As options for the Ballard Light Rail alignment have been narrowed down, the Seattle Transit Blog is urging against a 14th Ave NW station. Sound Transit’s Stakeholder Advisory Group’s current recommendations for the Ballard station include either 14th Ave NW or 15th Ave NW at NW Market St. The general consensus was that a 15th […]
Tag: Ballard Light Rail

Sound Transit narrows down Ballard light rail options
The options for the Ballard light rail route have been slightly narrowed down, thanks to recent town halls and public feedback. There were a handful of options presented by Sound Transit, with seven different alignment and Ship Canal crossing proposals being considered. After compiling feedback, the Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) has chosen to advance the […]
Narrowing down the Ballard light rail routes as decision time nears
Sound Transit has been busy boiling down thousands of public comments to find the best light rail route into Ballard. Even though light rail is YEARS away, the decision on the specific route — which will be Ballard’s largest development project since the Ballard Locks — will be made early next year. At this week’s […]

Several alternative routes suggested in Ballard light rail feedback
Now that the “early scoping” public comment period is over, Sound Transit is going through the Ballard and West Seattle light rail feedback, looking for consistent themes. They’ve boiled down their early findings in a deck for a presentation this Wednesday to the stakeholder advisory group. As we’ve been reporting, several community groups — and […]
Councilmember urges Sound Transit to consider ‘west is best’ light rail route
Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles has joined several community groups in support of an alternative plan for the Ballard light rail extension called “west is best.” As we reported last week, the alternative route — shown in red above — would run to the west of 15th Ave. W through Interbay and tunnel underneath Salmon Bay to […]

Groups push for light rail tunnel into Ballard and new Interbay route
The first wave of light rail feedback from Ballard neighbors has focused on Sound Transit’s plans to build a movable bridge over Salmon Bay. Many residents suggested a tunnel into Ballard would be less disruptive: light rail would not be interrupted by boat traffic, and businesses and drivers would not be disrupted by the above-ground […]

Should Ballard light rail take a bridge over Salmon Bay? Or tunnel underneath it?
Reading some of the early feedback on the Ballard light rail project, one of the early points of contention is how the trains will cross Salmon Bay from Interbay into Ballard and back. The early plan is to build a movable bridge that runs parallel to the Ballard Bridge, opening and closing for marine traffic. […]

Sound off in Sound Transit’s online open house for Ballard light rail
While the Ballard light rail’s open house is coming up on Thursday evening, you don’t have to wait until then to offer your feedback. Sound Transit launched a rather elaborate online open house for the Ballard-West Seattle light rail project today, complete with a map of the route where you can drop your own comment […]
What if the Sounder train added a Ballard stop?
That’s the idea floated by Stephen Fesler in the Urbanist: what if the North Sounder train, which travels between Seattle and Everett, added stops in Ballard, Interbay and Belltown? Since the tracks already exist (map), the Sounder could add “infill stations” in Ballard just north of the Salmon Bay Bridge and south of NW 57th […]
Plans rolling ahead for Ballard Light Rail extension
Ballard is one step closer to getting a light rail: the Sound Transit Board approved contracts for both the Ballard and West Seattle Link Extensions and established a plan for public involvement in 2018. The board established a $285.9 million budget for preliminary engineering for the project, which would connect Ballard’s Market Street area to […]
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