ST Board Meets to Postpone ST3 Projects

Update: The resolution passed with some of the amendments. Analysis at end of article.

The Sound Transit board meets today at 1:30-5:00 to revise the ST3 system plan to reduce costs. The meeting page has links to the agenda, resolution, amendments, reports, and information on how to view the meeting and give public testimony in person or remotely. A video of the meeting will be posted to ST's YouTube channel within 48 hours after the meeting.

The proposed resolution postpones some ST3 projects to get costs down to the available debt limit. 13 amendments reverse or soften some of the changes. As reported, Dan Strauss proposed focusing on Ballard while deferring the second downtown tunnel. Vice Chair Claudia Balducci proposes studying automation and other cost reduction measures and other details. Another resolution would increase the car rental tax. Each resolution requires a supermajority vote to pass.

This article is to collect comments from the meeting and its outcome.

Amendments:

• #1: Adopt revised resolution and attachments with additional language and estimated project costs listed in attachments without substantive changes to projects selected for advancement/deferral. ADOPTED (unanimous)
• #2: Systemically explore extraordinary and innovative approaches" for project delivery and reduce costs. ADOPTED (unanimous).
• #3: Adopt structure for financial rebalancing to avoid recurring realignment" episodes. ADOPTED (unanimous).
• #4. Maintain stability and reliability of Sound Transit service as top priority. ADOPTED (unanimous).
• #5. Explore alternative access for stations with deferred parking facilities; establish Regional Parking Fund". ADOPTED (unanimous).
• #6. Take $100M from assumed South-Kirkland Issaquah Link Extension (SKILE) cost to fund construction of Renton Transit Center Parking Garage. ADOPTED (15 aye, 3 nay).
• #7. Issue bonds to kick-start regional parking fund. NOT ADOPTED (superseded by #6).
• #8. Advance the Graham Street Infill Station. ADOPTED (unanimous).
• #9. Provide alternative transit service for deferred BAR station. ADOPTED (unanimous).
• #10. Develop range of options for additional revenue to backfill ST3 as part of updated Regional Transit Long Range Plan. ADOPTED (17 aye, 1 nay).
• #11. Add two-page Attachment C" to advance BLE as soon as possible, including issuing an RFI for innovative project delivery options. ADOPTED (unanimous roll call vote).
• #12. Provide date to finish BLE from Seattle Center to Ballard. ADOPTED (13 aye, 5 nay).
• #13. Build the Ballard Starter Line instead of DSTT2. NOT ADOPTED (4 aye, 13 nay)

Final Result:

The resolution with some of the amendments passed 15-2, the supermajority it needed.

• Ballard Link is advanced to 100% design, with construction from CID to Seattle Center, and setting a date when the full Ballard line will open (the date will be set in the next several months). The Ballard-Westlake interim project was defeated.
• A couple amendments commit to exploring emerging/innovative technologies" including automation.
• Graham Station advances. By June 2027 a report will be submitted on how to shrink the funding gap by coordinating with the City of Seattle on MLK street revisions and expediting Link permitting and other measures that could lower costs and speed up completion.
• BAR station gets a similar report by February 2027, and another report by March 2027 on ways to provide interim transit service and last-mile support in the area.
• A Regional Parking Fund" and other interim support will be established for the Renton TC P&R and other P&Rs deferred in the plan.

ST News Release:

An ST news release characterizes the resulting projects' status as follows. (The rest of this section is a direct quote.)

The following projects are fully funded and will 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

The following projects are partially funded and will be completed through planning and design:

• 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)

Projects not currently affordable within existing resources

The agency will continue to pursue additional funding for the following projects:

• 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

Projects deferred until resources are identified

• 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

Edit, 1:11pm: corrected Claudia Balducci's title (ND)

Edit, 4:44pm, onwards: amendment summaries and vote updates (ND)

Edit, 7:53pm & 8:26pm: Final result section and ST news release section, amendment 13 result, summary update at top. (MO)