The dream of light rail to Ballard just took a big hit. The Sound Transit Board voted last week on how to move forward with expanding the system and how to cover a $34 billion dollar budget shortfall over the next two decades.

After a marathon voting session, the board moved forward with several major projects. Those include: finishing rail to Everett and Tacoma, building a West Seattle extension, adding a new station at Graham Street, and making a new line between Issaquah and Kirkland (though, the delivery target is now 2050).

You may have heard the board did not, however, prioritize getting light rail to Ballard. Instead, under the new plan, the line will stop at Seattle Center.

Guest:

Seattle City Council Member Dan Strauss

Relevant Links:

The Urbanist: Sound Transit Board OKs Major ST3 Update, Casting Ballard into Limbo

KUOW: Sound Transit board shelves Ballard extension, saves South Seattle stations

Seattle Times: Ballard light rail idea rejected while Sound Transit OKs other lines

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