Facing Shortfalls, Sound Transit Seeks Public Input
Facing Shortfalls, Sound Transit Seeks Public Input Written by Bill Wilson, Engineering Editor; and Editor-in-Chief, Railway Track & Structures
Through April 30, Puget Sound regional residents are encouraged to provide input to the Sound Transit Board of Directors on priorities for managing an unprecedented financial environment in its work to advance voter-approved transit projects that are not already under construction.
Sound Transit faces two major, simultaneous challenges. A pandemic-driven recession has severely reduced consumer spending and agency tax revenues at the same time that real estate and construction market pressures continue to drive project estimates to levels significantly beyond previous assumptions. These factors result in a currently projected $11.5 billion affordability gap to complete the full expansion program as originally planned (the Board will updat