Sound Transit Board selects final West Seattle Link Extension route and stations
Last edited Thu Oct 24, 2024, 08:49 PM - Edit history (1)
October 24, 2024
The Sound Transit Board today selected the route and station locations for the West Seattle Link Extension. This action authorizes the project to move forward into the final design phase. Construction is expected to begin in 2027.
Today’s action also establishes the project definition for the NEPA Record of Decision (ROD). When the ROD is issued, the federal environmental review process will be complete, and the project can proceed. This milestone is expected in late 2024.
In conjunction with publication of the Final EIS in September, Sound Transit updated the cost estimate for the West Seattle Link Extension to between $6.7 and $7.1 billion. In response to this significant increase, the Sound Transit Board passed Motion M2024-59 directing the agency to develop a workplan to improve the agency’s financial situation and move WSLE through design to inform a financially sound project to be baselined. This workplan will include programmatic, financial, and project-level measures.
“Today marks an important milestone in delivering light rail to West Seattle,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and King County Executive Dow Constantine. “Through the Board-directed work plan, our action today allows Sound Transit to use the design process to address cost pressures, reduce impacts, and prepare projects for construction, fulfilling our promise to the voters. I want to thank everyone who has engaged with us throughout the planning process to-date.”
https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/news-events/news-releases/sound-transit-board-selects-final-west-seattle-link