of the second downtown tunnel that’s currently part of the Ballard plan, a tunnel that some have suggested is unnecessary. He and the rest of the ST Board have their regular monthly meeting at 1:30 pm Thursday; the agenda explains how to watch/comment, in person or online.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
This afternoon’s Sound Transit Board System Expansion Committee meeting had two items of note for those watching the West Seattle Link Extension plan, still on record as pointed toward a 2032 launch. The question is, what will the plan look like once the staff and board are finished trying to reshape it into “affordability”? The process aimed at answering that question, the Enterprise Initiative, was the subject of another briefing at this afternoon’s committee meeting.
Before that was discussed, the first item of interest was another real-estate acquisition – a residential property on Pigeon Point. Not because it’s needed soon for planning/construction, but because, according to agenda documents, its owners have “medical circumstances” requiring them to sell soon, but because of the looming light-rail project, the agency says, nobody else will buy it. The board already has approved a couple other such purchases, and the committee sent this one on to the full board for approval (along with another in the Ballard project area), though with reservations voiced by Dan Strauss, the Seattle City Councilmember who sits on the ST Board – he revived a topic brought up with previous acquisitions, concerns about ST just letting the properties sit empty for years; apparently a policy change is in the works that might allow a different use for such properties, but not quickly enough to alleviate the concerns Strauss voiced.
Then it was on to the Enterprise Initiative briefing. The next major milestone is the development of “scenarios” for the full board to discuss at its retreat in March, so they can finalize an “updated ST3 system plan” by midyear.
ST’s Brad Owen told the committee that they’re now evaluating more than 600 “opportunities” for getting the full ST system plan close to something realistic.
The “takeaways” from that work included another warning that project phasing or even deferrals might be required.
And as has been the case at previous briefings, they again discussed possible cuts/changes as “levers” of different levels that could be pulled. Then Owen presented examples of possible levers at each level, such as, in the West Seattle project, dropping the Avalon station.
This, he said, would have “no notable effect on ridership” and would mean fewer property acquisitions, a more direct route from Delridge to The Junction, less impact on sites of concern like Longfellow Creek and the West Seattle Health Club property, with up to almost half a billion dollars in savings. (No new total project-cost estimate was mentioned at this meeting.)
Board approval would be needed for that or any other top level “lever” proposed – and keep in mind, what was presented today (here’s the full slide deck) was just a set of examples, not a formal proposal. And the West Seattle project isn’t the only one they’re reviewing for cuts – in addition to Ballard, there are Tacoma and Everett Link Extensions in planning, as well as Sounder and ST Express Bus projects discussed at today’s meeting. (Added: Here’s the meeting video.)
WHAT’S NEXT: The full board generally gets discussion items like this at its next meeting after committee briefings; that will be two weeks from today, on Thursday, February 26 – watch here for the agenda.
Another of our quick-look previews of the week ahead: The Sound Transit Board usually meets on fourth Thursdays, but this month, that’s Christmas Day, so it’s meeting on the third Thursday instead – December 18, 1:30 to 4 pm. The board members will include a new representative from West Seattle – King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, a North Delridge resident, just appointed by new King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, who is also a board member. It will be the last meeting for outgoing Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell; his successor, Katie Wilson, will be on the board starting next month. Here’s the agenda for Thursday’s meeting. It includes a report on the proposed downtown tunnel, which some have suggested could be dropped as a way to cut costs. Also, board members are expected to give a performance rating of “outstanding” to first-year CEO Dow Constantine while deferring a potential raise and bonus “at (his) request,” according to this document. The meeting at Union Station downtown (401 S. Jackson) includes a public-comment period; find out here how to watch/comment in person or online
10:46 AM: We’ve reported before that King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda – a North Delridge resident whose district includes West Seattle, White Center, and Vashon/Maury Islands – has hoped to join the Sound Transit Board. Now it appears that will happen; she is the lone West Seattleite on new County Executive Girmay Zahilay‘s list of potential appointees. Here’s his announcement, sent this morning:
Today, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay transmitted his first ever slate of nominations to the Sound Transit Board of Directors. This is his second transmittal since taking office last week, following his nominations to the District 2 King County Council seat yesterday.
The County Council will consider both the Sound Transit Board nominations and District 2 Councilmember nominations at their meeting on Tuesday, December 9.
As part of the Sound Transit slate, Zahilay and Seattle Mayor-elect Katie Wilson will replace former Executive Shannon Braddock and outgoing Mayor Bruce Harrell. Zahilay previously served on the Board as a King County Councilmember.
Zahilay’s nominations reflect the need for true regional collaboration on the future of mass transit, ensuring representation for both East and South King County, and representation for Seattle as the Link Extension enters a critical period.
The King County Executive appoints 10 total seats to the 18-member Sound Transit Board, which are staggered in two-year intervals. Board Members serve four-year terms.
