District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold shared news with her constituents about the vote for the City of Seattle to enter the agreement with Sound Transit for the West Seattle and Ballard extensions.
On Monday the City Council will vote on legislation to enter into an agreement between the City of Seattle and Sound Transit. This agreement will formalize City-Sound Transit cooperation to implement the West Seattle and Ballard light rail projects, approved by voters in the November, 2015 ST3 ballot measure.
The agreement notes that the scope for ST3 is equal to the first two Sound Transit ballot measures (1996 and 2008) combined. To meet this challenge, the agreement notes Sound Transit is embracing new ways of working internally, and with project partners like the City of Seattle.
The goal of the agreement is for the City and Sound Transit to work together seamlessly, with clarity to budget and schedule, and with specific points for City concurrence. A number of provisions are designed to help move the timeline forward as much as possible.
The agreement calls for the development of a preferred alternative for a light rail alignment, with city concurrence, during the 1st or 2nd quarter of 2019. It is important to note that this involves setting a preferred alternative earlier in the process than during ST2. Construction is set to begin in 2025, with service to West Seattle beginning in 2030.
The starting point for consideration is the representative alignment included in the ST3 plan approved by voters. Here’s the link for West Seattle to Downtown Light Rail. It lists stations at Delridge, Avalon, and Alaska Junction, and notes, “this representative light rail project would connect West Seattle to downtown Seattle via Alaska Street, Fauntleroy Way, Genesee Street, Delridge Avenue, Spokane Street, and the SODO Busway.”
As a Sound Transit project, the Sound Transit Board approves the alignment for light rail. The agreement includes an “Elected Leadership Group” to make recommendations regarding the alignment and other issues to the Sound Transit Board. The Elected Leadership Group will consist of Sound Transit Board members and other local elected officials in the corridor. As District 1 representative for West Seattle, I’ll be serving on this board.
Regarding potential alternatives, the “Parties acknowledge that suggestions to study additional alternatives are likely to emerge during the alternatives development process. The Parties will collaborate on the evaluation of reasonable alternatives that could meet project objectives and fulfill the purpose and intent of the voter-approved ST3 Plan. The target is to identify options to be investigated as soon as possible during alternatives development to support the goal of early and durable consensus on a preferred alternative.”
The agreement also sets a goal of seeking ways to streamline permitting. These could involve code changes, or discretionary department decisions. (for more, see Exhibit G, a letter from Sound Transit from April 25, 2016). Exhibit D notes the goal for a preliminary permitting plan is the 1st quarter of 2018.
The agreement further notes the City and Sound Transit will seek to resolve any potential conflicts between City, such as the Fauntleroy Way Project, and Sound Transit planned projects: “The Parties will share information on existing conditions and planned projects within the Project area with the intent to identify opportunities for coordination and resolve conflicts as early as possible during Project development, and to reduce risks to Project development and delivery.”
The legislation was approved in the Sustainability and Transportation Committee earlier this week; here’s a link to the presentation.
