In Fall 2016, Seattle voted to fund ST3, a public transit project that would bring light rail to Ballard, West Seattle, Tacoma, Federal Way, Everett, Kirkland, and Issaquah.
A decade later…
Sound Transit is estimating a completion date of 2060 for Ballard Rail if nothing changes.
We’ve come together to help Sound Transit keep its original commitment of light rail to Ballard by 2035.
What Can We Do?
Call to Action: October 2026
RSVP for the Ballard Link Community Forum
Monday October 19th, 6-8pm @ National Nordic Museum
Ballard, it’s time to show up! Sound Transit has scheduled a new community forum for the Ballard Link Extension. This is your opportunity to pack the house, meet your neighbors, and advocate for light rail in Ballard. We need better transit now – please come out and share what this would mean to you!
RSVP for our October community meetup
Thursday October 15th, 7pm @ Old Stove Brewing Gardens
We are moving into a cadence of meeting monthly on the third Thursdays. At this meetup, you can expect to hear the most recent status of Ballard light rail extension, get updates on how you can help, and meet your neighbors and friends. Let’s build better transit together!
Please feel free to invite a friend or two! Kids and pets also welcome.
Give public comment at the September Sound Transit board meeting
Thursday October 22nd, 1:25pm @ Union Station in CID
To sway Sound Transit, we need to appeal to them directly. Come to the board meeting in-person and sign up by 1:25pm to let them know why you care about light rail to Ballard, and why they need to build it!
If you cannot make it in person, you can also sign up to attend and comment virtually!
Join us for the Jimothy Jaunt
Sunday October 11th, 10am @ Phinney Neighborhood Center
Our local celebrity racoon has inspired a Ballard-centric version of the famed Seattle Super Saunter!
Grab your SBR shirts and join your neighbors for one mile, or the full ten, and explore Ballard, along with our neighboring neighborhoods of Phinney Ridge and Fremont!
Upcoming Events
The Jimothy Jaunt
Phinney Neighborhood Center
6532 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, Washington, 98103
SUNDAY, OCT 11
10:00 AM-TBD
Save Ballard Rail Meetup
Old Stove Brewing Gardens
1550 NW 49th St, Seattle, WA
THURS, OCT 15
7:00-8:30 PM
Ballard Link Community Forum
National Nordic Museum
2655 NW Market St, Seattle, WA
MONDAY, OCT 19
6:00-8:00 PM
New to Save Ballard Rail?
Why This Matters
The Ballard link extension is projected to have 90,000 to 147,000 riders, the highest projected ridership of the ST3 plans.
This is the most important project in Seattle in decades, and the decision of whether to cancel it or continue is the most important decision we’ll make as a city this century. We cannot fail. Rail to Ballard has to be built.
Our Goals
- Build the full line and ALL the stations.
- It cannot come at the expense of other ST3 projects.
- Secure funding through better practices and new revenue.
- Build it quickly; failure is unacceptable.
General Action Items
Get up to speed
Read about the results of the 5/28 Sound Transit Board Meeting with coverage from The Urbanist here.
Meet IRL
RSVP to our next informal meetup here.
Thank your elected officials
Send a thank you email to Dan Strauss, Claudia Balducci, Katie Wilson, Girmay Zahilay, and Teresa Mosqueda for advocating for Ballard rail at the Sound Transit board meeting.
Put out a yard sign
Order a yard sign here or pick one up at Smal Market on NW Market St.
Donations go to Seattle Subway who has been helping us advocate for Ballard Rail. They are a non-profit so all donations help. Plus they have some pretty cool shirts.
Make some noise!
Text 2 neighbors this link right now.
If you want to canvas with us, feel free to join in.
Follow us
Follow us on Instagram @saveballardrail
Stay informed
Email us your ideas
Email us your ideas at saveballardrail@gmail.com
Read about what we’re doing
- Read our letter to the board.
- Check out Seattle Subway to advocate for ALL light rail stations to be built.
- https://bsky.app/profile/robertcruickshank.com/post/3mlmslm5z3k27
- https://www.theurbanist.org/hundreds-turn-out-for-save-ballard-rail-march/
- https://www.theurbanist.org/ballard-pushes-to-save-its-light-rail-station/
- https://www.myballard.com/2026/04/14/ballard-residents-organize-march-in-support-of-light-rail-plans/
- https://www.theurbanist.org/op-ed-join-the-save-ballard-rail-march-on-april-19/