Like many agencies nationwide that are balancing transit operations and mega-project capital expansions, Sound Transit is working to reduce the impact of historic inflation, tariffs, labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and other factors on its ability to operate and expand voter-approved transit across the region.
Capital and operating costs have risen significantly since voters approved the Sound Transit 3 Plan in 2016, and they’re continuing to escalate faster than contemplated 10 or even five years ago. ST3 includes light rail extensions to West Seattle, Ballard, Tacoma, and Everett, new service between South Kirkland and Issaquah, and much more.
If the agency does nothing to counter these rising costs, combined with lower revenue projections, completing Sound Transit’s expansion program will become unaffordable. Current estimates show a long-term funding gap of approximately $34.5 billion over the next 20 years.
Sound Transit’s staff and Board of Directors are taking proactive steps to address these challenges through the “Enterprise Initiative,” a comprehensive agencywide effort aimed at delivering the maximum benefits of ST3 within available financial resources.
You can learn more about the Enterprise Initiative here.
To fulfill the vision for regionwide transit that voters approved in ST3, we must adapt, and we want to hear from you.
Take the survey to share your priorities.
The survey is available in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Korean, and Traditional and Simplified Chinese.
The Sound Transit Board is currently evaluating different approaches to updating the ST3 System Plan, and public feedback will play an important role in Board decision-making.
Agency staff will synthesize survey responses and share them with Board members in early May. We’ll also combine this feedback with other input we receive through email and in-person events into a comprehensive engagement report prior to the May 28 Sound Transit Board meeting.
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us!
Other comments after taking the survey? Email EnterpriseInitiative@SoundTransit.org.