The Sound Transit Board of Directors convened its meeting on March 27, 2025, and in a unanimous vote, approved the agreement to employ Dow Constantine as the agency's next Chief Executive Officer. Constantine's term is set to run from April 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026, with two potential one-year renewal options at the board's discretion.

The selection process, led by recruitment consultant Greg Moer, was described as in-depth, deliberate, and methodical, involving engagement with over 50 different stakeholder groups and individuals. Moer presented a list of 15 qualified candidates to the CEO selection committee, which was later narrowed down to three finalists who underwent extensive interviews involving board members, community members, and Sound Transit employees. The process emphasized confidentiality to attract a wider pool of candidates though Constantine's name was previously made public by a story published in the Seattle Times.

He previously served on and chaired the King County Council from 2002 to 2009. His political career began as a legislative aide in 1990  and he ran for and won the election for 34th District State House of Representatives serving from 1997 to 2000. He later served as  State Senator from this area from 2000 to 2002. He has served as King County Executive since 2009. His term ends Jan.1, 2026.

He’s a graduate of West Seattle High School and The University of Washington Law School. Board Chair Dave Somers emphasized the thorough and robust nature of the process. Board member (and Mayor of Everett) Cassie Franklin, who had to leave early for her State of the City address, voiced her strong support for Constantine, highlighting his extensive regional experience and commitment to completing the light rail spine to Everett and Tacoma on time. Several board members echoed their support, citing Constantine's deep regional knowledge, history with Sound Transit, and ability to "hit the ground running" on complex projects.

Board member Ryan Melo noted the significant time commitment from board members and the valuable input from stakeholder panels representing transit riders, disability advocates, employees, labor leaders, and business leaders. Board member Claudia Balducci underscored the challenges facing Sound Transit, including the capital program, cost and schedule issues, and operational demands, expressing confidence that Constantine is the right leader for the moment.

Despite some initial hope for an external candidate to bring a fresh perspective, board member Christine Friselle acknowledged Constantine's deep understanding of the agency, its history, and the challenges ahead, expressing eagerness to see his positive impact. Board member Nancy Backus affirmed the board's commitment to delivering light rail to the region and expressed confidence in Constantine's dedication to that goal.

In his address to the board after the vote, Constantine expressed his honor at being selected and his commitment to regionalism, transparency, stability, and an excellent customer experience. He also thanked outgoing interim CEO Goran Sparrman for his leadership.

Other News from the Meeting:

• Lightning Strike Disrupts Service: Interim CEO Geron Sparman reported that a One Line train became stranded between SeaTac Airport and Angle Lake stations due to a direct lightning strike on the overhead power system the previous evening. While safety systems worked as designed, the strike caused significant damage, leading to the closure of Angle Lake station and the termination of One Line service at SeaTac Airport station. There is no immediate estimate for when full service will be restored.

• Boeing Access Road Infill Station: The board approved motion number M2025-14, identifying the East Marginal Way location as the proposed site for the Boeing Access Road Infill Station for environmental review. Staff recommended this location due to better multimodal access, a flat construction site, and its location in an existing developed area. The station, targeted to open in 2031, will include a bus transfer facility and a 300-stall surface parking lot.

• CEO Delegated Authority: The board unanimously approved resolution number R2025-05, amending a previous policy to increase the CEO's delegated authority to execute real property agreements up to $1 million in value. This amendment applies only to voluntary agreements such as leases and easements; acquisitions through eminent domain will still require board approval. This change aims to streamline administrative processes by reducing the need for board approval on lower-value items.

The meeting also included a lengthy public comment period where numerous individuals and representatives from community organizations voiced their opinions on various agenda items, including concerns about the location of future light rail stations in the Chinatown International District and the CEO selection process.