In this episode of The Urbanist Podcast, our newsroom discusses what the crosslake 2 Line opening will means for the region, what removing Claudia Balducci as System Expansion Committee Chair means for Sound Transit, and what the region is doing to address a constitutional crisis created by Trump’s
The $5.6 billion to $6.3 billion light rail line between South Kirkland and Issaquah is currently set to open by 2044 but could see further delays. Newly elected Mayor Mark Mullet wants the project to serve as an example of how to get creative in response to funding shortfalls.
On Saturday, February 14, simulated service on the full 2 Line will commence, with train operators mimicking the service patterns they intend to operate after the March 28 grand opening. Light rail riders will be able to benefit from doubled train frequency in stations from the International Distric
Anticipation is building for the 2 Line extension March 28, crossing Lake Washington and tying the Eastside into Sound Transit’s broader light rail network. But much work remains to get the next set of expansions right, and removing Claudia Balducci as System Expansion Chair launches that work on a
A pair of bills advancing this week at the state legislature would finally allow Sound Transit to rise above the local permitting fray in several key areas. The reforms could save as much as nine months on key transit projects, according to the agency.
Claudia Balducci, the second longest serving member of the Sound Transit board, will no longer be a member of the committee she’s lead since 2018. The swap out comes just as the board faces critical decisions around the future of the Sound Transit 3 expansion plan, work that will largely be hashed o
Eagerly awaited by transit riders, the full 2 Line light rail connection will finally bridge Seattle and the Eastside and bring expanded train service all the way from Redmond to Lynnwood. The expansion will bring stations at Judkins Park and Mercer Island online.
Adding a light rail stop next to Bellevue’s decommissioned airport could unlock more than 100 acres for dense urban development, boosting the potential of the planned line to Issaquah. Like Bel-Red or the Spring District, Eastgate could be the next Bellevue neighborhood to transform with transit-ori
Sound Transit needs a systematic strategy for closing its $35 billion funding gap. Delivering the expansions promised to voters is possible, but requires political leadership and an appetite for a sea change within the agency. A former SDOT director offers a road map.
1 Line light rail service will be disrupted starting 10pm Friday through Sunday, January 11, as Sound Transit conducts signal work in preparation for the 2 Line extension. Stations from Capitol Hill to SoDo will be closed with replacement bus service offered. WSDOT is also launching Revive I-5 work
With simulated light rail service across I-90 less than a month away, Sound Transit appears poised to beat its deadline of opening the full 2 Line by May 31. Simulated service will also bring increased train frequency between International District and Lynnwood, a big boost for riders.
Ring in the new year with free transit on King County Metro, Sound Transit, Seattle Streetcar, Pierce Transit, Community Transit, Everett Transit, and Intercity Transit.
The cost of additional delay and reduced resiliency in the light rail system were cited as reasons to set aside the idea of dropping Ballard Link’s planned tunnel under Downtown Seattle. But the discussion is likely to set up a broader debate of just who benefits from that tunnel — and who pays for
Ryan Packer, Amy Sundberg, and Doug Trumm discuss the Federal Way Link light rail opening in early December, Katie Wilson’s transition team and early hires, and the Seattle City Council’s vote to approve a controversial labor contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild.
Tabling a second light rail tunnel through Downtown Seattle and redesigning Ballard Link to use the existing tunnel could save $4.5 billion, and Sound Transit has been too quick to dismiss the idea, Scott Kubly argues. The money saved could reduce delays and fund important transit upgrades elsewhere
In this short video, Hanoch Yeung of Best Side Cycling shares vignettes of Federal Way Link opening day events, some in-motion clips along the route, and elements of the station grounds at the there new light rail stations.
Sound Transit’s analysis, prompted by a request from King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci, looks at ways to get to Ballard without a new tunnel under Downtown Seattle. While the potential cost savings could be as much as $4.5 billion, the idea of delaying Ballard Link even further on top of si
The board motion advanced this week asks for one final look at where fare gates would make sense in Sound Transit’s light rail system before implementing a potential pilot program before the end of 2026.
Transit riders and elected officials alike celebrated light rail’s arrival in South King County, as Sound Transit held a grand celebration to tout its three new stations and cut the ribbon in Federal Way.
The three stations of the eight-mile Federal Way Link light rail extension open December 6. Here’s your guide to the new line and the opening day festivities.
With three “downtown” stations and counting, Sound Transit must overhaul its station naming policy and name its stations less confusingly so that riders can easily navigate a growing system.
Homebuilding activity is anemic near the three Sound Transit light rail stations opening this month in South King County. The Urbanist reviews the 3,000-plus homes in the development pipeline, and explores the obstacles standing in the way.
Sound Transit’s four new members join other reappointments and board members whose terms are not up for renewal. This new freshman class will not have much time to get adjusted before being faced with major decisions around the future of the region’s transit system.
