The pricey-yet-popular tunnel option to connect downtown Ballard to light rail has been scrapped in favor of cheaper options.
Sound Transit board members have decided to drop the proposal that would create a $450 million tunnel under Salmon Bay directly to 20th Ave NW. They also are moving away from ideas for a $200 million tunnel through West Seattle’s Pigeon Point, and an elevated railway in Sodo.
The preferred alternatives for Ballard now include a tunnel that would run from the Interbay station under 15th and end at a tunnel station at either 14th or 15th, a movable bridge crossing Salmon Bay west of the Ballard Bridge to an elevated station at Market and 15th, and a high fixed bridge with an elevated station at 14th and Market.
As the Seattle Times reports, Mayor Jenny Durkan warned that the fixed bridge alternative could be as high as the Aurora Bridge, which would create large structures on land and in the water, potentially disturbing salmon migration. Rather, Mayor is in favor of the tunnel under 15th, which would still cost roughly $100 million less than a tunnel under 20th.
Even when considering cheaper options, the price for expanding light rail to Ballard and West Seattle could add up to $1.7 billion, which means the City will still need to seek third-party funding.