[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6181825,"mediaKeyId","5111978-7cc81bc2cd675340afad00283f7f12bb","parentId",5111978,"title","Committee recommends West Seattle Link alignment, authorizes transitway agreement amendment","audioSeconds",840,"startMs",67000,"endMs",907000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5111978-7cc81bc2cd675340afad00283f7f12bb&start=67&end=907","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5111978-7cc81bc2cd675340afad00283f7f12bb/thumbnail_67000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6181825/Seattle/King-County/Washington/Committee-recommends-West-Seattle-Link-alignment-authorizes-transitway-agreement-amendment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181825-889b55f33c3be265d1b95230c0f85dce/orig.mp4?Expires=1770874847&Signature=G8ybH7BLS5PAtVVYYFDaOPZIsy8uexZeZhXQrhfhLVPdOaARV5J-1MZoWtDXiXGR4mgj53UkOpabZrBkScRn9hKqpJ6VZD0~qEnwQhVXgSqTs4LyFx3o6oF96XtQjKiPmsFUMJJ02i6~y484KKKwIJf3tg~G3Jhbpgit4IVWZB0kcGAlCsT9KytMDjTFHJ6Wkf20GEtaCEGMjCh7bu0IFYEnxkQiZ8UiNic6vClrljFPEnCuQuOemtf1N1rOsMEIqfeZHaA53YUwraixP8qg3Aav-lD4D4slo54UBbeLo-gH81yEQDIGTr2MQgD-C8JOkAW~XL~pn4tfve4g1uqx6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Seattle City, WA","date","2025-07-01T18:30:00Z","article","On July 1, 2025, the Seattle City Council Transportation Committee voted 5-0 to recommend adoption of Resolution 32172 approving alignment and station locations for the West Seattle Link Extension and to recommend passage of Council Bill 1210003, which authorizes the Seattle Department of Transportation to execute an amendment to the transitway agreement with Sound Transit. The committee will send both recommendations to the full City Council for the July 8, 2025 meeting.

The legislation is intended to reflect the approved West Seattle alignment in the city’s transitway agreement and, according to council central staff, is a necessary step to allow Sound Transit to begin applying for permits and continue project preparation. \"This council bill and companion resolution are an important step to building out light rail infrastructure to West Seattle and beyond,\" said Chair Rob Sacca.

The committee heard brief presentations from Calvin Chao of council central staff and Sarah Mexana from the Office of the Waterfront, Civic Projects, and Sound Transit. Chao described the transitway amendment as an administrative interlocal agreement that \"establishes the rights and responsibilities of the two parties\" and said the ordinance is limited to acknowledging the West Seattle alignment in the agreement.

Councilmembers voiced support while emphasizing oversight and community mitigation. Councilmember Kettle thanked staff and Sound Transit teams for their work. Councilmember Strauss described the item as \"a straightforward routine bill that is directly aligned with the record of decision that was approved by the federal government for Sound Transit.\" Chair Sacca said he supported the project but stressed the need for active engagement with impacted residents and businesses and for mitigation \"to the full extent possible under the law,\" noting recent state legislation (HB 1733) that raises the statutory cap for relocation assistance.

Public commenters during the hybrid public comment period addressed elements of the transit project and SDOT work more broadly. Dan French urged the committee to \"object objecting to anything moving forward with SDOT,\" saying SDOT had shown \"they are incompetent and grossly negligent\" and raising specific safety concerns about a project at 130th Street and ramps off I-5 that he said will force motorists to change lanes multiple times in a short distance and reroute traffic in front of schools and churches. David Haines criticized ST3 planning and costs and said, \"Counsel should reject ST3,\" arguing the project duplicates existing services and raising concerns about how business relocation funds would be used.

The committee moved and seconded the recommendation to adopt Resolution 32172; the clerk called the roll and recorded five votes in favor (Councilmember Kettle, Councilmember Rink, Councilmember Strauss, Vice Chair Hollingsworth and Chair Sacca) and zero opposed. The committee then moved and seconded passage of Council Bill 1210003; the clerk recorded the same 5-0 vote in favor. Both recommendations will be transmitted to the July 8, 2025 City Council meeting for final consideration.

Background and next steps: Council and staff described this legislation as an administrative and planning step to align city approvals and the transitway agreement with the federally approved project record of decision. Staff said the alignment approval will allow Sound Transit to pursue permits; council members said they will expect ongoing outreach and use of available tools for relocation assistance where state law allows.

