Hundreds of people took an interest in and attended the Sound Transit open house on the West Seattle extension of the LInk LIght Rail March 5. The Alki Masonic Hall was full of easels showing the current state of the plans for the project set to be complete by 2032.

Learn more at the Sound Transit page for this here.

The full set of meeting materials was set to published online on Wednesday but the current plans call for 148 housing units and 66 businesses to be removed to accommodate the project. 

The full meeting materials are posted here.

 

Many attendees expressed surprise that the current plans will disrupt so many businesses including those in Delridge and the 38 busineses in Jefferson Square where the Junction Station is proposed. That station would remove 94 housing units and 201 parking spaces as well. The current planned route from the Delridge Station would take the tracks directly through the space now occupied by the West Seattle Health Club. 

Jordan Crawley of the Alki Beach Academy said he confirmed with Councilmember Rob Saka's office that Sound Transit was planning to do some early property acquisition as soon as this Spring, even though the final Enviornmental Impact Statement is not due until mid-year.

Rachelle Cunningham with Sound Transit offered this clarification:

• Sound Transit is currently nearing the conclusion of the environmental review process for the West Seattle Link Extension. Publication of a Final Environmental Impact Statement is anticipated in mid-2024. This will be followed by Board selection of the project to be built and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issuance of a Record of Decision later this year. The project will then transition to final design and construction.
• Property acquisition typically takes place after the environmental process concludes. However, for a limited number of parcels, Sound Transit may seek authority to start the acquisition process early. All early acquisitions require FTA concurrence and Sound Transit Board authorization.
• Sound Transit Board consideration of these limited number of potential early acquisitions will occur later this month, March 2024. These early acquisitions would facilitate advancing the project and would also allow Sound Transit to provide relocation advisory services to owners and tenants.
• Sound Transit is in the process of notifying potentially affected property owners regarding the upcoming Board meeting to request authorization for early acquisition. As noted, proceeding with the early acquisitions would also be contingent on FTA approval.
• Once authorized to proceed with the early acquisitions, Sound Transit would work with property owners and tenants and begin discussing benefits under the relocation program.
• Apart from the limited number of early acquisitions, acquisition for most properties that are needed for the project would not begin until after the conclusion of the environmental process and would likely begin in late 2024. The acquisition process typically takes up to two years.

Sound Transit said they heard regarding the Delridge Station for example:

Ways that you would get to the station:

• Walk 44%
• Transit 54%
• Bike or Scooter 42%

*Percentages exceed 100% due to respondents selecting up to three choices

Shopping and retail, Food and Drink topped the list of preferred businesses near the entrance. 

Sound Transit shared the feedback they got regarding the Avalon and Junction stations.

You asked us to focus on these goals:

Alaska Station Area

• Making bus stops wider with seats, lights, and shelter
• Adding trees between where people walk or bike and where people drive
• Creating an open area for events and community gatherings
• Creating a plaza by closing 42nd Ave SW station entrance to cars but allowing emergency vehicles or food trucks. This was a top request!)

Avalon Station

You asked us to focus on these goals:

• Simplifying intersections on Fauntleroy
  Way for safety
• Adding trees between where people walk or bike and where people drive
• Making crossing easier on the neighborhood greenway
• Providing structures for shade or rain protection

Top priorities for the pedestrian plaza at 42nd Ave SW, as identified during fall 2023 engagement

1. Open plaza space for community gatherings, cultural festivals, food trucks, or farmer's market

2. Landscaping, like shade trees or native shrubs

3. Structures that provide shade or weather protection

1. Bicycle racks or places to park shared mobility devices like scooters
2. Tables and chairs, or benches
3. Public art
4. Decorative lighting
5. Places and features for young children to play on
6. Other - Write In

As far as feedback during the meeting, post it notes offered some of the following mesages from attendees.

• "So many of us depend on preschool (Alki Beach Academy) and utilize the Skylark, Ounces, Ms. Kim's Uptown as central meeting spaces. Can these businesses have prioritized, subsidized space in the new structures being built as part of the Delridge Station?"

• "We need more clarity on services,housing, amenities to be built around station. What is the impact of construction?"

• "Why are small businesses being taken out and the vast area occupied by Nucor, Bartells untouched?"

• "1.Taking out a world class gym.
• 2 Taking out a Heron rookery
• 3. Taking part of Longfellow Creek
• 4. Destroying the Junction
• 5.West Seattle does not need or deserve this.
• 6.Cancel the damn thing."

• "Save Skylark and Ounces & Mrs. Kims!!!"

• "Love the preferred alignment for Youngstown"

• "Please consider moving station (Delridge) to the empty Bartells on Andover & Delridge. Way less disruption to local businesses."

Later this month a private walk through is planned with Seattle City Council members, Sound Transit officials and local business owners in the Delridge area to explore their concerns and potential solutions to problems they see.