Sound Transit plans tunnels to add $ 1 billion to light rail project



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For Sound Transit, the West-Seattle-Ballard Light Rail Link has been reduced to four projects.

(Lee LeFever)

Sound Transit's board of directors decided on Thursday to narrow down its preferred options for the West Seattle-Ballard light rail link, one of which is a tunnel project that would cost an additional $ 1 billion.

The city is considering an expensive tunnel for Ballard and the Seattle West Light Rail Transit

The proposed tunnels would pass under Salmon Bay and would not be covered by the $ 54 billion included in ST3. For this reason, the project would need third party funding to fund it properly.

According to previous estimates, the tunnels would cost $ 350 million more than the project to create lanes on a drawbridge. The bridge would be higher than the Ballard Bridge and would be open two to four times a day to maritime traffic.

The last bridge over Salmon Bay, about as high as the Aurora Bridge, was also taken into consideration. That would cost about $ 100 million more than a drawbridge, but $ 250 million less than the tunnels.

Proponents of the tunnels say it would be less disruptive to neighborhoods in the long run and more aesthetic, which in the end was worth it.

"The tunnel is without a doubt what would work best for everyone," KIRO 7 TV, chair of the Seattle Harbor Commission, said last month.

Sound Transit installation would have delayed Dick's expansion

Opponents, however, argued that the time and money needed for the tunnels would delay the expansion of the tramway in the North Sound area. With this in mind, the three members of the Sound Transit Board for Snohomish County voted against the project, to which two representatives from Pierce County joined.

The executive of Snohomish County, Dave Somers, said at Thursday's board meeting that, if chosen, the tunnels should be paid for by the city of Seattle and that county officials should not bear the extra costs.

The total expansion plan adds nearly five miles of light rail between West Seattle and downtown Seattle, with five stations located between the stadium area and the Alaska junction. The stations should open in 2030.

By 2035, an additional 11 km of light rail will connect Ballard to downtown, which would include nine stations between Chinatown International District and Ballard.

For the moment, Sound Transit's Board of Directors will consider four options in total: two with tunnels, largely separated by station locations, a drawbridge and a high fixed bridge. Sound Transit will vote on its final decision in 2020.

KIRO 7 TV contributed to this story

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