Sound Transit gave reporters a sneak peak at the three new light rail stations set to open in Kent Des Moines, Star Lake, and Downtown Federal Way. Check out the station designs and their custom artwork ahead of the grand opening Saturday at 11am.
Light rail riders will see out-of-service trains running between International District-Chinatown and Lynnwood as the next major milestone for testing on the full 2 Line.
Long promised and approved by voters in 2016, the cost to build two deferred light rail stations in Seattle and Tukwila has jumped by more than two-thirds in just a few short years. The two projects are likely to be put under a microscope along with the big-ticket ST3 rail extensions.
As the Sound Transit board approaches the point of grappling with how to rebalance the entire Sound Transit 3 package, transit advocates are urging them to look for new solutions outside of project delays or cancellations.
The Saturday and Sunday closures through Downtown Seattle come ahead of additional maintenance work planned later this fall and winter.
Before moving ahead with building a second Downtown Seattle light rail tunnel as planned, Sound Transit is taking a second look at putting a third line in the existing tunnel instead. Doing so would entail some major tradeoffs, which the agency intends to fully lay out in its study.
Since voters approved West Seattle and Ballard Link in 2016, the two projects have been caught in a perfect storm of factors that led to the eye-popping cost estimates that we have today. While the path forward looks bleak, there are signs that Sound Transit is learning from its mistakes.
Some Sound Transit boardmembers have questioned the necessity of building a second light rail tunnel in downtown Seattle, arguing that routing Ballard Link through the existing tunnel could save billions. However, that arrangement introduces huge challenges of its own. Here’s why a second tunnel is
Costs are going up on all Sound Transit 3 projects, with West Seattle Link now expected to cost up to $7.9 billion, Everett Link $7.7 billion, and Ballard Link more than $20 billion. Sound Transit has been able to identify cost-saving opportunities in Everett, but Seattle is in a tough position.
Eyeing upgrades happening at other transit systems around the country, Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine is set to propose further analysis of implementing fare gates at stations. The agency hopes to increase fare compliance on Link light rail, shoring up a revenue source.
With the long-awaited inaugural “live wire” test successful, Sound Transit will continue tests on the Lake Washington bridge for another 10 to 12 weeks, followed by several months of running empty trains. Monday’s test was a crucial milestone to stay on track for a full 2 Line grand opening next spr
The Series 3 cars, set to go into service starting in 2033, would boost passenger capacity by between 5% and 13% while being 10% cheaper. Other details, including passenger layout and amenities, remain to be determined as Sound Transit continues planning.
Faced with an agency-wide budget gap approaching $30 billion for the next wave of expansion plans, Sound Transit boardmembers are retreating to their corners and doubling down on parochialism. Clearly, a more holistic approach is needed, driven by outcomes and regional cooperation.
A press event in Ballard Tuesday was intended to bolster support for getting Seattle’s next two light rail lines across the finish line. But rhetoric won’t change the dynamics on the Sound Transit board, which feature suburban leaders just as dug in to prioritize the spine from Tacoma to Everett.
Runners are competing in a 36-mile “Light Rail Relay” race on September 27. It’s a low-cost, transit-friendly way to compete in a cross-country race tracking the path of 1 Line Link service.
Work to close the 20-25% funding gap announced Thursday will likely have far-reaching implications on everything from system expansion projects to how Sound Transit delivers current service. The coming months will likely see assumptions long thought settled back on the table.
Federal Way Link will open on December 6, ahead of the previous plan for an early 2026 opening, Sound Transit announced today.
While the ability to run trains across the floating bridge continues to be a major impediment to getting the full 2 Line running, other issues along the existing 1 Line could pose even greater challenges to maintaining consistent service.
Planned 4 Line light rail would stop well short of urban cores in Kirkland and Issaquah and not open until the 2040s. This makes bus rapid transit a better fit that can be deployed more quickly and economically, Oliver Chen argues.
More than 300,000 riders used the 2 Line in July, a 47% increase over June. Averaging more than 10,000 daily riders, the 10-station line rivals the busiest King County Metro routes in terms of usage.
With monthly ridership now exceeding 200,000 on the 2 Line, Downtown Redmond Link has clearly kicked things into a higher gear. Having a light rail station so well integrated into a growing urban neighborhood is likely part of the recipe for success.
Light rail riders are poised to be able to take 1 Line trains all the way to Downtown Federal Way before the end of 2025, thanks to work accelerating the grand opening. That will pave the way for a full opening of the 2 Line across Lake Washington by spring of 2026.
Two votes next week will align the City of Seattle with Sound Transit, opening the door to West Seattle Link Extension permit applications later this year. The move comes right on the heels of an overhaul of the city’s land use code’s light rail provisions.
