Sound Transit committee approves West Seattle Link Extension move to design phase despite concerns

Sound Transit board members during their Oct. 10 Zoom meeting. From upper left are Terri Mestas Deputy CEO for megaproject delivery for Sound Transit, Claudia Balducci, Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett, Nancy Backus, Mayor of Auburn, Bruce Harrell Mayor of Seattle. Dan Strauss, Seattle City Counciilmember,  Kim Roscoe, Mayor of Fife.

The Sound Transit System Expansion Committee voted unanimously to approve the West Seattle Link Extension project, advancing it into the final design phase. The decision came after a lengthy discussion about cost concerns and potential impacts on the surrounding community. The preferred route is now set. 

The meeting featured extensive public comment, with many residents and business owners voicing their concerns.

Supporters of the project emphasized the need for improved transit access and connectivity.

They argued that the project would reduce traffic congestion, provide a reliable alternative to the West Seattle Bridge, and facilitate economic development. 

Kirk Hovind Carter, the executive director of Transportation Choices Coalition, said, “West Seattle residents want to be able to get around quickly, reliably, and sustainably. They want to see their friends and family without sitting in traffic. And they never again want to have to worry about a closed bridge making them an island. And the rest of The region wants to visit West Seattle’s businesses, parks, and colleges. Like freeway projects across the state and transportation projects across the country, the cost of construction has gone up. West Seattle Link is no exception. But this project is worth investing in. The vast majority of West Seattle voters want to get light rail done in light of those costs. In 2016, they overwhelmingly voted yes on Sound Transit 3, which committed the region to building light rail to the West Seattle junction. And just this week, week. The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s index poll released on Tuesday showed that 66% of Seattle voters want to keep this project on track to be delivered by 2032, even if it costs more. And over the past 24 hours, with our help, transit writers submitted over 900 letters to the Sound Transit Board asking for you to keep this project moving forward into design and deliver on those promises to voters.”

Opponents expressed worries about the project’s escalating costs and potential negative impacts on the environment and community. Betty Lau from the Chong Wa Benevolent Association and co-founder of Transit Equity for All said, “It is now 22 months since the announcement of north and south alternatives in January 2023. The technical advisory group says each month month of delay costs $50 million. That means delaying the 4th Avenue Transit Hub costs $1.1 billion as of this month. Still, it pales in comparison with the 7.1 billion in cost overruns for West Seattle Link, which residents say they don’t want because the destruction of homes and businesses aren’t worth it. I remind this committee of the promises of equity, racial, social, and economic justice in Sound Transit writings, such as the racial equity tool, title six, NEPA, and the language assistance plan, including the pledge to follow Seattle’s racial equity toolkit. Hard decisions about funding must be made, and you must make them as representatives of and in the best interests of the region. As a person of color, it is profoundly disappointing to me that board members can tell the Seattle Times they don’t want to delay the West Seattle Link in order to keep the promise of providing light rail. Yet, there’s no hesitation to delaying and denying light rail access to people of color in the CI by not keeping the promise of moving forward on fourth. We were told in 22, we had a choice between Fourth or Fifth Avenue. We overwhelmingly chose Fourth, but that was a promise quickly broken and buried.”

Jen Osborne owner of Paratex Pest Prevention located at  4th Avenue South and Horton Street said, “Frankly terrified when I review this FEIS and the sort of lack of planning. Our family is a third generation legacy business and property owner in SODO. We provide commercial and residential pest control to Washington state as well as fumigation for import export commodities. The only one servicing port of Seattle certified by the Washington Department of Agriculture. In addition, I have four tenants that operate in our facility. We have a tea company that distributes tea. We have a towing company that does impound for police. And we just built out a food commissary. They do food trucks in the area, Filipino owned. We have all female owned businesses in the area too next door to the fire training station. I grew up watching this. My father grew up watching it and my grandfather in the ‘ 40s put this business here for a reason. And we have logistics. We have fleets that need to come in and out. out. I am terrified when I think of the sort of almost fly by territory SODO will become and the extinguishing of the economic development in the area when we have this station that’s going possibly right through our property and where will we go?”

Several commenters called for a “no-build” option, urging the board to consider alternative transit solutions. Marilyn Kennel said, “The four mile west Seattle light rail cost estimate is now over $7 billion. That’s if we started building it today, which we won’t. It’ll probably be around $10 billion or more. Under section two of the ST3 package, the board must consider projects that are unaffordable. And at $1.5 billion per mile, this project is unaffordable. So, we are calling on the board to recommend a no build solution. The final EIS acknowledges that light rail construction will do irreparable damage to West Seattle’s environment and community, but the no build option could prelude this devastation.”

Aaron Goodman the Executive Director for the SODO business improvement area raised concerns about the impact on the SODO, including the potential relocation of businesses and the effect on the 230 KV power lines. Business owners in SODO expressed fears about disruptions to their operations and the lack of clear mitigation plans.

Despite the concerns raised during public comment, the committee ultimately voted to approve the West Seattle Link Extension project move foward to the design phase. 

Committee members acknowledged the challenges but emphasized the importance of moving forward with the design phase to gain a more accurate understanding of costs and potential solutions.11

The committee also stressed the need for transparency and ongoing community engagement throughout the design process.

Sound Transit staff will now proceed with final design work, with plans to return to the board in early 2025 with an update on the work plan and potential cost savings. The board will then have the opportunity to make further decisions regarding project scope, budget, and construction timelines.