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Ballard Link Extension
Ballard Link Extension is
A planned light rail expansion project that would connect SODO to Ballard with a new tunnel running through downtown, South Lake Union, Seattle Center, lower Queen Anne, Interbay, and Ballard. It may have 9 stations. (It is the darker green line on the map to the left.)
Why are we involved?
Historic South Downtown supports transit as a valuable part of an equitable, sustainable future. We believe that well-planned, well-designed transit can benefit our existing Chinatown International District and Pioneer Square neighborhoods, residents, and businesses.
Timeline for the Ballard Link Extension Project
As of the publication date for this timeline, we are waiting for a firmer timeline for the new draft environmental impact statement process for the now solo Ballard Link Extension. We said this for the first time in November 2024. We are stating it again in January 2026. The DEIS has been delayed by Federal approvals since May 2025. It is currently proposed for Q1 2026.
The Ballard Link Extension is currently slated to open for service in 2039.
August 28, 2025
Board Member Balducci raised the question or cost savings achieved by eliminating the second downtown Seattle transit tunnel from the BLE plan. Meeting Minutes (page 5).
May 29, 2025
Board Retreat (1st of 2 this year) kicks of the Enterprise Initiative, a program response to the cost overruns projected for current system expansion build out. In contrast to the 2021 Realignment Process, the Enterprise Initiative promises to look at all aspects of Sound Transit's system, not solely system expansions. The deficit is projected at $20-30 billion at this time.
November 13, 2025
Second Board Retreat in 2025. Discusses the staff report studying the tunnel elimination scenario, to be presented in December. Retreat minutes.
December 18, 2025
Second downtown Seattle transit tunnel study report presented to Executive Committee, and then full Board. Presentation, report, minutes. It seems to be tabled, not for further discussion at this time.
November 14, 2024
Sound Transit staff presented the "further study" requested by the board in 3/2023, including additional information on 4th Ave S Shallow and Shallower stations, the South of CID/Dearborn St station, and some new drawings for the 5th Ave Diagonal alternative.
October 28 --
December 9, 2024
As the Ballard Link environmental process is re-starting, scoping reopened allowing for public comment on the project's need & purpose, alternatives to be studied, and areas of research. Read HSD's scoping comments here.
February 2025
Federal Reduction in Force (RIF) staffing changes reduced the capacity of Federal Transit Administration (and other federal agency) staff, which has led to project review delays.
Let's look at how South Downtown changes may affect your trips.
The Sound Transit Board is making decisions now that will change the way we ride in the future. Historic South Downtown is committed to helping our communities understand the options and changes so they can participate in shaping this future.
The Ballard Link light rail expansion will affect how people get to or from our South Downtown neighborhoods for generations. Large transportation projects will affect our community priorities, for better or worse.
We’ve created these animations to demonstrate the differences in connections between the station locations Sound Transit is considering in South Downtown. These are based on public information from Sound Transit, accurate as of September 2024. These are sample trips, though as all commuters know, you’ll find your own best routes.
The Routes
Animations brought to you by Historic South Downtown and Madrona Bureau.
Animated by Freyja Whitney
Narration by Jazzlyn Brewster
Sound Design by Maxim Eremenko
November 15, 2023
Sound Transit open house on Ballard Link Extension and the transit hub around Union Station -- called Jackson Hub or South Downtown Hub.
October 2022 - January 2023
Further study period for the Ballard Link Extension project. In south downtown, this included 4 public workshops for the CID segment. In December 2022 and January 2023, a new set of station options were proposed. The "North of CID" and "South of CID" stations would replace the planned CID and Midtown stations. Midtown stakeholders were not part of the CID segment discussions, as the Midtown station was in the Downtown segment in the DEIS.
July 28, 2022
Sound Transit Board votes for a further study period on CID segment station locations. To continue the process, the Board identified a "preferred alternative" for the West Seattle line, and split the two extensions apart again. This split is finalized in July 2023. [M2022-57]
March 23, 2023
Sound Transit Board identifies the "Station North of CID" and "Station South of CID" as the preferred alternatives in South Downtown, as well as directing further study of the station option "CID 4th Avenue Shallower." [M2023-18]
February 28, 2024
South Downtown Hub (formerly Jackson Hub) Workshop #1 is held at Union Station. The focus was on pedestrian and transit improvements in the area around the two historic train sections, and questions about station locations and alignments were not considered.
2018
Project scoping begins, outlining possible alternative alignments for the West Seattle and Ballard Link extension projects, as well as potential station locations. At this point, the two expansion projects are linked into one for the environmental processes.
2019-2021
Sound Transit and Federal Transit Administration oversee contractors preparing documents for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (Section 106) processes required for the project to proceed.
These processes require research to determine how a project that the federal government will fund and permit will affect natural and cultural resources -- agencies must seek to minimize or compensate for harms caused by the project.
2015
Sound Transit 3 is put forward to voters with a package of transit expansion projects.
January - April 2022
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for West Seattle Ballard Link Extension (WSBLE) combined projects published 1/28/22 for a 90-day public comment period. Read the comment summary.