Full list of nominations:
Girmay Zahilay, King County Executive
Katie Wilson, Mayor-elect of Seattle
Steffanie Fain, King County Councilmember (District 5)
Pete von Reichbauer, King County Councilmember (District 7)
Teresa Mosqueda, King County Councilmember (District 8)
Angela Birney, Mayor of Redmond
Thomas McLeod, Mayor of Tukwila
Along with Zahilay, von Reichbauer and Birney are already on the board (see its current lineup here). Here’s the quote from Councilmember Mosqueda that was included in the announcement:
Light rail holds incredible promise for shared prosperity, long-term climate resilience, self-determination, and access to opportunity for communities across the region. Representing a King County district that encompasses diverse communities home to current and future Sound Transit stations—from Chinatown-International District and SODO to Downtown, Capitol Hill, and West Seattle — I’m committed to supporting transit access, affordability and equity in light rail planning, while complementing existing community assets and ensuring that our systems remain safe, reliable, and accessible to the communities we serve. I’m grateful to Executive Zahilay for the opportunity to serve on the Sound Transit Board at such a crucial moment for our region.
The board has huge decisions in the months ahead, trying to get the agency on a sounder financial footing, potentially meaning changes/cuts to the planned West Seattle extension.
3:42 PM: We talked to Councilmember Mosqueda briefly by phone this afternoon. Since some electeds – most notably outgoing Mayor Harrell – have taken the position “build it as planned, no cuts,” we asked where she stands on that. She’s not anti-cut – she has taken a favorable view of some of what was discussed at the recent West Seattle forum (WSB coverage here) – but she’s not inclined to consider the ultimate cut, dropping the West Seattle project. Is it really worth spending billions? we asked. She says it’s a “multi-generational investment” so we might as well build it now – again, with whatever cost reductions can be found – because the price tag will only go up as time goes by.
Assuming the County Council approves her appointment next week, Councilmember Mosqueda’s first meeting on the Sound Transit Board will be December 18, according to her office.
(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The event that brought a standing-room-only crowd to Youngstown Cultural Arts Center‘s Thelma Dewitty Theater tonight was announced as a “light-rail visioning forum,” but “floating forum” would have been more accurate: At the heart of it were Sound Transit managers floating their most promising options for getting West Seattle light rail cost back into “affordable” range.
The biggest potential changes: “Phasing” West Seattle light rail – build between SODO and Delridge first, extend to The Junction sometime later – or dropping the Avalon station entirely. The latter has already been more extensively discussed than the former – both were presented at a board committee meeting we covered in September – and the way that ST’s Brad Owen and Jason Hampton discussed it tonight, it sounded almost like a done deal.
Nothing, however, has been decided, or is on the brink of decision, but it’s just a matter of months before the Sound Transit Board starts making decisions as part of its “Enterprise Initiative.” Before we talk more about what was shown tonight, here’s our full video of the hour-and-a-half forum, introduced by our area’s King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, who mentioned she’s hoping to join the ST Board (which will have vacancies soon, such as King County Council chair Girmay Zahilay vacating his seat as he moves up to the one guaranteed for his new job as KC Executive):
The first half-hour was spent mostly in acknowledgments and preface; then came the heart of the presentation, followed by about 20 minutes for questions.
During her introduction, Mosqueda said the forum was important because “West Seattleites like details.” She is one herself, a North Delridge resident, as is the other local elected official she introduced, City Councilmember Rob Saka, who otherwise did not speak. Second speaker was ST CEO Dow Constantine, who championed West Seattle light rail during the years he was on the board as county executive (and noted tonight that his first swearing-in was exactly 16 years ago).
He said the “Enterprise Initiative” is all about trying to make the agency sustainable, explaining that it has evolved from a “capital construction fir” to a “substantial transit agency,” serving “up to 150,000 people a day” while building one of the nation’s longest light-rail lines – and figuring out how to close a $34 billion, 20-year budget deficit. In the big picture, Constantine said, by the time the FIFA World Cup games come here next year, ST will have built 63 miles in less than 17 years, pronouncing that a “history of success” that should offer hope “we can solve today’s problems.”
More optimism was offered by Carrie Avila-Mooney, representing outgoing County Executive Shannon Braddock (who had been billed as a forum speaker), reminding those present that the project already had its Federal Record of Decision and therefore hope for the federal funding it would need. She said Braddock – a West Seattleite who had served as Constantine’s deputy executive – is a “huge, huge fan of building” West Seattle light raill
When Owen and Hampton from ST finally began their presentation, one of the early slides was notable for added rationale points arguing for the West Seattle line, including that it would be a travel alternative “if the West Seattle Bridge is congested or closed for repairs” and that it “facilitates future expansion to the south” such as White Center and the airport.
