The Seattle City Council’s Safety, Transportation, Engineering Projects, Sports & Experiences (STEPS) Committee will convene a high-stakes community roundtable on March 19, 2026, to address the mounting concerns of small businesses facing displacement due to the Sound Transit 3 (ST3) expansion.

Chaired by Councilmember Rob Saka, the 9:30 a.m. session in Council Chambers will serve as the official kick-off for a new program designed to protect the "neighborhood anchors" currently in the path of construction.

You can view the meeting on the Seattle Channel or attend the meeting in person at the Seattle City Council chambers on the second floor of City Hall at 600 Fourth Ave, Seattle, WA 98104.

The meeting will bring together impacted business owners, representatives from Sound Transit, the Office of Economic Development (OED), and the Rainier Valley Community Development Fund (RVCDF). Participants will discuss the various facets of the ST3 project and its specific impact on the North Delridge business community.

Saka: Addressing the "Challenge of Uncertainty"

Councilmember Saka, who has spent over two years advocating for stronger protections, emphasized the duality of the project's impact. “Major infrastructure investments are essential to Seattle’s future,” Saka stated, noting that while they improve mobility, “for small, independent, and family-owned businesses along construction corridors, these projects can also bring real disruption”.

According to the Councilmember, the primary hurdle for local entrepreneurs in areas like North Delridge, SODO, and Ballard is the lack of a clear timeline and guidance from Sound Transit regarding relocation assistance. “Right now, uncertainty is the biggest challenge,” Saka said. “My job is to bring businesses, community partners, City departments, and Sound Transit together to ensure the agency responsible meets its obligations while the City provides leadership and voluntary support”.

Building on a Two-Year Foundation

The March 19 roundtable is the culmination of several legislative and community-led efforts. Over the last two years, advocacy has included walking tours of impacted corridors and multiple letters to the Sound Transit Board pushing for more robust anti-displacement strategies.

Key milestones achieved thus far include:

• HB 1733: In 2025, Saka advocated for the passage of this state bill, which increased the reimbursement cap for relocation expenses from $50,000 to $200,000.
• North Delridge Pilot: Last fall, the City launched the $250,000 North Delridge Small Business Support Pilot Project. This program provides technical assistance, needs assessments, and relocation planning.
• Rainier Valley Model: The City is now moving toward creating a permanent, scalable citywide fund modeled after the original Rainier Valley Community Development Fund, which successfully stabilized hundreds of businesses during the initial light rail construction in Southeast Seattle.

Voices of Opposition: "Less Destructive Options" Needed

Despite the focus on mitigation, some community members argue that the light rail expansion to West Seattle should be halted entirely. In a letter to Councilmember Saka shared with WestsideSeattle.com, Martin Westerman urged the City to reconsider the project in favor of “less destructive, less expensive, lower carbon, [and] faster delivery options”.

Westerman criticized the projected costs and efficiency of the rail extension, citing “Sound Transit’s current estimate of $2 billion per mile for the 4.5 mile “rail stub,” or $9 billion total, that Sound Transit says will carry only 5400 riders to SODO per day from West Seattle, compared with the 27,000 currently served by buses." Meanwhile, you will have helped close up to 100 WS businesses, lose up to 500 WS jobs, displace up to 500 WS residents, do irreparable environmental damage, and generate nearly 1 million tons of carbon that won’t be mitigated for 80 years,” Westerman wrote.

Looking Forward

While acknowledging the legal responsibility of Sound Transit to provide fair compensation and relocation support, Saka maintains that the City must play a proactive role. “The City’s role is to strengthen the broader support system and help amplify the impact of existing anti-displacement work,” he clarified.

The STEPS Committee roundtable will be broadcast live on the Seattle Channel for those unable to attend the session in person. “For West Seattle and communities across District 1, this collaborative effort reflects a simple commitment: stand up for local businesses, deliver meaningful relief during disruption, and build a path that helps them succeed long into the future,” Saka said.