Sound Transit Board’s Sustainability?

The video of the sound Transit Executive Committee Aug 6^th meeting exemplifies their failure to recognize problems with their version of Sustainability.  The meeting included a presentation, “Update Sustainability Plan (2026-2030) and how Sound Transit was expanding regional environmental benefits, that in 2025, 86% of the 14 targets had been completed and environmental goals for 2026 and beyond. 

The meeting was then suspended for what was said to be a 20-minute Executive Session to discuss the performance of a “public employee and litigation, or potential litigation to which the agency is likely to, become a party. and Whatever the reason the 20-minute session took nearly an hour and the Executive Committee meeting afterwards ende with no further discussion.

“Sustainability” should also result in a transportation systemwhose operating costs can reasonably be expected to not be a perpetual drain on the area’s finances.  The  2025 Annual Report included the following statement concerning the following  “Statement of management’s responsibility”

Limitations exist in any system of internal accounting controls in which the cost of the system being implemented should not exceed the benefits derived.

Yet any rational review of the cost of Sustaining maintenance and operation of fight rail trains on ST3 extensions beyond Lynnwood and Federal way will dwarf any benefits derived. The limited number of potential boarders and their fare revenue will leave the area’s grandchildren’s grandchildren to pay should not be considered “Sustainable”.  A similar analysis of the funds needed for boring a second tunnel under the city or a second Duwamish waterway bridge is also not “Sustainable”.   

Both service areas already have far better access to transit from near where they live to where they want to go, negating any potential “benefits derived”.  Sound Transit service area residents surely deserve this version of Sustainability. 

The bottom line is Sustainability is a question as to how long the Seattle Times Traffic Lab continues to ignore the fact benefits derived from Sound Transit having a board of 18, a staff of 1400, and budget of more than $1.4 are dwarfed by the costs of providing those services.