About West Seattle Link Extension
The West Seattle Link Extension will provide fast, reliable light rail connections to dense residential and job centers in the SODO, Delridge and West Seattle neighborhoods. The West Seattle Link Extension is part of the regional transit system expansion approved by voters in November 2016.
West Seattle Link Extension
- Adds 4.7 miles of light rail service from downtown Seattle to West Seattle's Alaska Junction neighborhood.
- Includes four new stations from SODO to Alaska Junction.
- Start of service scheduled for 2032.
West Seattle Link Extension project timeline
2016 Voter Approval
2032 Start of Service
In July 2022, the Sound Transit Board identified the preferred alternative for the West Seattle Link Extension and requested further studies of refinements to the preferred alternative. Read the July 2022 press release and the Board Motion for more information. Refinements from the further studies are being incorporated into the WSLE Final EIS.
The West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions (WSBLE) were evaluated together in the WSBLE Draft EIS published in January 2022. As described in the WSBLE Draft EIS, the two extensions will function as two separate lines, with the West Seattle Link Extension (WSLE) connecting to Everett and the Ballard Link Extension (BLE) connecting to Tacoma.
The extensions were initially on the same environmental review timeline. However, given additional environmental review needed for project refinements for BLE resulting from the Sound Transit Board action in March 2023, environmental review for the two extensions will now proceed on different timelines.
WSLE will proceed to a Final EIS, which is anticipated to be published in 2024, while a new Draft EIS will be completed for BLE to reflect action by the Sound Transit Board in March 2023. The BLE environmental review timeline will be updated when it is available.
Preferred alternative for the West Seattle Link Extension
West Seattle Link Extension project map
- Medium Tunnel 41st Avenue Station Alternative in the West Seattle Junction segment, incorporating refinement to West Entrance that shifts station entrance to 42nd Avenue SW.
- The Andover Street Station Lower Height Alternative in the Delridge segment, incorporating refinement that shifts the alignment south towards SW Yancy Street.
- The South Crossing Alternative in the Duwamish segment.
- The At-grade Alternative Staggered Station Configuration in the SODO segment, incorporating refinement that enhances access from the platform to S Lander Street.
In addition to the WSLE preferred alternative, all West Link Extension alternatives that were studied in the WSBLE Draft EIS, as well cost savings and refinement concepts identified in July 2022 Board Motion, will be studied in the WSLE Final EIS.
Station Planning
Sound Transit, the City of Seattle, King County Metro and other agency partners, such as the Port of Seattle, worked throughout 2020 and 2021 to evaluate the WSBLE Draft EIS station alternatives and offer ideas and recommendations in response to the community priorities we heard. This work is summarized in a Station Planning Progress Report that we published alongside the WSBLE Draft EIS to help communities understand the opportunities and challenges of the different alternatives. Please note that we continue to refine the preliminary design and location of stations as part of the environmental review process. We anticipate future opportunities to engage around station planning as the project progresses.
Check out the Station Planning Progress Report – West Seattle Link Extension (49 MB) for more details.