Sound Transit and the Federal Transit Administration will publish the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Ballard Link Extension, a light rail project in Seattle, on December 11, 2026. The public comment period for the draft EIS will remain open until February 9, 2027.
Project Route and Coverage
The Ballard Link Extension is designed to branch off the existing 1 Line, extending 12.4 kilometers from SODO to the Ballard area. The route includes a 5.3-kilometer tunnel and will feature up to nine stops. It will connect neighborhoods such as Chinatown-International District, Downtown Seattle, South Lake Union, Uptown, Interbay, and Ballard.
The line will
offer a second transit route through Downtown Seattle with an interchange at Westlake station, linking to the 1 and 2 lines.
Funding and Project Status
Construction funding is fully secured for the portion from SODO to Seattle Center under the Sound Transit 3 expansion plan, which was approved by voters in November 2016. However, funding has not yet been secured for the segment from Seattle Center to Market Street in Ballard, which is also covered by the draft EIS.
Project Oversight and Next Steps
Sound Transit is committed to reducing project costs, increasing financial capacity, and securing the remaining construction funding to enable the full extension to open simultaneously.
The Sound Transit Board will review the draft EIS analysis along with public, agency, and Tribal comments in 2027. Based on this review, the board will confirm or modify the preferred project option.
Following the review, a final EIS will be prepared to support the board’s decisions on project approval and construction plans.
