Ballard light rail facing funding gaps as Seattle's Sound Transit hosts forum
Ballard, WA residents given chance to weigh in on Light Rail expansion
On Monday, Ballard residents will be given an opportunity to get answers on the Ballard Link extension, which would connect the area to Seattle Center, South Lake Union, Westlake, SODO, and more. The trains are scheduled to open by 2042.
SEATTLE - Residents in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood will have an opportunity Monday evening to address Sound Transit leaders directly regarding the future, timeline, and ongoing funding hurdles facing the proposed light rail expansion to their neighborhood.
Sound Transit is holding a public community forum from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the National Nordic Museum in Ballard. Agency leaders, Sound Transit board members, and local elected officials are scheduled to attend for a public question-and-answer session.
Addressing delays and funding gaps
A primary focus for attendees will be obtaining clarity on the updated Sound Transit 3 (ST3) project schedule and financial roadmap.
Under current agency timelines, light rail construction spanning from SODO to the Seattle Center is fully funded, with passenger service targeted to open in 2039. However, full construction funding required to extend the track through South Lake Union and all the way to Ballard has not yet been secured.
What's next:
To bridge the gap, Sound Transit is working to trim project costs and identify additional revenue streams while the expansion proceeds through the environmental review phase.
Environmental review and timeline
Timeline:
The Ballard Link Extension is designed to connect the Ballard neighborhood to key transit hubs through Seattle Center, South Lake Union, Westlake, and SODO. Once complete, the route is projected to serve nearly 150,000 daily riders, making it the highest-ridership expansion project in Sound Transit’s history.
The agency's next major regulatory milestone is the release of its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), which is expected late this year or in early 2027. Community feedback gathered during events like Monday's forum will help inform the project's progression during this phase.
Event details
What you can do:
The public forum runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the National Nordic Museum. Organizers noted that activities for children will be provided on-site, as well as refreshments.
The Source: Information in this story comes from original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle and Sound Transit.
MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
1 dead, 1 injured in Burien shooting; no arrests made
Bend, Oregon school shooting: What to know about the suspect
Tacoma market owner extradited from India over $600K food stamp scheme
Alert Seattle sign-ups spiked following ‘Bite of Seattle’ shooting
NBA Expansion: Adam Silver says Seattle SuperSonics return 'no longer a lock'
‘It's already here’: Western WA faces unusually early flu surge
Seattle-area highway closures to cause heavy traffic this weekend
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.