Ballard Link Extension

Serving regional jobs, dense neighborhoods

Project map and summary

Map depicting Ballard Link extension
Map depicting Ballard Link extension

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Visit our detailed online open house to learn more and stay current with the Ballard Link Extension project progress.

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Overview

The Ballard Link Extension (BLE) will connect Chinatown-International District and downtown Seattle with the Interbay and Ballard neighborhoods. It will also add a new light rail tunnel in downtown Seattle to operate the system efficiently. Voters approved this project in November 2016 as part of the Sound Transit 3 vote. The project is currently in the planning phase. 

Ballard Link Extension 

  • Adds 7.7 miles of light rail service from downtown Seattle to the Ballard neighborhood. This extension includes a new downtown Seattle light rail tunnel.

  • Includes nine new stations from Chinatown-International District to Ballard.

  • Will improve transit service frequency, reliability, and capacity.

  • Facilitates redevelopment near stations, focusing on equitable transit-oriented development.

  • Start of service is scheduled for 2039. 

Current project status

The Ballard Link Extension is currently in the environmental review phase. Sound Transit released the WSBLE Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in 2022. After a 90-day comment period, the Sound Transit Board requested further studies of BLE alternatives. These studies led to Board actions in March and July 2023. These actions made project refinements, added new options, and modified preferred alternatives for the BLE. As a result, the WSLE and BLE projects were separated into two environmental review timelines. The BLE requires a new Draft EIS. This draft will fall under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Supplemental State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). 

 

We will conduct a NEPA scoping process to prepare for the BLE Draft EIS. Scoping offers an opportunity to gather feedback on project alternatives, project purpose and need, and potential benefits and disadvantages to study in the environmental review process. Sound Transit is currently preparing materials and engagement opportunities for community members. We will cover the BLE project history, development of alternatives, and identification of the Preferred Alternative alignment by the Board. We will carry forward public feedback and comments collected from the start of the project as part of the ongoing environmental review phase.

At the conclusion of the NEPA scoping process, we will prepare the BLE Draft EIS in coordination with the Federal Transit Administration, with publication anticipated in 2025. 

 

Where can I learn more as a project neighbor?

  • Visit the project’s Online Open House to learn more about NEPA scoping and opportunities to comment. If you have any questions or you would like to set up a meeting to learn more, contact the project team at ballardlink@soundtransit.org.

  • The Sound Transit Board will make a final decision on routes, stations, and the project to be built after a Final EIS is published for BLE, expected in 2026.