Somers Proposal Keeps Rail to Everett and Tacoma On Track, Stops Short of Ballard
Sound Transit board chair Dave Somers has put forward his proposed path to balancing Sound Transit's system expansion plans in the face of a significant revenue shortfall over the coming decades. Set to be discussed at a board committee meeting tomorrow, Somers' plan would keep Sound Transit focused on building the light rail "spine" to Everett Station and Tacoma Dome but defer or delay other key projects from the 2016 voter-approved ST3 plan.
West Seattle Link, a project touted as "shovel-ready" after receiving federal approval last year, would advance but a planned line between South Kirkland and Issaquah would be pushed to 2050 – nine years later than the previous target. Ballard Link, as the most expensive ST3 project but also highest-ridership one, would see its three northernmost stations deferred, stopping well short of Ballard until additional revenue is available. Completion of an infill station at Graham Street in the Rainier Valley (previously tabbed for 2031) would also be thrown up in the air.
The Somers plan does improve on the three alternatives put in front of board members at a high-profile retreat in March, with several projects given clear completion dates that are nonetheless much further out in time than many Puget Sound residents would like to see. Now it will fall to the broader 18-member Sound Transit Board of Directors to barter on tweaks to this proposal ahead of a self-imposed deadline to adopt a new ST3 plan before the end of this month.
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The Sounder N Line, providing commuter rail between Everett and King Street Station with stops at Mukilteo and Edmonds, would cease operations in 2033 after Everett Link opens, however.
https://www.theurbanist.org/somers-proposal-keeps-rail-to-everett-and-tacoma-on-track-stops-short-of-ballard/
Curiously the earliest forecast I've seen for completion of the Everett Link was 2037 and that was only up to Boeing with the Everett Station being reached by 2041.
In addition, the Ballard Link if it is going to stop short initially should stop at Smith Cove where it could serve as a good bus transfer point. Terminating at the Seattle Center seems redundant since you already have the monorail between there and Westlake.