Owen said West Seattle is now about a third of the way through design – 30 percent – meaning they are getting “cost clarity.” That’s led to the previous reporting about the three-stop West Seattle line potentially costing up to $7.9 billion, while current financing would cover about $4.2 billion.
So that gap called for some “project-specific things we think we can move the needle on.” Station optimization for SODO and The Junction would save some money, but not as much as eliminating the Avalon station or “phasing” by stopping at Delridge for an undetermined while.
ST describes potential savings in terms of “levers”:
The highest level “lever” would be phasing. If they stopped at Delridge for now, they estimate the project would cost just over $3 billion, within the range of affordability, and that’s a “conservative” estimate, Owen said.
“Phasing is a very typical thing for these projects,” he insisted.
The next level of “lever” would apply to dropping the Avalon station, though that would only drop the cost into the $6 billion range, still more money than the agency could cover.
Skipping the Avalon station also could enable a different entrance for the tunnel to The Junction, possibly sparing the West Seattle Health Club (among other properties) and reducing the impact to Longfellow Creek, the ST reps said.
They also briefly discussed possible optimization for the Junction station – a previously reported design change that would remove the plan for “tail tracks” south of the station – and changes to the Duwamish River light-rail-only bridge as well as the SODO station.
After the brief review of these possibilities, the podium was given to Kirk Hovenkotter of the Transportation Choices Coalition, a light-rail booster who explained his group’s recently announced Build the Damn Trains campaign.
He said that instead of cutting back on projects like this, ST should look at “creative” ways to turn the plan into reality. (We asked him afterward if he was suggesting a search for new revenue; he said no,
they don’t want to see ST cut back on projects like this; instead, he said he supports ST’s quest for legislative approval to issue 75-year bonds without voter approval.
Less than half an hour remained when they started taking audience questions – both written ones collected from the crowd by people including Rachel Porter, executive director of the co-sponsoring West Seattle Chamber of Commerce:
Those included a request for more information on what the “no Avalon station” concept might mean:
Hampton said the West Seattle extension wouldn’t see much of an overall ridership drop if Avalon was scratched – most of its prospective users would go to one of the other stations. Meantime, Owen acknowledged that they’re slowing the pursuit of properties until this is all figured out. Hampton acknowledged that they had acquired three homes, not because they needed the property quickly but because the owners requested early action due to life circumstances (as reported here in July). The ST reps said that if it ultimately turns out those properties aren’t needed for the project, they’ll “work with the property acquisition team” to determine what to do with them.
A few questions were asked via open microphone. One was whether there would be a “real town hall” devoted to people’s questions. Mosqueda said she hopes to have more events like this but in the meantime, all the officials and managers who were there are accessible for one-on-one questioning. Another attendee asked how to build the light-rail extension faster; Owen suggested the “phasing” was one answer – “when you have to build less, you could build faster.”
But while it’s decided whether they will build less, or make other changes, some residents and business owners remain in limbo, like Erin Rubin of Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) and nonprofit Mode Music and Performing Arts, still likely to have to move no matter what changes are made in the plan, as their building remains in the Delridge station footprint, whether the project is “phased,” trimmed dow, or changed in some other way.
WHAT’S NEXT: The ST Board’s work on the “Enterprise Initiative” is expected to take another year or so, but decisions on plan changes and project changes are expected sooner, likely in the first half of next year. Until then, ST says it wants “feedback on design refinements,” so if you have thoughts on what was floated tonight – and/or other ideas – you can email westseattlelink@soundtransit.org.
(Sound Transit map of West Seattle extension as currently planned)
Just one major West Seattle meeting planned in the three days before the four-day holiday weekend: Tomorrow is the rescheduled date for the “visioning forum” planned to look at where the West Seattle light-rail project is now and what might happen next, as Sound Transit revisits its long-range plans in the face of swollen potential price tags. County and city elected officials, Sound Transit executives, and transit advocates are among the pre-announced panelists and presenters; most of the public communication for this has come from the office of our area’s County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, who told us that there will be time for attendee Q/A and comments. The event is set to start at 5:30 pm Monday (November 24), at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW)
Just in – a new date, one week later than originally planned, for the West Seattle Light Rail Visioning Forum.
It’s now set for 5:30 pm Monday, November 24, same location – Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) – and same panelists, including County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, outgoing County Executive Shannon Braddock, Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine, and Kirk Hovenkotter of the Transportation Choices Coalition (which just launched the “Build the Damn Trains” campaign advocating for building all currently planned ST projects as planned). Councilmember Mosqueda has told us there will be time for Q&A/comments toward the end of the event.
The West Seattle light rail plan might change when Sound Transit revisits its long-range plan next year. But how? Your next chance to hear what might happen has just been announced – an event at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) one week from tonight. Here’s the announcement we just received from the office of our local King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda:
Learn about how plans for light rail expansion to West Seattle are progressing and what upcoming Sound Transit Board discussions mean for West Seattle residents.
