Seattle’s City Council is voting on the next steps for the largest infrastructure projects in city history. The major light rail expansion could be a boon for living wage jobs. The $12 billion project has been years in the making and will take decades to complete. The West Seattle Ballard Link Extensions City Team is leading the charge in informing the public.
In June, a West Seattle daycare voiced concerns over the potential project, saying it could be derailed by Sound Transit’s effort to extend light rail service to the area. The Alki Beach Academy said it planned to more than double in size to licensed capacity for 300 children. There is an issue. That issue is; the routes listed as Alternative DEL-5 and Alternative DEL-6 create the outcomes, potentially requiring the daycare to be demolished.
This major light rail expansion project would add more than 12 miles of new light rail track and more than 13 new expanded stations. The city council heard a presentation from the West Seattle Ballard Link Extensions City Team on the background, recommendations, alternatives and next steps for the massive project. Now it’s time to determine what Seattle will do.
The council voted on the amendment revising the goals and objectives related to station circulation, use of the public right-of-way, potential future system expansion and construction methods.
The amendment revises the alignment recommendations for the SODO, Chinatown/International District and Downtown segments of the light rail, as they would connect to the new West Seattle and Ballard extensions.
There is yet more to do. The next step is to finalize the environmental impact study. Construction would not start until 2026 and won’t be completed until 2037 or later.
