Ballard light rail extension open house and forum next month

In September, Sound Transit will be hosting a neighborhood forum and open house to provide the latest information about the route and station locations proposed for the Ballard light rail extension. The meeting will be held on Monday, September 17 from 5:30pm to 8pm at the Ballard Eagleson VFW (2812 NW Market St).

Sound Transit has been gathering public opinion about the potential route and stations; click on the map above to see comments.

The meeting will start with an open house and will provide an opportunity for participants to talk with project staff and learn about the updated project details and concepts for the Smith Cove, Interbay and Ballard stations. Sound Transit will then provide a brief presentation about the planned light rail route development. After the open house, there will be optional small-group discussions to share insights with neighbors and project staff.

Sound Transit is still in the planning phase for the project; they estimate that light rail service to Ballard will begin in 2035. To learn more about the project in its entirety, click here.

13 thoughts to “Ballard light rail extension open house and forum next month”

  1. “they estimate that light rail service to Ballard will begin in 2035.”

    Oh yeah, we take you at your word on that, Sound transit. Just like ST2 was on time and on budget, right? Hey, it’s OK, just move the goalposts again, then you can claim that.

  2. I plan to attend. I have to hear, with my own ears, why this ridiculous city cannot install light rail to Ballard in less than 17 years. Mindbending.

      1. This is the correct answer. It’s not reverse racism or “equity” or “Dow Gets It First”. Ballard to Expedia would be useless without the second tunnel, which will portal west of Seattle Center in the bluff above Elliott.

  3. I’m really looking forward to this, I’m excited about taking it to the Seattle center and downtown. I wonder if they’ll be any cost overruns and delays in the light rail line opening up or if it will open up on time and under budget.

  4. I wouldn’t worry about this anymore. If light rail ever does make it to Ballard, we will have to fly helicopters to get anywhere because traffic will be so bad that we have gridlock 24/7. By the time they even make it to Ballard (if), some other technology will exist and slow, light rail trains will be obsolete.

    The fact that the city still wants to put street cars above ground is proof that traffic will never, ever, not in this lifetime be better than it is now. It’s going to get much worse before it gets better.

    For example: it would be faster to make a system of fast foot ferries to get North and South of Seattle but the council hasn’t even thought of that yet. Kitsap has them already. Why doesn’t Ballard, Fremont, Renton, Kirkland, Bellevue, Everett, Tacoma, Bellingham, and or Anacortes have a ferry system that runs North or South?

    The infrastructure (water) already exists! Why not put a few ferry terminals in the above mentioned towns and connect those terminals to already existing roads?

    1. I would absolutely board a fast foot ferry (FFF!) from Ray’s to Colman Dock or farther down to Sea-Tac with shuttle bus to airport. Great idea!

    2. King County looked at Water taxis from Shilshole to downtown– it wasn’t cost effective. Like the idea of taking North Sounder having a stop at Golden Gardens– there isn’t enough density to justify the cost.

  5. I wonder if I’ll still be alive when it opens? I wonder what the population of our resident killer whale population will be? I wonder if Jay Inslee will be president?

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