Councilmember Mosqueda will be co-hosting the West Seattle Light Rail Visioning Forum with Transportation Choices Coalition, the 34th District Democrats, West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, County Executive Shannon Braddock, Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine, and Seattle City Councilmember Rob Saka will be a co-host and there as well! This will be an opportunity to hear updates from Sound Transit about initial design work and possible cost savings analysis the agency has been working on for the West Seattle alignment, and to get a preview of the possible designs that may continue to be evaluated pending future Sound Transit Board analysis on possible options for light rail to West Seattle.
Date: Monday, November 17th
Time: 5:30 – 7 pm (Doors open at 5 pm)
Location: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Wy SW
Organizers want to be clear – what you’ll see and hear will NOT be official proposals, at least at this stage:
This will be a preview of some preliminary cost-saving design work on options to bring light rail to West Seattle—and to inform community members on how to stay engaged and informed as the agency continues its analysis and Sound Transit Board discussions continue. Note: this is an early preview of some preliminary thinking on possible ways to move forward, with many discussions and much analysis still to be completed and authorized by the Sound Transit Board — none of these numbers are final and these proposals are still to be discussed with ST board members.
Of the announced co-hosts, one is a ST Board member – Braddock – but as she didn’t run for the permanent job as County Executive, that position on the board will be taken over by Executive-elect Girmay Zahilay, who is already on the board, meaning there’ll be a vacancy to fill.
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.
11:43 AM: We’re about to head back from Ballard, where Mayor Bruce Harrell led a lineup of local leaders in insisting that all of ST3 – including light-rail extensions to West Seattle and Ballard – must be built. The exhortation “Build it all” came from another speaker, regional labor leader Katie Garrow, but others said it in other ways; West Seattle was represented by County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, who declared, “Voters said yes in 2016; now our job is to deliver on that promise … if we fail [to complete all of ST3], we fail the entire region.” There was no hint of anything dramatic such as new taxes; there was some talk of what ST board member and King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci mentioned at last week’s ST board meeting (WSB coverage here), looking at whether the second downtown tunnel could be dropped, and the mayor noted that city councilmembers are about to take up legislation allocating dozens of city jobs to speeding up permitting and otherwise assisting with the project. (We asked if the city has estimated how much that might save ST; the mayor said no.) More details when we get back to HQ, including video of the event.
2:46 PM: Adding video as promised. First, above, Harrell’s opening remarks; below, the other two elected officials who spoke, City Councilmember Dan Strauss (whose district includes Ballard) and County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (whose district includes West Seattle):
As Harrell remarked afterward, Mosqueda “brought the fire” – she was the most fiery speaker at the event. The ST “spine” does not work without strong connections such as West Seattle and Ballard, she declared. Of note: Strauss is on the ST board; Mosqueda is not, though she told us afterward she has long wanted to be (no openings currently but that could change considering that two other County Councilmembers who are on the board are candidates for County Executive in the November election). Also of note, two elected officials stood behind Harrell but did not speak – Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson (who like Harrell faces a come-from-behind re-election fight in November) and County Councilmember Jorge Baron.
5:02 PM: Adding the final section of video – the two non-elected officials who spoke, Kirk Hovenkotter of the Transportation Choices Coalition and Katie Garrow of MLK Labor, plus media Q&A:
If you want to read the mayor’s-office version of what today was about, go here. As noted in that writeup, the proposals for city-staff resources will be presented at tomorrow morning’s meeting of the City Council’s Finance, Native Communities, and Tribal Governments Committee (9:30 am; documents linked in the agenda). Speaking of the council, one more note – if you’re wondering why West Seattle’s City Councilmember Rob Saka was not at today’s media event – it was held at the same time as the meeting of the Transportation Committee, which he chairs.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
After Sound Transit discovered West Seattle light rail’s potential price tag had swollen to $7+ billion, the agency examined the rest of the ST3 plan … and now reveals another big number: The overall cost of building out the system could be up to $30 billion more than last year’s Long-Range Plan estimate.
That was the biggest news from the Enterprise Initiative briefing at this afternoon’s Sound Transit Board meeting (which also noted cost-projection jumps in other aspects of the transit system, such as the cost of providing service, and a drop in expected revenue). No new project-specific estimates yet – for West Seattle or any other ST3 project – but staffers promised they’re coming and will be provided to board members as soon as next month.
One of the Seattle reps on the board, City Councilmember Dan Strauss, asked how the estimates could jump that much in a year.
Deputy CEO Terri Mestas said the agency had been using a different methodology and hadn’t really taken a “bottom-up” look at the cost projections until after the West Seattle revision.
