Ballard/West Seattle Open Houses Coming Up

Representative project alignments for the West Seattle and Ballard Link extensions (courtesy of Sound Transit)

The stats suggests that a few of you are interested in the Ballard to West Seattle light rail alignment in ST3. Your first shot to ask questions directly of agency staff is coming up in a couple of weeks.

West Seattle: Tuesday, Feb. 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Alki Masonic Center

Ballard: Thursday, Feb. 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Leif Erikson Lodge

Downtown: Tuesday, Feb. 20, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Union Station

Can't join us in-person? Our online open house goes live on Feb. 12: wsblink.participate.online.

There are several open debates on this alignment. Beyond the issues discussed at the link, Rob Johnson has expressed a desire to move the Ballard station west of 15th. In any case, the wish list generally costs money. Sound Transit hasn't shown much inclination to let the schedule slip to take on some of these desires. The overall project budget, though fairly conservative at the time, is threatened by both a volatile federal administration and a Washington Legislature inclined to raid ST's budget to fund tax cuts. The decision process is supposed to wrap up in the next year or so.

This confluence of conditions is not good for people who hope to broaden the scope.