The vote comes as the regional transit agency faces rising construction costs, inflation and lower-than-expected revenue projections.
SEATTLE — Sound Transit’s governing board approved a long-term plan Thursday aimed at addressing a projected $34 billion funding gap, formally acknowledging that major transit projects approved by voters nearly a decade ago cannot all be delivered on their original timelines.
The board approved the resolution in a 16-2 vote following hours of public comment and debate at Union Station in Seattle.
The vote comes as the regional transit agency faces rising construction costs, inflation and lower-than-expected revenue projections that have left the Sound Transit 3 expansion plan financially strained.
An overflow crowd attended the meeting, with many transit advocates and riders urging board members to preserve projects promised to voters under the ST3 package approved in 2016. The measure authorized taxes to fund major transit expansions, including light rail extensions to West Seattle, Ballard, Tacoma and Everett.
Supporters of the resolution said it creates a realistic roadmap for moving projects forward within the agency’s current financial constraints. Critics argued voters approved a specific vision and warned against scaling back or delaying key projects.
One of the evening’s most closely watched proposals involved the future of the Ballard Link Extension.
Board members rejected an amendment that would have prioritized delivering a Ballard-to-downtown Seattle segment using available North King County funding while reserving funding for a future second downtown transit tunnel.
Supporters argued the proposal could accelerate meaningful transit service to Ballard. Opponents contended it risked disrupting the broader regional system.
Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin was among those opposing the amendment, arguing that prioritizing Ballard in that manner could jeopardize the overall transit network and regional commitments.
The board ultimately voted down the proposal.
A separate Ballard-related amendment was approved on a 13-5 vote.
The measure requires Sound Transit to provide the public with a fixed date or date range for when revenue service is expected to begin at Smith Cove, Interbay and Ballard stations. The agency must provide that information by Aug. 1, 2026.
Supporters said the amendment would increase accountability and provide greater transparency to taxpayers and voters who have been waiting years for updates on project timelines.
Some board members expressed concern that committing to a specific date too early could further erode public trust if future delays force those timelines to change.
The approved resolution identifies projects that are fully funded, projects that may need to be delivered in phases and projects that will require additional funding before they can move forward.
Transit advocates who attended the meeting said they remain concerned about delays but urged the board not to abandon major projects.
“The build the damn trains coalition wanted to see light rail lines not be cut,” Transportation Choices Coalition Executive Director Kirk Hovenkotter told the board. “To keep projects moving because they only get more expensive the longer we wait and to have the board remember we are all in this together as one region.”
The resolution now serves as Sound Transit’s framework for balancing its long-term expansion plans against its current financial reality.
Deferred projects due to lack of resources:
- Tacoma Dome Link Extension Parking
- Everett Link Extension Parking
- Stride Bus Rapid Transit Parking
- North Sammamish Park-and-Ride
- Edmonds and Mukilteo Parking and Access Improvements
- Bus on Shoulder project
- SR 162 Corridor Improvements
- Sounder South Platform Extensions
- Sounder South Station Access Improvements
- ST Express Bus Base, remainder
List of fully funded projects to be completed through construction:
- Tacoma Dome Access Improvements
- West Seattle Link Extension, no Avalon Station
- Renton Transit Center Parking Garage
- Tacoma Dome Link Extension
- Everett Link Extension, phase 1
- Everett Link Extension, phase 2
- Ballard Link Extension, initial segment to Seattle Center
- TCC Tacoma Link Extension (now 2043)
- South Kirkland – Issaquah Link (now 2050)
- Link Operations and Maintenance Facility South
- Link Operations and Maintenance Facility North
- Graham Street Station
- Sounder Maintenance Base
Projects that are partially funded through the planning and design phase:
- Ballard Link Extension, final design phase
- Boeing Access Road Station, final design phase
- Sounder South additional trips (partially funded)
- DuPont Sounder Extension, planning phase
- Regional Parking Fund
- ST Express Bus Base (partially funded)
- High-capacity transit corridor studies/ST4 planning (partially funded)
Unaffordable projects within current resources:
- Ballard Link Extension, Seattle Center to Market Street
- Boeing Access Road infill station
- Sounder additional trips
- DuPont Sounder Extension, final design and construction
- High-capacity transit corridor studies/ST4 planning
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