Sound Transit weighs scaled-back ST3 to close funding gap

Sound Transit is weighing three illustrative options to shorten, phase, or delay ST3 light-rail expansions to West Seattle and Ballard to close a $34.5 billion funding gap. The plans would cap certain segments (West Seattle to Alaska Junction with Avalon removed; Ballard to Seattle Center) or delay both and phase other projects, with blends likely. Cost estimates could drop by about $2.1-$2.6B to roughly $4.9-$5.3B (2025 dollars), but long-term affordability remains a challenge into the 2030s. Local leaders push to keep West Seattle shovel-ready and pursue Ballard and the regional spine, while Ballard's EIS remains on track for 2026. The neighboring ST2 project’s I-90 link is opening next week, six years behind schedule.