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Seattle council questions Sound Transit ridership figures and urges public testimony on Ballard Link
Summary
Council member Strauss said Sound Transit presented ridership figures for Smith Cove/Interbay/Ballard stations that were “wholly inaccurate,” urged civic engagement ahead of a May 28 Sound Transit board session and sought city amendments to protect planned connections and operations.
Council member Strauss pressed Sound Transit’s data and urged the city to press for corrections and public engagement over the Ballard Link extension. Speaking at the May 18 council briefing, Strauss said Sound Transit’s recent estimate that Smith Cove, Interbay and Ballard would serve “about 40 to 45,000 riders” was inaccurate and required follow-up questions from council members.
Strauss said the discrepancy appears to stem from Sound Transit not accounting for recent zoning increases and other local growth in Ballard and Interbay. “It was so inaccurate that I asked a number of follow-up questions,” Strauss said, adding that up-zone changes since 2016 may not have been included in Sound Transit’s calculations.
The council member asked colleagues to prepare talking points and attend the Sound Transit board meeting on May 28, where he said several amendments are being considered. He urged public testimony and said the council — as the closest city government to the board — can influence the conversation by showing unified engagement.
Other council members at the briefing praised recent public outreach and town halls that highlighted concerns about delivery timelines and station siting. The council asked staff to coordinate avenues for members and residents to review Sound Transit materials and to ensure the city’s written questions are followed up before the board vote.
The briefing did not include a formal vote on amendments; Strauss encouraged members and the public to testify at the Sound Transit board meeting on May 28 at 1:30 p.m.
