Ballard light rail route and station options: share your input

Sound Transit is in a massive information gathering phase as they roll out the options for the West Seattle and Ballard light rail extensions. They’ve been holding informational meetings, the next of which is coming up on Monday, Sept. 17 from 5:30 to 8pm at the Ballard Eagleson VFW (2812 N.W. Market St).

Route options for the Ship Canal crossing explore a few possibilities: a tunnel, a high-level fixed bridge, or a moveable bridge. Ballard station options are plentiful: an elevated station at 15th and Market, an elevated station on the east side of 17th and Market, a tunnel station on the west side of 15th and Market, an elevated station at 14th and Market, or a tunnel station at 14th and Market.

In a recent overview of the options, the Seattle Transit Blog suggested that another bridge over the canal could pose issues for Fishermen’s Terminal. Their recommendations for route/station alignment was for 15th Ave NW — they say 14th is too far from Ballard’s core, and 17th would be too disruptive and far from major bus routes along 15th.

Here’s a synopsis of each route option for the Ballard extension, as listed on Sound Transit’s website (click on the title to view the maps and pros and cons of each):

ST3 Representative Project Elevated guideway in the middle of 15th Avenue W. Includes an elevated station near Elliott Avenue W and W Prospect Street, an elevated station at 15th Avenue W and W Dravus Street, a movable bridge crossing Salmon Bay just west of the Ballard Bridge, and an elevated station on the east side of 15th Avenue NW just south of NW Market Street.

20th/Fixed Bridge/17th Elevated guideway west of Elliott Avenue W. Includes an elevated station on the west side of Elliott Avenue W, then heads west of the BNSF property along 20th Avenue W. Includes an elevated station at 20th Avenue W and W Dravus Street, a high-level fixed bridge crossing Salmon Bay farther west of the Ballard Bridge, and an elevated station straddling the east side of 17th Avenue NW and NW Market Street.

20th/Tunnel/15th Elevated guideway west of Elliott Avenue W. Includes an elevated station on the west side of Elliott Avenue W, then heads west of the BNSF property along 20th Avenue W. Includes a retained cut station at 20th Avenue W and W Dravus Street, a tunnel crossing under Salmon Bay, and a tunnel station on the west side of 15th Avenue W just south of NW Market Street.

15th/Fixed Bridge/15th Elevated guideway west of 15th Avenue W. Includes an elevated station near Elliott Avenue W and W Prospect Street, an elevated station near 16th Avenue W and W Dravus Street, a high-level fixed bridge crossing Salmon Bay just west of the Ballard Bridge, and an elevated station just southwest of 15th Avenue NW and NW Market Street.

Central Interbay/Fixed Bridge/14th At-grade guideway west of Elliott Avenue W. Includes an at-grade station on the west side of Elliott Avenue W just north of the W Galer Street bridge, then continues at-grade just east of the BNSF property. It moves to an elevated guideway and includes an elevated station near 17th Avenue W and W Dravus Street, a high-level fixed bridge crossing Salmon Bay east of the Ballard Bridge, and an elevated station straddling 14th Avenue NW and NW Market Street.

Armory Way/Tunnel/14th At-grade guideway east of Elliott Avenue W with an at-grade station near Elliott Avenue W and W Prospect Street. Becomes elevated to cross 15th Avenue W and travels along W Armory Way, then continues at-grade just east of the BNSF property. Includes retained cut station near 17th Avenue W and W Dravus Street, a tunnel crossing under Salmon Bay, and a tunnel station straddling 14th Avenue NW and NW Market Street.

Central Interbay/Moveable Bridge/14th At-grade guideway west of Elliott Avenue W. Includes an at-grade station on the west side of Elliott Avenue W just north of the W Galer Street bridge, then continues at-grade just east of the BNSF property. It moves to an elevated guideway and includes an elevated station near 17th Avenue W and W Dravus Street, a movable bridge crossing Salmon Bay east of the Ballard Bridge, and an elevated station straddling 14th Avenue NW and NW Market Street.

Central Interbay/Tunnel/15th At-grade guideway west of Elliott Avenue W. Includes an at-grade station on the west side of Elliott Avenue W just north of the W Galer Street bridge, then continues at-grade just east of the BNSF property. Includes a retained cut station near 17th Avenue W and W Dravus Street, a tunnel crossing under Salmon Bay, and a tunnel station straddling the east side of 15th Avenue NW and NW Market Street.

Sound Transit is asking for input on preferred options — click here to provide feedback.