Seattle Urges Speed in Light Rail Expansion, Rejects Indefinite Deferrals

At a Seattle City Hall forum, city and county leaders pressed Sound Transit to keep all ST3 light-rail expansions moving, arguing against indefinite deferrals of Ballard, Graham Street, and other stations and demanding 100% design plans with firm construction dates. Advocates floated funding tweaks (longer bond terms up to 75 years, state/federal grants, and a rental-car tax) alongside cost-saving design choices like trapezoidal station layouts to close a $34.5 billion funding gap while preserving regional connections to Snohomish, Everett, and Tacoma. The discussion also covered automated light-rail concepts, CID station planning, and the need for regional collaboration, as Snohomish County Executive Somers pushes a spine-first plan that delays some infill projects. A Sound Transit board vote on revised finances was anticipated later in May.