The preferred concept for an I-90 bridge in Central Issaquah would cost at least $110 million, and is seen as an essential component of creating a more connected neighborhood around a future light rail station. Councilmembers are wary about jumping in with both feet.
All 1 Line stations in Downtown Seattle will be closed Saturday June 21 to Sunday June 22, after Sound Transit discovered a section of rail in need of replacement near Westlake. The agency plans to run shuttle buses to bridge the gap every 30-60 minutes. Alternate transit routes may best serve rider
Sound Transit diverges from international standards by building oversized underground stations that add hundreds of millions in costs to little benefit. Overhauling the agency’s planning framework to promote more efficient designs could help keep projects on track as they face massive financial stra
After navigating through a number of major issues that added years of delay, the Sound Transit board is poised to adopt a new preferred alternative for Tacoma Dome Link. The project isn’t slated to reach full design until 2027 and to open until 2035.
Last night, Sound Transit announced it was shutting down 2 Line light rail service on its new Redmond segment (which just opened May 10) to allow for overhead wire repairs. Until that work is complete and inspected, a bus bridge is replacing the light rail service, connecting to Overlake Station whe
Rather than jumping through new hoops to submit permit applications, Sound Transit will instead simply need to submit a report laying out the public outreach it conducted. The change should allow the original intent of the bill to streamline permitting to be maintained.
Councilmember Maritza Rivera’s last-minute proposal would require additional public outreach and documentation for light rail permit applications. The underlying bill had been intended to cut red rape. After pushback from Councilmembers Rinck and Strauss, the vote was delayed a week.
The unpowered tow across the I-90 floating bridge Wednesday marks a big milestone for the beleaguered East Link project. A grand opening of the 2 Line in early 2026 is highly dependent on how the next few months of testing go.
Eastside leaders speechified and cut the ribbon on the Downtown Redmond Link light rail extension on Saturday. Thousands thronged the 2 Line to get their first look at the two new stations that opened, bringing the full line to ten stations.
Light rail finally arrives in Downtown Redmond Saturday, the culmination of years of work by Eastside leaders to bring high-capacity transit to this growth hub.
The 2017 Marymoor Village growth center has led to a number of larger multifamily developments in the area around Marymoor Park in Southeast Redmond. This weekend, light rail finally arrives.
New apartment buildings like Eastline and Polaris have brought hundreds of units close to Redmond’s forthcoming downtown light rail station. On the horizon are even bigger projects.
Redmond’s 1993 Downtown Plan led to an urban transformation that saw the construction of over 5,000 new units between 2000 and 2020. This Saturday, light rail arrives to support that urban growth.
With a major dog park set to be a transit-accessible amenity along the Sound Transit light rail network, the agency is on track to reconsider its current policy that bans dogs and cats that aren’t in containers.
The green light from the feds comes on the heels of the Sound Transit board advancing funding for West Seattle Link’s design, in the face of increasing trepidation over costs.
Andrew Villeneuve offers recommendations for Redmond eats, activities, and happenings and invites urbanists to Northwest Progressive Institute’s Downtown Redmond Link opening day celebration on May 10.
Expectations are high for longtime board member Dow Constantine’s new job as Sound Transit CEO. Here’s what The Urbanist’s newsroom has at top-of-mind in the months ahead.
A newly adopted vision statement and guiding principles set the stage for future negotiations between Issaquah and Sound Transit over what the city’s light rail station will look like and whether it will be surrounded by a parking crater or a vibrant, walkable neighborhood.
Dow Constantine will leave his post as King County Executive and take over as Sound Transit’s CEO on April 1, after the agency’s board of directors approved the hiring in a unanimous vote Thursday. Constantine takes over at a tenuous time, with projects budgets bursting at the seams.
Pinehurst Station construction and downtown tunnel track repairs are bringing disruptions to 1 Line light rail service from now until May 29. The downtown tunnel work will truncate service from April 14 to 23. Plan accordingly.
The Sound Transit Board of Directors revealed today its CEO pick is King County Executive Dow Constantine, who has served on the board for 16 years. Constantine has been a controversial candidate, with some observers seeing a seasoned executive who helped build the agency and others a borderline cas
A decades-long planned Link infill station in North Tukwila is set to move into environmental review with a single alternative recommended by Sound Transit staff. The recommended alternative forsakes a long standing objective to connect with Sounder and leaves the station relatively isolated.
As Sound Transit builds the largest light rail expansion in the country, splitting the system into urban and suburban lines could unlock its full potential and queue up logical extensions.
Following an early planning process for the Graham Street infill station, Sound Transit has formally selected a particular location and design approach for the future Rainier Valley station.
