Snohomish County Has Sound Transit's Regional Rail Spine Top of Mind

Sound Transit faces a $34.5 billion budget gap for its regional light rail system promised in the 2016 ST3 ballot measure. Snohomish County leaders, including County Executive Dave Somers and Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin, are pushing to prioritize completing the “spine”—light rail to Everett and Tacoma—before other projects like Ballard Link. Sound Transit will realign project schedules this spring, likely deferring Ballard and Interbay stations beyond their planned 2039 opening.