CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION approving the alignment, station locations, and maintenance base location for Sound Transit’s Link light rail lines in The City of Seattle, including the West Seattle Link Extension; and superseding the alignment, station locations, and maintenance base location approved in Resolution 31784.
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WHEREAS, since 1996, the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (“Sound Transit”) has been implementing the voter-approved Sound Move, Sound Transit 2 (ST2), and Sound Transit 3 (ST3) plans for a high-capacity regional transit system for the Central Puget Sound region; and
WHEREAS, in May 2016 during the development of the ST3 proposal, City Council passed Resolution 31668, which made alignment recommendations for the West Seattle Link Extension (WSLE) and Ballard Link Extension (BLE) projects to the Sound Transit Board, including a new light rail tunnel through Downtown Seattle; and
WHEREAS, the Sound Move and ST2 Plans include the following five electric light-rail lines: Central Link (downtown Seattle to SeaTac); University Link (downtown Seattle to University of Washington); Northgate Link Extension (University of Washington to Northgate); Lynnwood Link Extension (Northgate to Lynnwood); and East Link (downtown Seattle to Redmond); and the ST3 Plan includes the West Seattle Link (downtown Seattle to West Seattle) and Ballard Link (downtown Seattle to Ballard), each of which will provide numerous benefits to Seattle's residents, workers, and visitors, and will help the City meet its Comprehensive Plan goals for dense, mixed use urban centers and urban villages connected by high-quality public transit; and
WHEREAS, in December 2017, the City entered into a ST3 Partnership Agreement with Sound Transit (Resolution 31788) to collaborate on project delivery, streamline permitting, and seek ways to reduce project costs, and deliver the project in advance of schedule; and
WHEREAS, through a series of resolutions (R99-34, R2001-16, R2005-20, R2006-07, R2011-10, R2012-13, R2015-05, and R2024-22), the Sound Transit Board selected the rail alignment, station locations, and maintenance base location for the projects that are currently under construction, operating, or for which a Record of Decision has been issued in The City of Seattle (City): Central Link; University Link; Northgate Link Extension; East Link; Lynnwood Link; and West Seattle Link; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle City Council approved the selected alignment, station locations, and maintenance base location for the Sound Transit Central Link, University Link, Northgate Link Extension, East Link, and Lynnwood Link projects in Resolutions 30128 (adopted April 10, 2000), 30993 (adopted September 24, 2007), 31465 (adopted September 16, 2013), and 31784 (adopted December 11, 2017); and
WHEREAS, on September 20, 2024, Sound Transit and the Federal Transit Administration of the United States Department of Transportation (FTA) issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the West Seattle Link Light Rail Extension Project to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the State Environmental Policy Act; and
WHEREAS, after consideration of the FEIS for the West Seattle Link Light Rail Extension Project, on April 29, 2025, the FTA issued a Record of Decision finding that the federal environmental process is complete for the project; and
WHEREAS on February 20, 2025, Mayor Bruce Harrell issued Executive Order 2025-02 Supporting and Expediting Sound Transit 3 Investments - including the West Seattle Link Extension and Ballard Link Extension - in the City of Seattle; and
WHEREAS, the City reserves and retains its substantive authority under the State Environmental Policy Act to the full extent provided by law; and
WHEREAS, the West Seattle Link light rail line approved by the Sound Transit Board extends from a new station at SODO to a new station at Alaska Junction, West Seattle; and
WHEREAS, City Council approval of the light rail alignment, station locations, and maintenance base location in the City is required by Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 23.80; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:
Section 1. Pursuant to Seattle Municipal Code Section 23.80.004, the City approves the alignment of the Sound Transit light rail lines through The City of Seattle, including the location of light rail stations and maintenance base in the City of Seattle, all as generally described in Exhibit A and depicted in Exhibit B to this resolution. This approval does not waive the City’s regulatory or permitting authority as to any permits or other approvals for the light rail line that are required by law.
Section 2. This resolution supersedes the approval of the alignment, station locations, and maintenance base location for Sound Transit’s Link light rail lines as described in Resolution 31784.
Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2025, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2025.
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President ____________ of the City Council
The Mayor concurred the ________ day of _________________________, 2025.
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Bruce A. Harrell, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2025.
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Scheereen Dedman, City Clerk
(Seal)
Attachments:
Exhibit A - General Description of Link Light Rail Alignment, Station Locations, and Maintenance Base Location
Exhibit B - Link Light Rail Alignment, Station Locations, and Maintenance Base Location (Maps)