Sound Transit approves Affordable Schedule at a cost to riders
Written by RT&S Staff
An advocacy group leader says an urban gondola system would be up sooner and cost less than a light-rail system.
The Sound Transit board approved the Affordable Schedule on Aug. 5, but it will only cost the public access to new light-rail lines as a number of projects now face a delay.
The schedule was created to deal with a $6.5 billion funding shortfall. Most projects now have a later finish date … some by just two years and others by as much as 10 years.
Light-rail lines from Angle Way to Federal Way, and Overlake to Redmond, will still hit their target dates of 2024, but the Ballard Station, approved by voters to be finished in 2035, will now be complete in 2039, while tracks will not reach downtown Everett until 2041 instead of 2036. The Federal Way-to-Tacoma route will be two years late.
The board has elected to avoid delays with other projects by doing a number of things, including: hiring consultants to come up with ideas that will save money; bringing in more money via federal grants, borrowing, or other sources; and by requiring quarterly updates from transit staff about project affordability.
While determining the Affordable Schedule, board members had there sights set on 2029, when there would not enough taxpayer and bond money coming in to pay for all the projects at the same time.
The news also comes in the wake of a study that was conducted on 180 rail transit projects from around the world by the Eno Center for Transportation. The research showed U.S. projects cost nearly 50% more than in Europe.
Eight projects are being delayed due to more than just a funding shortage. The COVID-19 pandemic has added time to the process of choosing routes and completing environmental and permitting requirements.
Read more articles on passenger rail.
