October 2024
About this Project
The West Seattle Link Extension project adds 4.1 miles of light rail service from Downtown Seattle to West Seattle, includes four new stations and a bridge over the Duwamish River. This project is expected to be completed by 2032.
Station Context Area Planning
The City is partnering with Sound Transit on the Station Context area, which is the area within one to two blocks from the station. Station Context planning includes design choices for the station itself, the open space around the station, bus stops, and more. This involves community outreach and workshops.
Station Area Planning
The City is also working with communities to plan the broader Station Area, which usually includes areas about a half-mile from the station. The Station Area planning is going on now. We are working with communities to:
- Plan walking, biking, and bus improvements to help you get to stations.
- Identify opportunities for housing, shopping, and open spaces to create affordable, livable neighborhoods around new stations.
- Establish priorities to inform project permitting.
What's Happening Now?
Thank you to all the community members who participated in our recent survey and community events! We appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and ideas on the street concept plans for the three future light rail station areas in West Seattle. We are currently analyzing your feedback and will share a full summary here once it is available.
Across the station areas, we heard that people wanted us to:
- make intersections safer
- plant trees as buffers between pedestrians, bicyclists, and cars
- provide structures for shade or cover from the rain
- reduce conflicts between vehicles and people walking and biking
- indicate where it is safe to cross
- maintain access to businesses
Street concept plans show how a street could look in the future with specific improvements. These plans help guide future changes made by developers, property owners, City departments, or public agencies so that they work well and are comfortable for people using our streets. Street concept plans include ideas like lots of plants, distinct paving options, relocated curbs, and features like benches or unique lighting.
To learn more about how SDOT uses Street Concept Plans, visit the Street Illustrated Guide.
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Department of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) are jointly creating a street concept plan for the streets around the future light rail stations in West Seattle, with input from Sound Transit and community members. This street concept plan is intended to provide a vision and guidance for future improvements. The concepts included in the street concept plan will be used to develop designs for future projects.
Visit the Sound Transit website for more details on station areas and entrances.
Environmental Review
Sound Transit published a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the West Seattle Link Extension in September 2024. The Sound Transit Board made a final decision on routes, stations and the project to be built on Oct. 24, 2024.
Sound Transit published a Draft EIS for the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions in January 2022. The City submitted comments on the Draft EIS. Since the January 2022 Draft EIS, the two independent lines have been moving forward on different timelines, as have their environmental reviews.
Read the West Seattle Ballard Link Extension Draft EIS (January 2022)
Read the comments on the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions Draft EIS
West Seattle Link Extension
Please refer to Sound Transit's website for details on project delivery dates.
Map graphic: Sound Transit