Sound Transit wants residents to weigh in on future Ballard light rail plans

Meghan Walker Ballard

Sound Transit is still studying potential routes and station locations for the future Ballard light rail, and they’re asking for public input.

To that end, Sound Transit is forming Community Advisory Groups (CAGs) to include community members in conversations around issues and tradeoffs as project plans form. Sound Transit says that the feedback from the groups will be presented to the Sound Transit Board before it confirms or modifies the preferred alternative for the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extension project early next year.

Each advisory group will be comprised of 10 to 15 community members, organized by geographic areas. Sound Transit is looking for people who:

  • Live, work and/or volunteer along the project corridor.
  • Are a part of or have a deep understanding of one or more of the communities along the corridor.
  • Have knowledge and/or interest in public transportation, mobility and how transportation affects the lives of people in the region.

Participants will be expected to do the following as members:

  • Act as a community ambassador, willing to share information with community members and bring forth community values, concerns, and ideas.
  • Consider the community as a whole and go beyond personal interests.
  • Participate collaboratively with group members whose views may be different from their own.
  • Attend approximately six-monthly meetings from fall 2021 through early 2022, participating fully in the process.

All members of advisory groups will receive a stipend for their involvement in meetings, which will all be held virtually.

If you’re interested in joining an advisory group, fill out the form on the Sound Transit website. Or you can print a PDF and mail it to: West Seattle and Ballard Link Extension, c/o Leda Chahim, Sound Transit, 401 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104. Submissions will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 27.

Sound Transit recently announced that the West Seattle and Ballard extension would be delayed until 2039 due to the steep rise in real estate and construction costs in the region. The project is still in the planning phase, with the Draft Environmental Impact Statement underway now.

Sound Transit is a My Ballard sponsor.