Before getting the new numbers, the board first voted on guiding principles for the Enterprise Initiative, after a spirited discussion over an amendment provided by the board’s other City of Seattle rep, Mayor Bruce Harrell. He wanted to be sure that decisions took into account the need to serve centers of growth and employment; some board members suggested that was a thinly disguised way to focus on Seattle, a perennial sore spot for non-King County board members, since ST is funded by and serves people in Snohomish and Pierce Counties too. After more reminders about the need to finish the system’s “spine,” the amendment passed 8-6, and the main motion with the principles passed too. (Harrell circulated this statement after the meeting.)
After that, CEO Dow Constantine began the update on the Enterprise Initiative, what it’s uncovering, and where it’s going. Most of what he said is in this memo. Here’s the excerpt related to capital projects including West Seattle light rail:
Capital Program: We are projecting $14–20 billion in added costs (2025 dollars), or $22–30 billion in year-of-expenditure dollars, for ST3 light rail projects. These increases are primarily driven by extraordinary COVID-era construction inflation, right-of-way cost escalation, and the added complexity of project design and delivery. The affected projects include:
o The West Seattle, Ballard, Tacoma Dome, Everett, Tacoma Community College, and South Kirkland–Issaquah Link extensions.
o Infill stations at Graham Street and Boeing Access Road
Constantine stressed that he believes they have plenty of time to “make a course correction,” but they’ll have to, because if they don’t, “we will eventually see our program become unaffordable.” He insisted that ST “is n strong financial shape right now.” And deputy CEO Victoria Baecher Wassmer added that “there is still significant financial capacity to deliver ST3.”
But in what form? That’s the multi-billion-dollar question, presumably to be determined next year. Deputy CEO Mestas elaborated that they obviously have more latitude over “pre-baselined projects” (of which West Seattle is one). Thoughg this wasn’t meant to be a meeting where cost-cutting ideas were proposed, one did emerge toward the start of the meeting: Board member Claudia Balducci, King County Councilmember from Bellevue, said ST should look at whether a second downtown tunnel is really necessary.
Meantime, deputy CEO Mestas went on to further elaborate about what ST says has pumped up the overall costs, including tariffs – though board chair Dave Somers, Snohomish County Executive, suggested it might be a bit too early to blame those – labor shortages, supply-chain disruptions, and the cost of acquiring right-of-way, and offered what amounted to a four-point plan on ways costs could be reduced:
It should also be noted that in addition to higher costs, today’s presentation also featured projections of lower revenue and financing:
Next month, board committees will bite into aspects of all this:
The big-picture decisionmaking is expected to be along the timeline on the lower half of this slide:
See the full slide deck here. Archived video of the meeting will eventually appear here.
When Sound Transit board members gather for their monthly meeting Thursday afternoon, one item on the agenda is of particular interest to those tracking the West Seattle light-rail plan: Another update on the in-development Enterprise Initiative. As we reported a month ago, this is now the name for the package of policies that ST expects will help it reshape ST3 next year, into something more affordable. That could mean changes for the West Seattle project, currently projected to cost $7 billion, far more than ST has budgeted.
At Thursday’s meeting the board will consider proposed “guiding principles” for the Enterprise Initiative, laid out in this document. It warns, “If the agency does not take proactive measures via this Enterprise Initiative, the ST3 program will become unaffordable, and we risk our ability to operate a dependable, resilient, and safe system.” Among other subsequent points, the principles charge CEO Dow Constantine with ” the goal of achieving a balanced and affordable long-range finance plan and a clear path to deliver the benefits of Sound Transit projects and services as quickly as possible.” It subsequently says. “The framework and its implementation will comply with the ST3 voter-approved ballot measure … and should plan for the following outputs: an updated System Plan, with modified capital and operating plans; an updated Long-Range Plan that looks beyond ST3; and a balanced and affordable long-range finance plan.” Then there are promises of “inclusive collaboration” and “transparent governance,” and a final section where you could read the most between the lines regarding where West Seattle fits in, as there is a reiteration of prioritizing completion of the system “spine” (which West Seattle is not on) and a nod to “fiscal integrity,” yet another indirect reminder of this project’s price tag. As of this writing, there’s also one proposed amendment, by Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, primarily adding a goal of supporting future growth.
The meeting starts at 1:30 pm Thursday at ST headquarters, and you can attend in person or online, with public comment accepted both ways, as explained in the agenda document.
Related to West Seattle’s light-rail plan, here are two notes from the Sound Transit Board meeting that just concluded:
PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS: Board members gave unanimous approval to staff’s plan to pursue acquisition of three parcels, after hearing that these were all special cases and that the bulk of acquisitions will await further decisions on how (or whether) to proceed with the project. One – as noted in our preview – is a Port of Seattle parcel in the 1000 block of SW Klickitat that the board was told is needed for “load testing” that could assist in the staff review of potential cost savings; the other two are residential parcels in the 3200 block of SW Genesee whose owners need to sell and move due to personal circumstances but, with the project pending, can’t find any non-ST buyers. Board members, particularly Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss, expressed concerns about what would happen to the residences once vacated; he was told that ST will look into finding “quality tenants.” He was also told a meeting next Monday will take a closer look at ST policies regarding acquired properties.
