Sound Transit has started the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) scoping process for the Ballard Link Extension. The extension will add 12.39 km (7.7 miles) of light rail service with nine new stations from downtown Seattle to the Ballard neighbourhood, including a new downtown Seattle rail-only tunnel.

Sound Transit previously conducted a scoping process and comment period in 2019 to inform the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that was published in 2022. Since then, the West Seattle and Ballard Link projects have separated, and Sound Transit is now developing a new NEPA Draft EIS and Supplemental State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Draft EIS for the Ballard Link Extension.

The new Ballard Link Extension Draft EIS will carry forward the range of alternatives and all public feedback collected from the project's earlier combined WSBLE Scoping and Draft EIS comment periods.

 Community members can learn more about the project and provide additional new feedback through the Ballard Link Extension participate online site and at the public scoping meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 5 - 7 p.m..

Feedback can also be emailed to ballardlink@soundtransit.org or called in at 206-903-7223. Comments are due December 9.

Following the NEPA scoping process, Sound Transit will prepare the Ballard Link Extension Draft EIS in coordination with the Federal Transit Administration. Publication of the Draft EIS is expected in 2025. Start of service for the Ballard Link Extension is scheduled for 2039.

For further information click here for tunnelbuilder archive and visit https://www.soundtransit.org/. 46/24.