Less-critical details: Speakers included representatives from council central staff and the Office of the Waterfront, Civic Projects, and Sound Transit; two members of the public spoke during public comment. The committee meeting record shows the motions carried 5-0 and will be forwarded to the full council agenda on July 8, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Transportation Committee 7/1/2025","oneSentenceSummary","On July 1, 2025, the Seattle City Council Transportation Committee voted 5-0 to recommend adoption of Resolution 32172 approving alignment and station locations for the West Seattle Link Extension and to recommend passage of Council Bill 1210003 authorizing SDOT to amend the transitway agreement with Sound Transit.","taxTitle","Seattle, King County, Washington","taxId",2543,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6181820,"Committee recommends leasehold deed of trust for Cultural Space Agency at King Street Station",491,1060000,1551000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5111978-7cc81bc2cd675340afad00283f7f12bb&start=1060&end=1551","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5111978-7cc81bc2cd675340afad00283f7f12bb/thumbnail_1060000.jpg","/articles/6181820/Seattle/King-County/Washington/Committee-recommends-leasehold-deed-of-trust-for-Cultural-Space-Agency-at-King-Street-Station","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181820-3fee2fe8434e52b73d741e9a4d4595b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770874847&Signature=OGhlFzAL8dX--Pdio-DtC2ixlnegb~mzqxTjBKW1Ijruqsw21PVCwPKdv2a5owU5UaJ10Z9epEmFL7DKdG6~fOKYrzzanC7bXz1EkLcrli7uJ6q08GkeNFmMPPd10zVzR68vD91UdwPorCxWV8uxr49wENx6Z3N5k4xWH~VPpvLguZwkpop5PSZIBw8JprNPyPOVcRHwN~2qu-1XVim054pw87HLY6gDONlGti06UZAIypheJXv~-1vxeazXGMn6NEqrwXzCa6SwizKsBs1sfkty8HgfM2IrIb1uQvwiJsl~9yWREH1OPfHiBQZM5JaorDoQoXRulPp0hAyQTB-rBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On July 1, 2025, the Seattle City Council Transportation Committee voted 5-0 to recommend passage of Council Bill 120989, an ordinance authorizing the director of the Seattle Department of Transportation to execute and record a leasehold deed of trust reflecting the Cultural Space Agency's leasehold estate at King Street Station. Committee members recorded the recommendation to send the bill to the full Council for final consideration.

Presenters described the ordinance as authorizing SDOT to formalize the Cultural Space Agency's existing 30-year leasehold interest as a deed of trust, a procedural step required for the agency to secure a Department of Commerce funding mechanism that covered a substantial portion of more than $4,000,000 in renovation costs to the station's second floor. \"We would actually probably see a windfall if that happened,\" a presenter said, describing the city's rent bump if the leasehold were repurposed to non-arts uses after a potential default.

Bill Abord of the Seattle Department of Transportation and Calvin Chao of council central staff briefed the committee. Staff provided a brief history: the city purchased King Street Station from BNSF in February 2008, completed restoration and seismic rehabilitation in 2013, and SDOT has partnered with arts and culture organizations since 2015. The Cultural Space Agency, a public development authority created by the city, moved arts organizations into the second floor in late 2023 under lease agreements; Amtrak occupies the first floor and arts and culture organizations occupy the third floor.

Councilmembers spoke in support and highlighted community value. Councilmember Rink said the ordinance \"comes in no financial risk to the city\" and noted the measure would allow youth-serving nonprofits at King Street Station—including Totem Star, Red Eagle Soaring and Jackson Street Jazz Project—to continue operating in the space. Councilmember Kettle and Councilmember Strauss described the station as a historic city asset and said preserving community arts programming there is important to post-pandemic community building.

Staff told the committee there is no financial risk to the city from the deed of trust and that if the Cultural Space Agency were to default, the state Department of Commerce would assume the leasehold interest as security for its funding; staff said, in that scenario, the city's rent could increase by $12 per square foot if the space were converted to office uses.

The committee moved and seconded passage of Council Bill 120989; the clerk called the roll and recorded five votes in favor (Councilmember Kettle, Councilmember Rink, Councilmember Strauss, Vice Chair Hollingsworth and Chair Sacca) and zero opposed. The committee's recommendation will be transmitted to the full City Council for final action at its upcoming meeting.

Background and next steps: Staff framed the ordinance as an administrative, legal step to enable a funding arrangement and to secure long-term tenancy for arts and youth-serving nonprofits at King Street Station. If approved by the full council and if SDOT executes the deed, the Cultural Space Agency will be positioned to complete the funding conditions tied to the Department of Commerce support.","The Transportation Committee voted 5-0 to recommend passage of Council Bill 120989, authorizing SDOT to execute and record a leasehold deed of trust reflecting the Cultural Space Agency's leasehold estate at King Street Station, a prerequisite staff said for a Department of Commerce funding arrangement covering a multi-million-dollar renovation.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee recommends West Seattle Link alignment, authorizes transitway agreement amendment

Committee recommends leasehold deed of trust for Cultural Space Agency at King Street Station