Seattle On Track is an advocacy organization working to ensure that Sound Transit gets the Ballard Link Extension built. The project is wildly overbudget risking it being cut entirely. We advocate for building the downtown segment of the project in a way that is fiscally responsible, technically sound, and truly transformative based on international best practices to deliver on the promise made to voters of getting the train to Ballard. This project will shape Seattle’s future for generations to come.

Our Mission

We believe Seattle can have world-class transit without spending $22 billion on just 7 miles of light rail. We advocate for a uniquely high quality and transformative at-grade solution that saves billions, delivers faster speeds, and creates a vibrant public realm downtown. The world’s greatest transit cities have already proven this works (remarkably well, in fact), and Seattle deserves nothing less.

Our Message to Sound Transit

The WSBLE extension does not need to be this expensive. ST3’s budget has ballooned from $54 billion to an estimated $90–100 billion — a $34.5 billion shortfall that has Sound Transit board members openly discussing cutting the Ballard extension short. We believe the answer is not to cut the vision. It’s to build smarter. The decision window is open right now, and the time to act is now.

The Problem

• At $20–22 billion for 7 miles, the current WSBLE plan is on track to be the most expensive light rail project in human history at $2.8 billion per mile. This is more than global cities spend on heavy rail, automated metros, and even intercity high speed rail.
• Sound Transit has floated cutting the Ballard extension short due to cost overruns, potentially breaking the promise made to voters in 2016.
• The proposed second downtown tunnel will run trains just as fast as at-grade with none of the additional benefits of being at-grade, while costing an estimated $7–12 billion for the tunnel segment alone. This means less money on building more stations and miles. This also means the train may never actually get to Ballard because the money will run out too soon.
• Deep underground stations require 2+ minutes of escalator and elevator time each way which is friction that surface-level stations eliminate entirely. Additionally, broken escalators, elevators, venitalation shaft issues, constant maintanance make it costlier in the long run while also being less accessible for people with accessibility needs.

The Solution

• Follow the proven model of Zürich, Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna, Sydney, and others. These cities choose at-grade not as a fallback or comprimise, but as the preferred choice for its speed, beauty, and transformative street-level impact.
• Pedestrianize 1st Avenue and create a world-class linear park which connects Pioneer Square to the Seattle Center in under 6 minutes with native landscaping, outdoor seating, and restaurant patios transforming a car-dominated street into a world-class public space.
• Trains will never stop at lights or be stuck in traffic. Run light rail at-grade along 1st Avenue on a nearly or fully car-free street with dedicated right-of-way with preemptive signal priority at every intersection.
• Achieve 20 mph through downtown (faster than the existing tunnel) between stations. This is the same speed as our streetcars, but the trains never get stuck in traffic or at lights. This means it takes less than 6 minutes to get from Pioneer Square to Seattle Center through a beautiful and accessible linear urban park with iconic attractions, green space, and a bustling restaurant scene.
• Save an estimated $7–10 billion on the downtown segment alone, a nearly 50% cost reduction on the Ballard segment. This will get the trains all the way to Ballard instead of stopping short like what is currently being proposed.

Why It Matters

These are generational investments that will define how Seattle looks, moves, and feels for at least the next 50 years. Getting them right matters for every transit rider, every taxpayer, and everyone who will call this city home long after current decisions are made.

We are not asking to cut service or stations. We are asking Sound Transit to build more wisely and responsibly, learning from the way Zürich, Amsterdam, and Paris build. High-quality at-grade rail on 1st Avenue isn’t a compromise; it’s a generation-defining improvement. It is also the only viable path to keeping Ballard’s light rail promise alive.

The Urgency

Sound Transit is actively exploring cost-cutting options right now. The Board has asked staff and the public for creative solutions. Design decisions that will be difficult to reverse are being made now, with a final decision due within a few weeks. If we want this alternative to receive serious, formal study, we need to generate public and political momentum now before the window closes. The moment to push is now.