The official Draft Environment Impact Statement on the West Seattle and Ballard link extensions for light rail is out and it provides a look at the plans under consideration by Sound Transit for both communities.

Quoting from the Executive Summary Fact Sheet:

"The West Seattle Link Extension is expected to open in 2032 and the Ballard Link Extension is expected to open in 2037 or 2039, depending on funding availability. Due to steeply rising real estate prices and other construction expenses, Sound Transit projects currently in early planning and design, including the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions Project, are seeing significant cost estimate increases. To ensure that funding remains available to complete all voter-approved projects, the Board conducted a “realignment” process that established a program schedule that is affordable, utilizing current financial projections and cost estimates to set the general order in which projects will advance. This “affordable” schedule established an approach to prioritize, fund, and manage program work over time (Resolution 2021-05). In addition, the Board adopted a “target” schedule for priority projects, reliant upon reductions in the affordability gap. To reduce the affordability gap, Sound Transit will pursue expanded financial capacity (Motion M2020-37); develop and implement a cost savings plan; identify cost savings for the Sound Transit budget outside of the capital program; identify opportunities to reduce cost and planning delays; and engage project stakeholders in discussions to address the trade-offs between project scope, schedule, and new financial resources to inform Board decision-making on project schedule.

Sound Transit proposes to begin building the proposed project in 2026. Based on realignment, the West Seattle Link Extension would begin operations in 2032 under both the affordable and the target schedule. The Ballard Link Extension is anticipated to begin operations in 2037 under the target schedule. Under the affordable schedule, the Ballard Link Extension from SODO to Smith Cove Station is anticipated to begin operation in 2037, and from Smith Cove Station to Ballard Station in 2039. The affordable schedule would implement the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions Minimum Operable Segment (M.O.S.), as described in Section 2.4.2.1, West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions Minimum Operable Segment."

The full executive summary can be found here.

The six stations in West Seattle under consideration as you first learned from Westside Seattle are covered here.

 

Commenting on the Draft Environmental Impact

Statement

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be available for a comment period of 90 days. Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement can be made in writing, by email, or at the public hearings.

Commenting on the statement will not be open until the official publication date of January 28 when the commenting period begins.

All comments are due by close of business on April 28, 2022.

Send written comments to the following address:

WSBLE Draft Environmental Impact Statement Comments c/o Lauren Swift
Sound Transit
401 South Jackson Street

Seattle, Washington 98104
Email comments should be sent to:

WSBLEDEIScomments@soundtransit.org.

Comments may also be submitted online through https://wsblink.participate.online/ or left as a voicemail at the following number: 1-800-471-0879. Written or emailed comments should include the commentor’s name and return address or email address. All comments may be submitted in languages other than English and will be translated. Comments may also be offered at a public hearing or open house:

* In-person open house is planned subject to state and local guidelines regarding social distancing due to COVID-19. Please check the Sound Transit website at https://wsblink.participate.online/ or call 206- 903-7229 to confirm in-person meeting. If the in-person event cannot be held due to COVID-19 concerns, a virtual event will be held in its place. Hours may differ if this becomes a virtual event.

All virtual meetings can be accessed via the following website: https://wsblink.participate.online/.