‘ENTERPRISE INITIATIVE’: The board also got a briefing on the status of this review that’s been in the works a while now, figuring out ways to bring the ST3 plan into line with ST’s financial resources. This has its roots in alarm over the revised $7 billion cost projection for the West Seattle extension, but its determinations will be applied to other projects, ST staff says – saying today that in essence it will eventually bring a “realignment” of the future plan, but in a different way than ST’s done “realignments” before. Here’s the slide deck that was presented; it acknowledges that changes in scope, or even “reconsideration” of some projects, are options, as are “potential revenue enhancements.” Ultimately, they hope to have a new plan by the middle of next year.
(July 11 photo by Dave Gershgorn for WSB)
Planning continues for West Seattle’s Sound Transit light-rail project, though the big issue of how to cover the potential $7 billion cost remains unsettled. The agency had a booth at West Seattle Summer Fest earlier this month to answer questions, and the ST Board has a West Seattle-related vote on the agenda for its monthly meeting tomorrow: Acquisition of three more properties, two residential parcels in the 3200 block of SW Genesee and a Port-owned parcel at 1011 SW Klickitat. The Port-owned parcel would be in relation to the new light-rail-only bridge in the project plan, with the board resolution noting “an early need for a bi-directional load test”; the immediate need for the two residential parcels wasn’t clear, so we asked ST to explain. Spokesperson Henry Bendon says, “These two properties would be used for the construction of the guideway and Avalon Station.” The timing of the acquisitions is due, he says, to personal circumstances of the owners “that necessitate acquisition and relocation as soon as possible.” Tomorrow’s board meeting is at 1:30 pm at Sound Transit HQ downtown, also streamed online; the agenda has details on attending as well as on how to participate in public comment.
ALSO OF NOTE: Related to the aforementioned “bi-directional load test,” a recent city land-use bulletin circulated word of a shoreline-development permit application for a project to install a “test shaft.” See the notice here; comments are open until August 15 (the notice explains how to submit them).
(Full Seattle Channel video of this morning’s meeting)
Though the price-tag problem remains unresolved, planning for West Seattle’s Sound Transit light-rail project proceeds, and the City Council’s Transportation Committee got a status report of sorts this morning.
The city has to give its official blessing to the project’s current designated route, including “transit way” rights for Sound Transit to use it, and this briefing was the first step toward future committee and full-council votes granting those rights. (Just rights, not possession, it was made clear.)
The first “transit way” rights were granted in 2000, it was explained, and this will be the fourth time the agreement has been changed.) Here’s the full slide deck from the briefing, which included – in case you’ve forgotten or are just catching up – succinct descriptions of each segment of the West Seattle Link Extension, still projected to start running in 2032.
Two numbers of interest – Sound Transit says they’re currently projecting the West Seattle extension (SODO to The Junction) will force 150 residential households and 130 businesses to move. But they insist they’re trying to find ways to lower those numbers in the final design, which they said they’re starting on “soon.”
And what about that price tag, last estimated around $7 billion? “We do have significant cost pressures on all our projects,” the ST team acknowledged. “That’s a risk.”
District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka, who chairs the committee, asked when the agency might decide on scoping changes required by those pressures. The ST team said they’ll be talking about it at next week’s board meeting (Thursday, June 26) but not expecting any changes in the “near term.”
No vote followed today’s briefing – that’s expected to happen at committee and full-council meetings in July. (Other related documents are linked from the agenda for this morning’s meeting, including the resolutions that would put the city’s “approval” of the plan on the record too.)
The Federal Transit Administration had most recently set today as the target date for its Record of Decision on Sound Transit‘s West Seattle Link Extension project, and at day’s end, ST announced the FTA has indeed just issued the ROD. As ST explains in its announcement, this ends the environmental-review phase and allows the project to move into final design. As noted at last week’s ST Board meeting, though, the agency has some milestones of its own ahead, including revising cost estimates and making funding decisions.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Back when the Sound Transit Board first learned the price tag for West Seattle light rail could pass $7 billion – the original combined estimate for the West Seattle and Ballard extensions – some showed signs of nervousness.
A new round of nerves has erupted this month, continuing into today’s full-board meeting.
First hint came at the System Expansion Committee considered proposals earlier this month to spend tens of millions more on early-stage work for the West Seattle and Ballard extensions. The committee sent the proposals to the full board without a recommendation to pass (or not). One of the city of Seattle’s two current board reps, City Councilmember Dan Strauss, warned his council colleagues at their weekly “briefing” meeting that “tensions” were showing on the ST board, particularly regarding the West Seattle costs.
