{"id":22057,"date":"2026-07-31T13:25:38","modified":"2026-07-31T13:25:41","slug":"sound-transit-announces-timeline-for-building-light-rail-to-ballard","link":"https:\/\/council.seattle.gov\/2026\/07\/31\/sound-transit-announces-timeline-for-building-light-rail-to-ballard\/","title":{"rendered":"Sound Transit announces timeline for building light rail to Ballard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sound Transit announced today that the Ballard Light Rail Extension could begin service to Market Street in Ballard by 2042<\/a> if it is able to close the project\u2019s funding gap by 2033. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a board and an agency, we are united in our commitment to deliver the full Ballard Light Rail Extension and all voter-approved ST3 projects,\u201d said King County Executive Girmay Zahilay <\/strong>(Sound Transit Board Member). \u201cThe information provided by Sound Transit today shows we can deliver light rail to Market Street in 2042 if we stay focused over the next 7 years on finding cost savings and additional financial capacity. I\u2019m ready to do everything in my capacity as a board member and regional leader to make this happen.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLight rail to Ballard is not dead. Today\u2019s announcement shows us the way to get Ballard Link back on track. I asked for Sound Transit to\u00a0provide\u00a0this date range to increase transparency for the public and provide us all\u00a0a clear vision\u00a0of the work we must do together to deliver light rail to Ballard. We must use these tools and get this project delivered\u00a0by 2042. We always knew that without\u00a0additional\u00a0resources or cost savings the date would be unacceptable. Now, we are unified on the work we must do to move that date sooner,\u201d said\u00a0Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(Sound Transit Board Member).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a lifelong transit rider, I know how important the full build out of ST3 is to people\u2019s lives and to our region\u2019s future. As your Mayor, I\u2019m going to make sure we get it across the finish line. Together with my fellow Board members, Sound Transit staff, and our partners in local government, I\u2019m confident we will find creative ways to lower costs and fund construction of the Ballard Link Extension all the way to Market Street,\u201d said Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson<\/strong> (Sound Transit Board Member). As we saw this summer, a connected and convenient transit system can elevate a city and region to world-class status, and we are committed to building upon that success.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The funding package adopted by the Sound Transit Board in May included 100% design for Ballard and amendments sponsored by North King County board members to accelerate Sound Transit\u2019s pursuit of cost savings, additional financial tools, and community and board accountability on Ballard light rail\u2014including providing a date for delivering Ballard that\u2019s accurate and informed by analysis,\u201d said King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda <\/strong>(Sound Transit Board Member). \u201cToday we are seeing action on those directives. The framework shared by Sound Transit provides a date that\u2019s grounded in tangible steps for delivering all the way to Market Street. The design work done on West Seattle shows what\u2019s possible when we demand creative thinking and aggressively pursue cost-savings options: properties avoided, ridership retained, and billions saved. Now we must apply the same approach to Ballard while rolling up our sleeves with our state legislative partners to secure the needed financial tools. We will get to Ballard, and we will not stop working until we deliver on that commitment.\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May, the Sound Transit Board adopted an updated Sound Transit 3 (ST3) system plan to address its long-term financial shortfalls. That plan fully funded an initial segment of the Ballard Link, from Chinatown-International District to Seattle Center, but designated the rest of the project, from Seattle Center to Ballard, as not currently affordable within existing resources.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sound Transit\u2019s North King County Board Members, including King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, and Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss pushed for changes to that plan in support of Ballard light rail. One of those was an amendment, sponsored by Councilmember Strauss, that required Sound Transit to provide the public with a date range for building light rail to Ballard by August 1, as they have now done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ballard Link Extension Timeline<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The full Ballard Link Extension from Chinatown-International District to Market Street in Ballard could open as soon as 2042 if Sound Transit further reduces project costs, increases financial capacity, and secures the remaining construction funding.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sound Transit is actively searching for ways to reduce costs for the Ballard Link Extension. Similar work for the West Seattle Link Extension already identified around $2.5 billion in cost savings. Meanwhile, there are several options for Sound Transit to expand its financial capacity through strategies like pursuing state authority for longer term bonds, increasing debt capacity, reforming permitting to speed project delivery, and securing additional third-party funding.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sound Transit announced today that in order complete the full Ballard Link Extension by 2042, the agency would have to meet the following milestones:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n