A chart in the August 27th Sound Transit Board meeting summarized the cost problem with implementing ST3.
In total this represents a 20%-25% increase above the current Fall 2024 Long Range Financial Plan before any cost savings opportunities are applied
Cost growth on the capital program is approximately $14B-$20B more in 2025 dollars, or $22B-$30B more in year of expenditure dollars
Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine's response was “everything is on the table,” and “he hopes a fresh look will improve future transit”. Board member Claudia Balducci suggested Sound Transit avoid building a second, multibillion-dollar downtown rail tunnel proposed in the ST3 plan.
The Sept 1st post on this blog suggested,“What Should be on ST’s cost cutting table.” The July 8462 Lynnwood Link riders, a fraction of the 24,400-35,000 predicted, indicated extending light rail beyond Lynnwood should “be on the table”. That delaying extensions beyond Federal Way to Tacoma, should ”be on the table” until the extension’s December debut That the December debut ridership should also put not spending more the $500 million on OMFS "on the table".
The September 11th ST System Expansion Committee agenda indicated the committee’s version of “what’s on the table” with the following items in the Monthly Status Report Update in “Business Items for final action” and “For recommendation to the Board:
Motion No. M2025-45 authorized nine contracts for up to 7 years and $27 million to provide Sound Transit “with appraisal services”.
Motion No. M2025-46 authorized 18 individual Multiple Award Task Order Contracts for up to 7 years and $1,000 million to provide Sound Transit “with design and engineering services”
Motion No. M2025-48 authorized spending up to $173.5 million for additional Everett Link Extension and Operations and Maintenance Facility North (OMFN) Phase 2 “for project development services”
The Everett Link and OMFN also benefited from Resolution No. R2025-27 that increased to $317.2 million for “additional project development services” and increased 2025 budget to $52.1 million
Those agenda items were followed by the following Reports to the Committee:
West Seattle and Everett Link Extensions cost savings update
2025 Budget Amendment to Alight with Agency Reorganization
The September 11th video showed the discussion and subsequent approval of the motions, the resolution and committee’s satisfaction with cost savings update and 2025 Budget Amendment. Claudia Balducci, the normal chair of the System Expansion Committee, wasn’t there and there was no discussion about her suggestion Sound Transit avoid building a second, multibillion-dollar downtown rail tunnel..
The entire discussion dealt with the need to spend more not less going forward. M2025-45 spending $27 million for outside appraisers to advise how much to offer for a property was due the 300 properties appraised in 2025 would increase to more than 600 in 2027 and 2028, and 2200 from 2026-2030.
Why did Sound Transit need to authorize spending up to 7 years and $1 billion for outside design and engineering services. They already had a nearly1500-position staff with a yearly budget of nearly $ 1 billion. Millions more have been spent on Transit Advisory Groups and other consultants. The Enterprise Initiative recently concluded the board had “already made successful generation investments” so why the need for outside help?
Spending nearly $500 million more for Everett Link and Operations and Maintenance Facility North (OMFN) is especially dubious. The lack of Lynnwood Link rider should end plans for the extension. The OMFN was never included in the Prop 1 2016 ST3.
The West Seattle and Everett Extension cost savings update detailed their current cost drivers and potential ways to cut costs. They neglected to include potential savings to Ballard Link and not funding 2nd tunnel. The costs were in 2025 dollars with “Point of Expenditure” substantially more.
Even more critical the Sound Transit Board ignored the “cost of operation” identified earlier;
Cost pressures related to improved service delivery could require approximately $5B more in year-of expenditure dollars
The bottom line is the ST System Expansion Committee continues to ignore the failure of light rail spine extensions to reduce congestion on I-5 into Seattle and that the Ballard and West Seattle extensions to Sodo won't justify the cost of creating those extensions. That terminating the extensions wound end the need to appraise properties and fund the extensions and the cost of providing that service, a perpetual "black hole" for the area's transportation dollars.
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