Ballard light rail is arguably the biggest development project planned for the neighborhood since the construction of the Ballard Locks and the Ballard Bridge. And now Sound Transit is ready to start gathering neighborhood input.
The first “open house” is set for Thursday, Feb. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the Leif Erikson Lodge. Sound Transit says it will “introduce you to the project team, share information, answer your questions, and get your input on the project.”
Sound Transit has also scheduled the first Ballard-West Seattle light rail advisory group meeting.
It may seem like an eternity before light rail is in place — Sound Transit estimates the Ballard route will be operational in 2035 — but this is a very formative stage in the project’s development. As we’ve reported, it will involve a new movable bridge over Salmon Bay as well as elevated track and an elevated station — and new tunnels in South Lake and downtown.
We’ll keep you updated…
If it’s not a tunnel it’s not happening. A bridge is a non-starter in the conversation.
Billions of dollars on a light rail system that gets stuck on a bridge every time a millionaire takes his sailboat through the locks is not a long term solution. UW got a tunnel and so will we.
I agree Ballardite!
just imagine the traffic on 15th and along elliot when this construction is going on. RUFKM
I’m looking forward to having more mid-19th century transportation technology in Seattle.
@Ballardite: Good point, though if openings are restricted during rush hours, it shouldn’t be too bad.
@Rufus455 & Thats_It: and the alternative?
I, for one, can’t wait. Wish it were 2025 though.
It’s not public transit in Seattle unless an adult child “community member” throws a violent tantrum because they can’t score drugs while the riders cower behind their dog babies – like what happened on today’s morning commute. Let’s make sure the train operators mind the speed limit, too, eh?
Our 19th century forebears would be so proud.
By 2035 light rail will be obsolete. Cars will be driving (flying?) themselves and by then teleportation will be the new way to travel. Can someone please explain to me why Seattle is the worst at public transit? If we are gling to have a train we should utilize the commuter rail since it goes right through Ballard every day…..
@Flaming: Are you OK? Your delusional ramblings are extra delusional as of late. Did you go seek mental help like I suggested? Maybe you should try using some of those drugs you claim to see everywhere.
@BallardJohnson: autonomous vehicles are still space hogs (even though the supposedly can get closer together, but does that mean banning traditional vehicles in 2034?) and won’t solve the density/mass-rapid-transit problem. Bikes and mass rapid transit are the answer.
Build a high rise bridge that doesn’t have to open, or at least a higher bridge that rarely has to open. I see plenty of bridge openings for sailboats and barges that just barely don’t fit under the current bridge. Route all vehicle traffic over this new high bridge. Retain the lower bridge for local traffic and narrow to one lane in each direction, using the other lanes for bicycle traffic.
@FFS: I suspect the bridge will be higher than the current bridge so would have to open much less. I love the idea of keeping both, though I wonder about cost and logistics of that.
I agree it’d be nice if the train could go under the lake rather than over a movable bridge, but it may not be quite right to draw comparisons to the capitol hill-UW link. That section goes under the montlake cut, which was a man made and thus shallow and narrow body of water. I don’t know how wide or deep the part of the lake is that the train would have to go under to get into Ballard.
@ASDF – ISTBC but Salmon Bay (over which the bridge or under which a tunnel would pass) is not “the lake.” It was a naturally formed, formerly salt water body attached to Puget Sound. It is still that to the west of the Locks and now part of the Lake Washington Ship Canal to the east…but most folks from around here that I know call it “the bay” and not “the lake.” Forgive me if I am misunderstanding you.
Unbelievable! Note that if the Monorail had gone through – as the public voted for something like 4 times – it would have been up and running to 85th for years already, and people would be clamoring to expand it… sigh…
ooh choo-choo twains! i wuv choo choo twains!
Ballard people always say they don’t want/won’t use the train. Why would ST build something expensive like a tunnel for them?
Please provide a citation or an article that says this Truth (1/31/18 at 1:05). (I have the ST3 vote, which passed in Ballard)
Just read the posts above, this is a giant waste of money.
@Truth
All that time you spend grinding your quinoa over Trump’s tweets could be spent demanding our shoddy “city leadership” actually do their jobs. Think about it. The safety on transit is a big concern, especially after dark, especially downtown. Ridership would increase dramatically – and also feed the push for a real rail transit system here.
Dunno if you’ve noticed – maybe the pink hat knitting project is too time consuming – but that McD’s on 2nd and the whole surrounding area is an open air drug market. The city could shut down that place and require Metro to step up security, but instead they’re “resisting” or conducting some other bit of sophomoric political theatre for the benefit of their smug, affluent constituents.
Imagine a safe, clean Seattle. Just imagine, Truth.
“safety on transit is a big concern”
Read: “eek brown people”
I’m just here for the tone policing. Tasty.
Man, I must be taking the same delirious drugs that Dumpster Fire does. There’s a bunch of posts on here that I don’t remember making!
Should I whine and cry libel?