Graham Street Station Set to Be Resurrected at Pivotal Sound Transit Meeting

Key Points:

• Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and King County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced a proposed amendment to fully fund and build the Graham Street 1 Line infill station in Rainier Valley, aiming to keep its 2031 opening on track despite Sound Transit's $34.5 billion budget shortfall.
• The $214 million project would fill a 1.5-mile gap between Columbia City and Othello stations, serving a transit-dependent community that has long lacked direct station access despite disruptions from early 2000s light rail construction.
• Funding would combine a $25 million federal grant, cost savings from other projects, and up to $30 million in contributions from Seattle and King County, with commitments to expedite permitting and reduce costs; the proposal requires further cost savings and alternative financing plans by next summer.
• While the Graham Street station moves forward, the larger Ballard Link project faces significant delays and potential truncation due to budget constraints, and another infill station near Boeing Access Road remains unfunded, with efforts underway to fund alternative transit options there.
• Local leaders and community advocates emphasize the importance of equitable transit investment in South Seattle, criticizing past delays and scaled-back commitments, and urging the Sound Transit board to approve the amendment to avoid further setbacks for the Graham Street station.