Despite those tensions, the proposals to spend $68 million more – 90 percent of that for the West Seattle project, which is projected for completion seven years before Ballard – were unanimously approved today by the 16 board members at the meeting. (The full slide deck with the proposals’ toplines are in this slide deck; the individual resolutions are linked from the meeting page.) But that was only after a discussion in which those “tensions” were definitely on display. “A lot of us are nervous,” said board member Kristina Walker, a Tacoma City Councilmember.
First, the proposals were presented by an ST team led by Brad Owen, who’s currently in charge of the West Seattle project. “This is needed work,” he contended, to get to the heart of the cost-saving measures that staff has contended they could deploy to shrink the cost and shorten the timeline of the projects approved by voters back in 2016. In essence, the contention was that they’d have to spend money to figure out how to save money. And the contention is that what they learn about cutting costs for the West Seattle project will make it “a vanguard” for savings that can be applied across the entire ST3 plan.
Some board members said that’s the main reason they’d vote to authorize the spending. Board member Christine Frizzell, Mayor of Lynnwood, wondered: Since there had already been previous conversations about “exit ramps” if they decided West Seattle (or any other) project was just too expensive, could this possibly be a case of throwing good money after bad – forcing them eventually to say, they’d spent so much, there was no choice but to plow forward? Other board members’ concerns included the possibility that so much would be sunk into this, it would affect the rest of the ST3 project list and timeline. (With today’s vote, as the slide above shows, they’ve now authorized spending a third of a billion on the West Seattle extension.) Another board member, Fife Mayor Kim Roscoe, was assured by staff that this work also would show them what “pieces” of projects would be possible, if they couldn’t afford to build what was originally proposed.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: New cost estimates are scheduled to be brought to the board this fall, and then they’d decide whether to spend more money – or not.
EARLIER IN THE MEETING: West Seattleite Marilyn Kennell, who’s involved with the light-rail-skeptic Rethink the Link group, repeated a request the group has made, for a new community meeting with ST reps to listen to the information they proposed at their own forum in January (WSB coverage here). Board member Frizzell later said she’d be interested in “meeting with the people from West Seattle.”
Thanks to Andrew Trujillo from Ounces – one of the West Seattle businesses facing relocation because of Sound Transit light rail – for the update that both houses of the State Legislature have now passed HB 1733, raising the limit for relocation compensation from $50,000 to $200,000:
Sharing a big win for businesses impacted by light rail. Huge credit goes to ABA (Alki Beach Academy) and the other businesses in North Delridge (Mode, Ounces, Skylark, etc.) for voicing and advocating for more realistic support for displaced businesses. Also thanks goes to the city’s small business advocate and state legislators who sponsored it.
The bill’s original sponsors included one West Seattle legislator, 34th District Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon. The State Senate’s final vote Wednesday was unanimous. Next, it would go to Gov. Ferguson for his signature.
Sound Transit‘s West Seattle Link Extension project still has a variety of uncertainties – awaiting the federal Record of Decision, for example (still projected around month’s end) – but there’s something new: Advance word of the call for station artists. We were asked to share this announcement:
STart: SOUND TRANSIT ART PROGRAM
FOR ARTISTS: LISTENING AND INFORMATION SESSIONS—PLANNING FOR ARTWORK IN THE WEST SEATTLE LINK EXTENSION PROJECTSDates and Locations
Wednesday, May 7, 6-7 pm, Seattle Public Library, Delridge Branch
Thursday, May 8, 6-7 pm, Seattle Public Library, High Point BranchRSVP by May 2, 2025
Please RSVP by emailing start@soundtransit.org.Meeting Purpose
In the coming months, the Sound Transit Art Program (STart) will be hiring artists to create artwork for the future West Seattle light rail stations. STart wants to hear from West Seattleites about what is important to them in their neighborhoods while art projects are being developed. In addition, STart seeks to inform West Seattle artists about how they can apply for inclusion in an Artist Candidate Pool for art project consideration.
Listening and information sessions geared toward artists will be held in two West Seattle branches of the Seattle Public Library from 6-7 pm on Wednesday, May 7 (Delridge) and Thursday, May 8 (High Point). The conversation and content will be the same each evening, offering two opportunities for participation on different nights.
About the West Seattle Link Extension Artwork Opportunities
STart incorporates artwork in its stations and facilities to create welcoming spaces for passengers, and to contribute to the character of the communities connected with light rail. At these listening sessions, STart will describe what is known about the West Seattle Link Extension (WSLE) stations, and how artwork will play a key role in making its planned Alaska Junction, Avalon and Delridge Stations distinct and memorable. Hearing about the neighborhoods where the stations will be located is valuable to STart. The stations are currently in design and planned to be in service in 2032, connecting West Seattle with the existing Link 1 and 2 Lines. You can learn more here.
