Ballard, WA residents given chance to weigh in on Light Rail expansion

Ballard neighbors have a chance to weigh IN ON THE FUTURE OF SOUND TRANSIT'S LIGHT RAIL EXPANSION. THE AGENCY IS HOSTING A MAJOR COMMUNITY FORUM AS THEY'RE NEGOTIATING A NEW TIMELINE AND ONGOING FUNDING CHALLENGES. FOX 13'S TAYLOR WINKLE LIVE AT THE NATIONAL NORDIC MUSEUM IN BALLARD AHEAD OF TONIGHT'S MEETING. GOOD MORNING, TAYLOR. GOOD MORNING, MARIA. YEAH, SO THE MEETING IS GOING TO BE HERE AT THE MUSEUM TONIGHT, starting at six and we're expecting Sound Transit board members and public officials for that Q&A neighbors are going to be looking for answers on the project's updated ST3 timeline the agency says community input is an important part of their plan the Ballard extension would connect this area through Seattle Center, South Lake Union, down through Westlake and Sodo and under the current schedule light rail construction from Sodo to the Seattle Center is fully funded with trains targeted to open in 2042, but full construction funding to bring the tracks all the way here to Ballard has not been secured just yet. Sound Transit is working to trim costs and find extra funding while the project goes to environmental review. The agency's next major milestone will be releasing its draft environmental impact statement, which is expected by either late this year or early 2027 the Ballard extension is projected to serve nearly 150 000 people which would make it the most used link extension in their history tonight's forum runs from six to eight they're also going to have some activities there for the kids in case you can't leave them home and you still want to come down here and get your questions answered For now, reporting live in Seattle, I'm Taylor Winkle, Fox 13 News.