Sound Transit Weighs ST3 Cuts Over $34 Billion Gap, Putting Ballard Link at Seattle Center
Updated
Updated · KOMO News · May 14
Sound Transit Weighs ST3 Cuts Over $34 Billion Gap, Putting Ballard Link at Seattle Center
1 articles · Updated · KOMO News · May 14
$34 billion in projected funding shortfalls over the next 20 years is driving Sound Transit’s executive committee to consider scaling back the voter-approved ST3 expansion at a special Thursday meeting.
The current proposal keeps Tacoma, Everett and West Seattle expansions on track, but would limit several other projects to design work or partial funding rather than full construction.
Ballard Link is the clearest potential rollback: the extension is deemed unaffordable in full and would stop at Seattle Center instead of reaching Market Street, while the Issaquah line remains under review with a completion date 24 years away.
Public comment is set to play a central role before the agency’s board is expected to vote May 28 on a reshaped expansion plan after earlier cost-cutting ideas drew criticism from taxpayers and elected leaders.
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