Seattle Councilmember Proposes Shifting Funds from Downtown Tunnel to Ballard Link

Seattle Councilmember Proposes Shifting Funds from Downtown Tunnel to Ballard Link
SLUG: dan-strauss-restarts-downtown-tunnel-debate-on-eve-of-st3-plan-update
EXCERPT: A Seattle councilmember has proposed reallocating funds designated for a second downtown light rail tunnel towards extending the Ballard Link line, ahead of a crucial Sound Transit board vote on the ST3 plan update.
CATEGORY: transportation
TAGS: Sound Transit, light rail, Seattle, ST3, Ballard Link, urban planning, public transport
SEO_TITLE: Seattle Transit: Downtown Tunnel Funds Eyed for Ballard Link Extension
SEO_DESCRIPTION: Seattle Councilmember Dan Strauss suggests reallocating funds from the planned second downtown light rail tunnel to prioritize the Ballard Link extension, ahead of a key Sound Transit board vote.
MEDIA_QUERY: Seattle light rail train approaching Westlake Station with downtown skyline in background
IMAGE_ALT: A light rail train on elevated tracks in Seattle, with the city’s downtown buildings visible.

Sound Transit board members are days away from a critical vote on the Sound Transit 3 (ST3) plan update, a decision that could significantly alter the timelines for numerous major transit projects. Amidst this pivotal moment, Seattle Councilmember Dan Strauss has reignited a debate surrounding the funding for a second light rail tunnel in downtown Seattle, proposing that these funds could potentially be redirected. The second downtown tunnel is a cornerstone of the ST3 plan, envisioned to carry riders from Tacoma and the Rainier Valley, through South Lake Union, and onward to Ballard.

Unlike many other transit projects approved by voters in 2016, this tunnel is funded collaboratively by taxpayers across the region, from Everett to Lakewood and Sammamish. This funding model is an exception to the long-standing policy of tying investments to locally raised dollars within specific subareas. The rationale behind this exception was the anticipated enhancement of system capacity and redundancy, benefiting the entire region. By diverting trains on the Ballard-to-Tacoma line away from the aging 1980s transit tunnel, service for two other crucial lines – the Redmond to Mariner line and the West Seattle to Everett Station line – would be improved, as they are projected to operate near capacity in the older tunnel following expansion projects.

Key facts

• Feature: Details
• Proposal: Shift funds from a second downtown Seattle tunnel to the Ballard Link light rail extension.
• Proposing Body: Seattle Councilmember Dan Strauss
• Decision Point: Sound Transit board vote on ST3 plan update
• Current Funding Model for Second Tunnel: Regional funding, an exception to subarea policy
• Potential Impact: Re-prioritize Ballard Link, delay or alter second downtown tunnel

Strauss’s proposed amendment, set to be released imminently, aims to reallocate the North King County dollars currently earmarked for the second downtown tunnel and the Ballard Link extension. Specifically, it seeks to shift these contributions from the segment between SoDo and Seattle Center towards a “starter line” between Westlake and Ballard. Strauss clarified that the remaining $7 billion in regional funds would remain unchanged, still allocated to the second downtown tunnel.

This reorientation implies that while the second downtown tunnel would retain some funding, it might not be sufficient to cover its entire estimated cost as currently envisioned. Without Sound Transit securing additional cost savings or new funding, the project’s original scope could be unachievable.

Ballard Link Extension Challenges

The Ballard Link Extension has faced considerable uncertainty. The Sound Transit Board Chair Dave Somers’ “Affordable ST3” plan aims to keep the second tunnel on track but casts doubt on the full Ballard Link Extension. While the entire project is slated for advancement to full design, Sound Transit has indicated a lack of sufficient funding to extend the line beyond Seattle Center. Crucially, the agency has not provided a projected completion date for reaching Interbay or the planned Ballard terminus at 15th Avenue NW and NW Market Street. This lack of clarity has led to speculation and the emergence of the “Ballard 2066” meme among transit advocates.

Strauss’s proposal for a Ballard “starter line” introduces new logistical considerations. Sound Transit would need to establish an independent operations and maintenance facility between Westlake and Ballard, or find a way to connect to its existing SoDo maintenance base. This could involve interlining with the current downtown tunnel or constructing a new, non-passenger tunnel that could later be upgraded with full stations.

The implications of delaying the second downtown tunnel extend to other lines. The West Seattle Link would likely operate as a stub line terminating in SoDo for an extended period, prolonging the necessity of transfers and potentially increasing travel times for those riders. Sound Transit had previously considered a Ballard “stub line” late last year but set the idea aside due to concerns about the risk of changing course. However, Strauss, a vocal proponent of extending the light rail to Downtown Ballard, is eager to revisit this possibility.

Potential Cost Savings and Regional Connectivity

Initial analyses by Sound Transit suggest that building the Ballard Link without the second downtown tunnel could yield substantial savings, potentially exceeding $4 billion in 2025 dollars, a figure that grows larger when accounting for inflation. This potential saving significantly outweighs other cost-saving measures currently under consideration. Strauss emphasized his goal: “We want the second tunnel, but there are other ways to connect the metropolitan regional center that is Ballard to the spine of light rail, and that’s the goal here, connect Ballard to the spine.” He added, “The best-case scenario is we work hard this next year and identify the savings and funding opportunities that allow us to just fully fund the tunnel and just keep going.”

Sound Transit has been actively working to address a projected $34.5 billion funding gap through 2046. Somers’ recent plan has narrowed this gap to between $11 and $13 billion by extending the financial plan to 2052. Despite these efforts, significant portions of the Ballard Link, along with infill stations like Graham Street and Boeing Access Road on the existing 1 Line, and a Sounder S Line extension to DuPont, remain unfunded. The 4 Line between South Kirkland and Issaquah is now projected for completion in 2050, 34 years after voters approved it.

Community and Projected Ridership

Residents of Ballard, who supported ST3 with high voter turnout, have expressed strong opposition to any plan revisions that exclude their neighborhood. They point to the project’s exceptionally high projected ridership, with estimates for the full SoDo to Ballard line ranging from 90,000 to 137,000 daily riders. However, Sound Transit anticipates that only about 25% of these riders would utilize stations north of Seattle Center, with the majority potentially using stations downtown and thus possibly the existing tunnel.

Strauss highlighted the broader network benefits, stating, “Sound Transit has done a good job of building out a regional network. The fact that you can get from Northgate to Redmond without transferring is a really big deal. And right now, the only metropolitan regional centers that are not connected to the spine, in this plan – because we’re connecting to Everett, and Tacoma – are South Lake Union and Ballard, and this amendment would ensure that every metropolitan regional center will be connected to our spine, so that no matter what city you live in, in this region, no matter what suburb you live in, you have the ability to access this regional transit system.”

Source: The Urbanist, https://www.theurbanist.org/dan-strauss-restarts-downtown-tunnel-debate-on-eve-of-st3-plan-update/