STart is working to identify locations for permanent integrated artwork and long-term rotating displays of temporary artwork. Due to the layout of the West Seattle stations, most of the opportunities will be for two-dimensional works that will be translated into a durable medium—such as cut metal, glass, porcelain enamel or mosaic—either fabricated by the artist or a third-party fabricator contracted by STart. This can be a chance for painters, photographers and printmakers to be part of the stations’ public art display. There may also be a few opportunities for works of sculpture to serve as station landmarks and draw passengers to entrances.
Artist Candidate Pool Application
STart will soon accept applications to create a pool of artist candidates for future commissioned permanent and temporary public art projects. Application materials will focus on artist’s past work, not on proposals.
This Artist Candidate Pool will be used to identify and review candidates for opportunities at the Alaska Junction, Avalon and Delridge Stations currently planned for the WSLE. Selected artists for the Artist Candidate Pool will not be under contract with Sound Transit and are not guaranteed a commissioned public art project but will be eligible as candidates until May 31, 2028. STart reserves the right to use the Artist Candidate Pool for additional art opportunities on other Sound Transit projects and to reopen the application process as needed to support additional development projects.
STart projects are developed to welcome passengers to our stations, help them find their way and relate the stations to their surrounding communities. Artists selected for STart opportunities should expect to adhere to those goals.
Questions? Please email any questions and/or interest in the Artist Candidate Pool to start@soundtransit.org.
3:42 PM: We’re in the Sound Transit board room at Union Station downtown, where ST board members have just voted unanimously to appoint Dow Constantine – the West Seattleite in his fourth and final term as King County Executive – as the transit agency’s CEO. The vote followed their search consultant’s recap of the process, including defense of the candidate confidentiality, and members’ reiteration of their confidence that Constantine was the most qualified and will “hit the ground running.” Board members’ remarks also acknowledged the big issues facing the agency, and one mentioned that Constantine “will not get a honeymoon” – those issues need to be addressed fast. As we reported yesterday, his starting salary will be $450,000.
He entered the board room right after the vote and is speaking next. (Added: Here are the 55 minutes of video including the discussion of his nomination, the vote, and his remarks afterward:)
4:14 PM: Constantine promised his new bosses that he will prioritize “regionality, transparency, stability, reliability, safety, and cleanliness.” He also vowed “we will navigate these choppy waters together,” alluding to the many intensifying challenges facing the agency, not the least of which is funding. We spoke to him briefly afterward; more on that after we’re back at HQ, but first, he confirmed that he’ll start work at ST on April 1 (next Tuesday) and that deputy county executive Shannon Braddock – also a West Seattleite – will take over on an interim basis until the County Council decides what to do until a new CE is chosen by voters this fall.
ADDED THURSDAY EVENING: Here are our two hallway questions, post-vote:
Here’s the Sound Transit news release with the announcement.
1:46 PM: Toplines of the contract Sound Transit is offering Dow Constantine to become its next CEO – pending a two-thirds-or-more board vote tomorrow afternoon – are now posted on the ST website, in this proposed board motion. The base salary is $450,000; the contract would start April 1 and run through December 31, 2026, “with two one-year renewal options at the Board’s discretion.” The motion also notes:
A market study will be completed at the end of 2025 to determine a base salary for 2026 that will be set, at a minimum, at the average of market comparable salaries, but not less than the current annual salary. The same process will be applied to determine base salary for 2027 if the Board, in their discretion, renews the agreement for the 2027 one-year term.
In addition to the annual market-rate base salary increase in 2026 and 2027, for each year, an annual 3% to 6%-Base Salary increase will be awarded based on Mr. Constantine’s annual performance rating.
Various amounts for incentives and expenses are laid out, too:
*”An Annual Contribution Performance Award of $30,000 may also be awarded on based upon the achievement of mutually agreed to goals”
*”Mr. Constantine will receive an annual taxable expense allowance of $24,000 to defray routine business expenses incurred performing his duties under the employment agreement”
*”Mr. Constantine will receive a one-time home office equipment stipend of $10,000 to facilitate the initial setup of the CEO’s technology and equipment needs and to further the performance of the CEO.”
The board motion also goes into details of health benefits, retirement-account contributions, and travel. It’s not the actual full contract, though; we’re requesting that. Meantime, Thursday’s meeting with the scheduled vote – which includes as usual a public-comment period – is set for 1:30-4 pm at the ST board room inside Union Station, or you can attend/comment online (the agenda document explains how).
5:23 PM: A Sound Transit spokesperson tells us we’ll have to file a public-records request to get the actual contract. … Meantime, looking around the ST archives, we found documents noting that former CEO Peter Rogoff was hired at $365,000 base salary in 2018; short-term former CEO Julie Timm‘s starting base salary in 2022 was $375,000.
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