Dive brief:
- Sound Transit, the Seattle-area transit agency, has delayed the opening of its West Seattle Link extension from 2032 to 2035, according to a statement sent to Construction Dive. Construction will begin in 2028, the agency said.
- According to the statement, the delay stems from cost-saving work and a longer construction schedule for some of the more complex parts of the expansion, which include the construction of the bridge and an extended section of the tunnel.
- Despite the later opening, Sound Transit has begun the procurement phase for several major packages, with additional purchases planned this fall and in 2027, according to the release.
Diving knowledge:
The delay highlights the challenges the Sound Transit board faces as it works control the costs of your ST3 capital program.
The program, which funds the West Seattle and Everett Link extensions, has an estimate A $34.5 billion funding gap over the next 20 years, according to the agency. The total cost of the ST3 initiative has increased 185 billion dollars in recent yearsaccording to the Seattle Times.
“The primary factor that led to a change in the projected revenue service date from 2032 to 2035 was the time needed to analyze cost savings opportunities,” according to the Sound Transit statement.
After a September 2024 estimate found the project no longer affordable under the agency’s long-term funding plan, Sound Transit spent months looking for savings on the West Seattle extension, according to the agency. The work produced more than $2 billion in potential cost cuts, including the elimination of the proposed Avalon station.
However, the changes will not affect the packaging and delivery approach, Sound Transit said.
The transit agency announced it Duwamish River Cruise Package and Guides in June and his SODO station in August Two more packs will hit the market in October. One package is for the tracks and systems, while another is for the Alaska Junction station.
Design, bidding and construction procurement for the West Seattle Tunnels and Delridge Station will follow in late 2027 and early 2028, the release said.
