In an effort to rescue the light rail project to Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, city councilmember Dan Strauss has put forward a radical proposal: start construction with the segment from Ballard to Westlake, instead of the planned second downtown tunnel. The statement came at the last minute ahead of a decisive vote by the Sound Transit board, which must allocate funds amid a colossal $35 billion shortfall.
The problem stems from Sound Transit — the regional transit agency governed by a board made up of representatives from Seattle, the suburbs and King County — facing a funding gap. Disagreements between the city and the suburbs over priorities have only made matters worse: Seattle, with its dense development, often demands more downtown stations, while suburban jurisdictions press for expanded service into their areas. A second underground tunnel in downtown Seattle had been planned to relieve the existing line and connect three directions, including Ballard. But rising costs put that idea at risk, and several stations, including Ballard, were deemed “unbuildable” in the near term.
Strauss, who represents the interests of Ballard residents — one of the city’s most densely populated neighborhoods — argues that his proposal makes more sense. Ballard draws residents because of its mix of historic architecture, developed infrastructure and proximity to the sound: population density is high due to the large number of apartment buildings. The neighborhood is currently served by bus routes, including RapidRide D Line, and ferry service, but lacks light rail, though construction was included in the ST3 plan. “My proposal is to connect one of the densest places in the region to light rail,” he said. In his view, building a second downtown tunnel where there is already rail would be redundant, while Ballard would remain without modern rail transit.
Under Strauss’s plan, passengers from Ballard heading south, for example to the airport, could transfer at Westlake station — a key hub on the existing light rail line. Westlake, an underground station in the heart of Seattle, serves as a transfer point between light rail and the monorail, linking riders to bus services and the retail core. It is one of the busiest stations, providing access to major transit corridors and connecting the north and south lines. Preliminary estimates show a new segment from Ballard to Westlake could carry about 70,000 people daily. However, the idea has received mixed reactions from other board members, especially those from suburban areas who view the second tunnel as a regional asset needed to increase the system’s overall capacity.
The main questions concern logistics and cost. How would a future tunnel from Ballard connect to the existing downtown line? Would phased construction lead to additional expenses for raising and lowering tunnel-boring machines? Strauss estimates the Ballard-to-Westlake project would cost roughly $10 billion, and that funding could come from taxes paid by Seattle residents and nearby cities. Disputes over fund allocation often delay construction because taxes are collected across the county. He believes remaining funds for the second tunnel should come from other sources, including federal grants.
Beyond Strauss’s idea, other important amendments are up for a vote. Seattle Mayor Kshama Sawant and King County Executive Jermaine Zahilah proposed retaining the Graham Street station in south Seattle, which faced the threat of cancellation. That project, promised to voters in 2016 as part of the Sound Transit 3 (ST3) referendum, is important to low-income residents. The referendum called for new light rail lines to Ballard and West Seattle, as well as extensions to Issaquah and Federal Way, and its rollback has sparked protests because residents are already paying higher taxes with the hope of improved transit access and reduced congestion. There is also the potential to allocate $100 million for a bus garage in the city of Renton, which has waited more than 30 years for light rail but has yet to receive it.
The Sound Transit board’s decisive vote is scheduled for Thursday. The outcome will determine which projects are implemented in the coming decades and which are postponed indefinitely. Despite disagreements, Sound Transit has until the start of 2029 to refine logistics, costs and financing before completing environmental studies and applying for federal grants.
Based on: Seattle council member offers drastic proposal to save Ballard light rail - The Seattle Times