On August 5 at 1:00 p.m., the Sound Transit Board of Directors will convene for a special meeting to vote on the realignment of the voter-approved ST3 light rail expansion package.
The Board plans to take a vote on a hybrid realignment proposal that combines King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci’s proposal with Chair Keel’s initial realignment proposal. The hybrid proposal seeks to keep projects on time or even deliver ahead of schedule where possible. To do this, the proposal creates an advisory task force consisting of experts whose goal would be to analyze how projects can be delivered faster, an innovation that CM Balducci introduced.
The hybrid proposal focuses on keeping projects on time by requiring the board to look at cost offsets for each project; this includes looking at securing additional revenue and identifying cost savings. This will allow many projects to retain their original delivery date. However, if sufficient funds can’t be obtained for certain projects, the proposal retains the tiered schedule of Chair Keel’s proposal, so individual projects may be delayed to secure the overall affordability of ST3.
Board members will also vote on additional amendments to the proposal.
The Chamber continues to support CM Balducci’s efforts to ensure that projects are delivered on time. We have a duty to see ST3 investments through to keep our region economically competitive and to ensure our region has equitable access to jobs and education. Please find our letter supporting CM Balducci’s amendment last month, urging Sound Transit to deliver expansion as close to the promised timeline as possible.
We continue to advocate for increased stakeholder engagement by Sound Transit. It is critical that this outreach include the business community, representatives from historically underserved and unserved neighborhoods, and community groups.
The Chamber will submit a letter supporting the hybrid proposal. If you have any questions or concerns regarding realignment, please reach out to Meg Hanan, external relations coordinator. We also encourage you to submit your own comments by either emailing the Board or testifying in support of the hybrid proposal at the meeting on August 5. Find details on how to testify and watch the meeting here.