Somers Plan Keeps Rail Spine Intact, Delays Ballard and Eastside Links

Sound Transit chair Dave Somers proposes a revenue-conscious revision of ST3 that preserves the light-rail spine to Everett and Tacoma while deferring or delaying several costly extensions, including Ballard Link and the Eastside line. West Seattle Link would move ahead, but the Ballard northern segment and the Rainier Valley infill station face delays or uncertainty, and the South Kirkland–Issaquah link is pushed to 2050. The Sounder N Line would end in 2033, and a T Line extension to Tacoma Community College would stretch to 2043, with a Sounder extension to DuPont deferred indefinitely. The 18-member Sound Transit Board has about three weeks to negotiate changes before a May vote to finalize a new ST3 plan.