Runaway construction inflation, more engineering study and the tremendous size of a Duwamish River train bridge have driven the price tag for West Seattle light rail to somewhere between $6.7 billion and $7.1 billion, far beyond what is affordable in Sound Transit’s current financial plan.
The regional agency’s leaders insist the numbers are no reason for panic, but a good reason to forge ahead, look for income and cost savings, and keep working toward a proposed grand opening in 2032.