The Sound Transit Executive Committee approved a secret “Candidate C” as its CEO pick today. It’s unclear if that candidate is King County Executive Dow Constantine or another finalist. The committee will seek to negotiate an employment contract and formally approve the hire at the agency’s full boa
The 30 to 60 days of additional review isn’t unique to Sound Transit’s light rail project, CEO Goran Sparrman said, but will nonetheless likely alarm many transit advocates and threaten the project’s schedule.
Praised for delivering Seattle’s massive waterfront revamp, the Office of the Waterfront has faced criticism for being shadowy and unaccountable. Now it will become a one-stop-shop for Sound Transit permitting.
Weekend service disruptions continue Sunday, February 23 on the Link 1 Line. Sound Transit will suspend light rail service between Capitol Hill and SoDo stations to facilitate maintenance and construction work, and offer replacement bus bridge service.
After serving as a leader on the Sound Transit Board for 15 years, Dow Constantine revealed Friday he is seeking the job as the agency’s CEO. Some transit advocates remain skeptical.
Seattle’s land use code is ill-equipped to handle the scale of permits that will be required to approve the city’s next light rail lines. This proposed overhaul is intended to ensure transit remains on schedule.
The 3.4-mile light rail extension will add a station at Marymoor Village, near King County’s largest park, and in the heart of Downtown Redmond. The May 10 opening sets the stage for the full extension of the 2 Line across Lake Washington later this year.
Raised crosswalks and flashing beacons are set to be installed this summer at Judkins Park’s I-90 ramps, which are steps from the forthcoming light rail station.
A quiet change to the spending categories in Seattle’s dedicated transit funding measure mean that the City of Seattle will be able to hire dozens of staff to work on different aspects of Sound Transit planning.
The first few months of the year are bringing 1 Line service disruptions that could hit unprepared riders hard. Here’s everything you need to know.
City Beautiful’s urbanism content creator, Dave Amos, recently visited the Seattle area to explore future transit-oriented development sites and the planning that is going into them. Featured in the video are future station areas like Interbay and Kent-Des Moines as well as a potential second Pioneer Square station predicated
October is the first month that the Link light rail system has topped three million rides in Sound Transit history.
Sound Transit’s governance structure and limited organizational powers cause project delay, inflated costs, and lower quality service. The Washington State Legislature should audit and reform the agency to get it back on track.
Sound Transit is delaying repair work that had been planned December 7 and 8, but expanding its maintenance work and service disruption schedule in January and February.
Sound Transit plans to make a series of spot improvements over the next few years intended to improve safety at its at-grade stations in the Rainier Valley. But multiple board members are pushing the agency to think much bigger.
A third-party consultant told the Sound Transit board this week that the Fourth Avenue station option in Chinatown is “not reasonably constructible,” due to lengthy construction timelines and a laundry list of risks that come with construction next to a BNSF rail line.
Weekend disruptions for 1 Line riders in early November and December will likely cause headaches, but are set to ultimately benefit riders. Mark your calendar to navigate disrupted light rail service November 8-10 and December 7-8.
The Sound Transit board approved the route for West Seattle Link Thursday, clearing the way for engineering work that will advance the project to 80% design by 2027. Opponents cited worries that rising project costs would jeopardize light rail extensions to Tacoma and to Everett.
Ballard Link is still in planning, eight years after the passage of Sound Transit 3. With the environmental review process essentially starting over, major action on the project isn’t expected until 2025.
Despite significantly increased costs, the Sound Transit board is full steam ahead on advancing West Seattle Link to full design. What could that mean for the entire Sound Transit 3 plan?
Sound Transit may be headed for another round of light rail project delays due to poor decision-making, and it needs to be open to overhauling the ST3 program.
Cost estimates on the four-station West Seattle Link light rail project have jumped from $4 billion to upwards of $5.6 billion. It will fall on the Sound Transit board to find a way forward.
With construction on West Seattle Link’s four stations set to start as early as 2027, the City of Seattle is starting to look at how people will access the stations via walking, biking, and transit on redesigned local streets.
Ridership on the abridged Eastside-only 2 Line has surpassed agency expectations, with daily light rail boardings hovering around 6,000 between May and July. The Link 1 Line also posted strong ridership numbers this summer.
Builders have nearly 3,000 homes in the works near Lynnwood’s freshly opened light rail station. But more than half hang on two massive projects that are in limbo.
Lynnwood Link opened on Friday and the excitement was high among riders and dignitaries, alike.
Lynnwood Link has finally arrived! Here’s everything to know about the launch and the urban transformation happening along the light rail extension.
Light rail is finally arriving in Shoreline and South Snohomish County. Local governments have been working toward this day for a long time.
Ahead of Friday’s launch of the northward light rail extension, take a tour of the Lynnwood City Center Station.
More than 1,800 homes are under construction, recently completed, or planned near Mountlake Terrace Station, where light rail service will soon commence.