West Seattle Link Opening Slips to 2035, Sound Transit OKs Property Acquisitions

Sound Transit announced Thursday that the West Seattle Link light rail extension will now open in 2035, three years later than previously promised. The agency approved $765 million in funding for property acquisitions—$465 million for 55 properties and $300 million for construction support—to begin the project, which has seen over $2 billion in cost savings through design optimization, including dropping the planned Avalon Station. Sound Transit has floated plans to eventually extend the line south to White Center and Burien in a future expansion.