In 2016, a regional transit expansion measure, Sound Transit 3, comfortably passed with the strongest support in Seattle. Seven years on, planning is still underway for the single biggest project, the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions. Meddling by the Sound Transit board, often in the name of austerity, has been a drag on progress and is turning a good project into a decidedly bad one, as this video explains. Misguided views on temporary impacts, potential mitigation, and cost savings by the agency and board have put numerous voter-approved stations in Seattle on the chopping block, all at the cost of a functioning transit system oriented around riders, while sensible strategies to avoid unnecessary costs and impacts are being eschewed. The video encapsulates the myriad problems within the agency and its army of consultants and thinking on the agency board.
Stephen is a professional urban planner in Puget Sound with a passion for sustainable, livable, and diverse cities. He is especially interested in how policies, regulations, and programs can promote positive outcomes for communities. With stints in great cities like Bellingham and Cork, Stephen currently lives in Seattle. He primarily covers land use and transportation issues and has been with The Urbanist since 2014.