Civic Coffee Recap: West Seattle Light Rail Updates

Is West Seattle light rail still going to happen? You bet.

After 18 months of looking for ways to make Sound Transit’s voter-approved expansion cheaper in the face of a money shortage, Sound Transit’s Maria Buchanan and City of Seattle’s Katy Haima laid out the plan for West Seattle light rail.

The expansion

In 2016, voters approved the Sound Transit 3 (ST3) plan that the agency is currently working toward. This includes five Link light rail lines, two Sounder train lines, and three Stride bus rapid transit lines. Together, these modes of transportation cover 252 miles, connecting Everett to Tacoma and Alaska Junction to Issaquah.

The West Seattle project is estimated to serve more than 20,000 riders per day, cut travel time in half from West Seattle to downtown, and encourage affordable housing development near the station.

But as Buchanan shared, “Sound Transit had a little bit of a money problem,” namely a projected $35 billion funding gap.

Click on the image above to watch a video recording of the Civic Coffee on West Seattle light rail (YouTube, 53:43).

The future for West Seattle

In May 2026, the Sound Transit Board approved an updated ST3 Plan that advances the light rail expansion to West Seattle with cost-saving design refinements. These changes were made with the interest of saving money, but they also offer community benefits.

The biggest change in West Seattle is the removal of the Avalon station, saving Sound Transit about $2 billion. This change prevented the demolition of the businesses at Jefferson Square and the West Seattle Health Club, both of which are local community hubs. It also enabled more of the light rail to be built underground, preserving the neighborhoods above.

The light rail is currently expected to open service in West Seattle in 2032.

How to provide your input

While Sound Transit focuses on the stations, the City of Seattle focuses on the neighborhoods around the station. In line with this, they want to hear what locals care about. They have already held many rounds of community engagement, but it’s not over yet. Moving forward, City representatives will be engaging people in person through local organizations and community centers in addition to online survey opportunities. Get involved through your local community organizations!

You can also stay updated along the process through attending Seattle Design Commission meetings. If interested, subscribe to their email list.

Where we live shapes us, but we also have the opportunity to shape where we live. Get involved in your community to help create better opportunities for connection and livability. Learn more about Sound Transit’s expansion plan and consider joining one of Seattle’s many boards and commissions.

Age Friendly Seattle thanks Willow Russell, Maria Buchanan, and Katy Haima for sharing their insights and the Center for Active Living for partnering to host this Civic Coffee event. Watch the recording here and find out about the upcoming Civic Coffee here.

Contributor Sonali Agarwal is an intern with Age Friendly Seattle. She is studying Law, Societies, & Justice and Environmental Studies at the University of Washington. To read more about Civic Coffee and other programs, visit Age Friendly Seattle.