PSA: West Seattle Link Extension is not shovel ready

I keep hearing folks talk about how Ballard light rail needs to be cut (cut/deferred/not affordable/maybe 2066/whatever will make people less angry xD) so that Sound Transit can start building West Seattle rail.

But West Seattle is not shovel ready

They’re not breaking ground in 2026, probably not breaking ground for another 2 years. Sound Transit is also banking on $3B of federal funding for WSLE (which is highly unlikely with the current administration).

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/amid-light-rail-money-crunch-what-now-for-west-seattle-ballard-everett/

https://archive.ph/tbAVu

Quote where Board chair Dave Somers says West Seattle is not breaking ground in 2026.