Thursday we got a look at the fully-operational Sound Transit 3 (ST3) plan for Seattle and the surrounding region that would bring 108 miles of light rail track to 17 Puget Sound cities by 2041. Most of the rough details were already known but now we've got dates and station placement and all the information we need to determine who is going to benefit most from the potential expansion and who got snubbed.
Winner - Ballard
Yes, it's going to take a very long time to get there (2038), but eventually light rail will get to Ballard and connect the Northwest Seattle hub to downtown Seattle. That's a lot of cars no longer sitting in traffic on Ballard Bridge or on 45th Street.
Loser - Fremont/Wallingford
As of right now, the Ballard-to-UW line isn't going to happen and that means everyone in-between will still have to drive, bike, or take the bus to get to their closest light rail station.
Winner - Redmond
Downtown Redmond ends up being the time-frame winner with a station set to open by 2028. That's quicker than West Seattle, Everett, and Tacoma.
Loser - The Seattle Monorail
Once the light has been extended from Westlake Station to Seattle Center, there's really no reason for the monorail to continue to exist. It's barely hanging on for relevance as it is, but now it's hard to imagine anyone other than tourists will hop aboard. And even then...
Winner - West Seattle
Surprisingly, they get the nod over Ballard by five years, apparently because it can exist easier without the second downtown tunnel. The trip is expected to include a short underground part as well as a portion over bridges.
Loser - Kirkland
Kirkland has to watch while Redmond, Issaquah, and other Eastside spots get light rail stations while they're still working with the bus line.
See any other big "winners" and "losers" within the plan? Chime in below in the comments.
· Sound Transit 3 Plan Calls For Second Downtown Seattle Tunnel, 108 Miles of Light Rail [CS]
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