SEATTLE — Sound Transit’s board of directors has approved the final route and station locations for the West Seattle light rail extension.
The project will add 4.1 miles of track with four new stations at SODO, Delridge, Avalon and the Alaska Junction.
The board’s approval allows the project to move into the final design phase. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and is estimated to take about five years.
“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.”
Approved by voters in 2016, the project is expected to cost between $6.7 and $7.1 billion, which is a sharp increase over the projected total of $5 million just last year.
The route includes an at-grade station near South Lander Street in SODO, connecting to an elevated track along the West Seattle Bridge to the Duwamish section near SW Andover Street. The route then connects elevated tracks to a station near 35th Avenue SW and Fauntleroy Way SW, into a tunnel along 41st Avenue SW to end near SW Hudson Street.
“Today’s action gives Sound Transit the green light to move forward on West Seattle Link Extension’s final design, to study ways to contain costs, and to work further on avoiding or mitigating the impacts of this major construction project in the neighborhoods it will serve,” said Sound Transit System Expansion Committee Chair and King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci.