By Patrick Robinson

A Transit Town Hall on the West Seattle Link Extension project drew a packed house on Wednesday evening, with over 250 residents responding to a pre-event survey and more than 65 attending in person at the Center for Active Living. The event, hosted by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the 34th District Democrats and moderated by Jordan Crowley of Alki Beach Academy, featured presentations from Sound Transit officials on the latest project plans and timelines.

The full presentation can be downloaded here.

Key updates included:

• The Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is expected to be published in late Q3 2024
• Sound Transit's Board will likely select the final project to be built by the end of 2024
• Construction is slated to begin in 2027, with service starting in 2032
• The preferred alternative includes  stations at Delridge, Avalon and underground at the Alaska Junction

Leda Chahim, Deputy Executive Director of Government & Community Relations at Sound Transit, provided an overview of the project context and timeline. She emphasized community engagement efforts, stating: "Your feedback is really critical in this. We start at a higher, more conceptual level based on what we know about the stations and then as we advance from planning into design, we get into more and more detail and there's more and more opportunities to engage." During the presentation she noted on one slide that the project is:

• Supporting jobs: 323,000 direct and indirect jobs from 2022 to 2046.
• Getting to and from our stations: $100 million System Access fund for sidewalks, protected bike lanes, shared use paths, bus-rail integration, and pick-up/drop-off areas.
• Sustainability: One of only two 100% carbon-free light rail systems in the U.S.;
  2021 emissions declined even as we opened new stations and increased ridership.

Daniel Turner High-Capacity Transit Development Manager from Sound Transit presented conceptual site plans for the three West Seattle stations - Alaska Junction, Avalon, and Delridge. The plans highlighted potential station layouts, access points, and opportunities for transit-oriented development.

Faith Roland Real Property Director discussed the property acquisition and relocation process, noting: "This is the part that feels hard for a community, because this is where we're asking folks to sell property that isn't on the market for sale. Typically we're asking folks to move when we need to acquire property and we're helping them do that along the way."

Jordan Crowley, the event moderator, expressed enthusiasm for the community engagement: "Seeing people show up to events like this and being really to have these conversations in person I think is incredible. I love seeing the engagement."

King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda was also in attendance, demonstrating her interest in the project's progress.

Next steps for the project include:

1. Publishing the Final EIS
2. Board selection of the project to be built
3. Federal Record of Decision
4. Advancing into the design phase
5. Beginning property acquisition and relocation processes
6. Construction planning and permitting

The meeting highlighted both the excitement for improved transit in West Seattle and the challenges of implementing such a large-scale project in an established urban area. As the project moves forward, continued community engagement will be crucial in shaping the final design and mitigating impacts on local residents and businesses.

Here's a summary of the key points from the Q&A session, with some quotes.

1. Project timeline and potential delays: The team is working to streamline the process, but there are risks of delays in permitting and construction. As one team member noted: "There are risks that can happen during the construction process. We know what we know. We're only at about 30% design and there's still a lot of design to happen."
2. Station locations and impacts: The presenters discussed the specific locations of proposed stations, but were limited in what they could say about property impacts before the final Environmental Impact Statement is released.
3. Transit-oriented development: Sound Transit aims to align transit-oriented developments with light rail opening. As Leda Chahim explained: "Our hope is that we align the opening of these transit oriented developments as much as we can with when service opens for the light rail."
4. Cost increases: There were questions about reported cost increases. Leda Chahim acknowledged cost pressures but did not confirm specific numbers, saying: "We as an agency as well as other public agencies are seeing cost escalation with our projects and it can be for a variety of reasons."
5. Business relocation concerns: Several business owners expressed frustration about the relocation process and compensation. Phil Gustafson owner of the School of Rock West Seattle located in Jefferson Square stated: "We're screwed. We're absolutely screwed. It's not just me and my personal investment in the community over 10 years that's getting damaged."
6. Relocation assistance: Faith Roland explained: "Every reasonable and necessary cost to move a business is a move expense. There are a smaller amount of reestablishment expenses that are limited and that's a smaller category. The move expenses are unlimited."
7. Community preservation: Concerns were raised about preserving the character of West Seattle. One resident asked: "What is the guarantee that you can ensure to businesses to stay here and keep our community feel that we've had for donkeys ears?"
8. Ongoing community engagement: Some attendees expressed frustration with the long planning process and lack of answers. One person commented: "After seven years, it's starting to sound a little like Sound Transit does not give a **** about the community."

The Sound Transit team acknowledged the frustrations and emphasized their commitment to community engagement, with Leda Chahim stating: "We really care about meaningfully engaging folks. We are doing our best and we want to try to do better."

For more information on the West Seattle Link Extension project, visit the Sound Transit West Seattle extension information page here.