Save Ballard Rail

Save Ballard Rail

Tell me what to do

In Fall 2016, Seattle voted to fund ST3, a public transit project that would bring light rail to Ballard, West Seattle, Tacoma, Federal Way, Everett, Kirkland, and Issaquah.

A decade later…

Sound Transit is considering cutting the Ballard Station from the light rail plans due to rising project costs.

We’ve come together to stop that from happening. We’re mobilizing to Save Ballard Rail, and to support all the other projects and lines we approved and are paying for as part of ST3.

What Can We Do?

Complete Step: 0%

Call the mayor and the King county executive on May 19.

Here is a sample script. Remember, BE POLITE! It’s likely some poor intern answering the call.

Join our phone-a-thon on May 19th.

Additionally you can call council members:

We encourage you to adjust this to be in your own voice, and add personal anecdotes about what light rail would mean to you, but make sure whatever you say is polite, constructive, and inviting.

Hi, my name is ____ and I’m calling to ask [Mayor Wilson, Executive Zahilay, Councilmember Mosqueda, Councilmember Fain] to vote no on the ST3 system plan update resolution currently under consideration by the Sound Transit Board. We need to save rail to Ballard, build the Graham Street station and Boeing Access Road station, and ensure we build rail to West Seattle and the rest of the region. This resolution doesn’t do that. Please tell the [mayor, executive, councilmember] to vote no unless we get dates for passenger service to Market Street in Ballard, Graham Street, and Boeing Access Road. Thank you!

Next

Email a public comment for the Sound Transit Board Meeting by May 28.

Email meetingcomments@soundtransit.org with a written public comment. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy–you are voicing how you feel.

Here is a sample public comment:

Hello,

On May 28, 2026, you will be voting on a proposal that is unacceptable without a date to Ballard. Despite there not being any legal requirement, you are choosing to jam through this proposal and effectively ‘cut’ lines. You don’t need to pass this proposal to break ground in West Seattle.

I want you to honor the commitments made when the ST3 project was approved by voters in 2016. We were promised light rail to Market St in 2035. Then 2036. Then 2039. Then 2046. And now we have no date for Ballard’s light rail completion. Indefinitely delaying rail to Ballard violates a promise made to voters, and makes it unlikely we’ll ever see it built in our lifetime.

Instead we are told the Ballard link extension will be built to Seattle Center. That’s not even close to Ballard. Close enough is not good enough.

We want you to look for creative, ambitious approaches to rein in skyrocketing construction costs and raise new revenue.

Nobody is giving Sound Transit kudos for considering opening lines and stations 40 to 50 years after they were approved. It makes the agency look incompetent.

Board members, vote no to this proposal.

Next

Better yet, attend the meeting either in person or virtually. Add it to your calendar right now.

You can attend via Zoom or come in person to the Ruth Fisher Board Room at the Union Center.

RSVP So We Know You’re Coming

Next

(Optional) Pick up a yard sign to show your support. All proceeds go to Seattle Subway.

Seattle Subway has been helping us advocate for Ballard Rail. They are a non-profit so all donations help. Plus they have some pretty cool shirts.

Get a yard sign
Get Seattle Subway Merch
Next

(Optional) Make some noise! Talk to your neighbors or canvas with us.

If you want to canvas with us, feel free to join in.

Here’s a script for what you can say while canvassing

Next

(Optional) Follow us on social media.

Follow us on Instagram @saveballardrail

Join our mailing list.

Email us your ideas at saveballardrail@gmail.com

Next
Congratulations, you are done!

Why This Matters

The Ballard link extension is projected to have 90,000 to 147,000 riders, the highest projected ridership of the ST3 plans.

This is the most important project in Seattle in decades, and the decision of whether to cancel it or continue is the most important decision we’ll make as a city this century. We cannot fail. Rail to Ballard has to be built.

Our Goals

  1. Build the full line and ALL the stations.
  2. It cannot come at the expense of other ST3 projects.
  3. Secure funding through better practices and new revenue.
  4. Build it quickly; failure is unacceptable.

Upcoming Events

Sound Transit Board of Directors Meeting (virtual + in person)

Union Station, Ruth Fisher Board Room
401 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104

THURS, May 28

1:30 PM – 4:00 PM

RSVP

Sign up here after 8 am on May 28 if you are attending virtually and want to comment live while streaming the event on Zoom.

Can’t Make it to the Meeting?

Send a written comment to meetingcomments@soundtransit.org up to 1 hour before the start of the event so board members can read them before the event. Comments received after the deadline will be reviewed by Board members after the meeting.

Read about what we’re doing