CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit); authorizing the Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation to execute an amendment to the "Agreement between the City of Seattle and Sound Transit for Grant of Non-Exclusive Use of a Light Rail Transit Way as related to the Link Light Rail Transit Project" to reflect the approved alignment and light rail transit facilities for the Link Light Rail Transit Project, including addition of the West Seattle Link Extension; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
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WHEREAS, since 1996, Sound Transit (formally known as the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, or RTA) 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, 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
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 ST3 ballot measure was approved by voters in November 2016 and includes the following two electric light-rail lines: West Seattle Link (downtown Seattle to West Seattle) and Ballard Link (downtown Seattle to Ballard); 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; and 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 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, pursuant to Ordinance 119975, in July 2000, the City and Sound Transit executed an Agreement between the City of Seattle and Sound Transit for Grant of Non-Exclusive Use of a Light Rail Transit Way as Related to the Central Link Light Rail Transit Project (Transit Way Agreement) that reflected the current alignment; and
WHEREAS, the Transit Way Agreement was amended by Ordinance 120788, in 2002, to include technical corrections; by Ordinance 122504 in 2007, to revise the approved alignment and include the University Link and North Link extensions, among other things; by Ordinance 124289 in 2013, to again revise the approved alignment and to add the Northgate Link and East Link extensions to the agreement, among other things; by Ordinance 125500 in 2017 to add the Lynnwood Link extension to the agreement; and by Ordinance 126701 in 2022 to add an infill station at Northeast 130th Street; 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, a resolution to approve the West Seattle Link alignment and station locations is being considered by the Seattle City Council along with this ordinance; and
WHEREAS, an amendment to the Transit Way Agreement is required to reflect the alignment and light rail transit facilities for the West Seattle Link Light Rail Extension Project in the City and allow Sound Transit to proceed with the West Seattle Link project; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation is authorized to execute an amendment to the Transit Way Agreement, substantially in the form attached as Attachment 1 to this ordinance, acknowledging the alignment and light rail transit facilities for the West Seattle Link Light Rail Extension Project.
Section 2. Any act consistent with the authority of this ordinance taken after its passage and prior to its effective date is ratified and confirmed.
Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Sections 1.04.020 and 1.04.070.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2025, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this ________ day of _________________________, 2025.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved / returned unsigned / vetoed this ____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:
Attachment 1 - Amendment No. 5 to the Transit Way Agreement