Light-rail project stalled by the economy

Citing the recession, Sound Transit board members Thursday delayed spending $4.6 million to design the future South 200th Street Station and 1.6 miles of track in SeaTac.

Transit managers have suggested starting now, in hopes of opening the Link light-rail system's next stop, and 630 park-and-ride spaces, in 2015.

But the board's capital committee split 3-3, and will now wait for a fall briefing about several projects and how the economy might affect them.

The latest forecasts show the agency $3.9 billion short on the voter-approved $18 billion, 15-year plan to build three suburban Link lines along with improved Sounder commuter-train and bus routes.

"I have great concerns. Clearly, the recession is stretching much longer than we expected, and been much deeper than we expected," said committee member Jan Drago, a Metropolitan King County Council member. "The only way I see of getting through it is delaying capital projects."

In public comment, project opponent Will Knedlik noted that the station was promised in the agency's original 1996 ballot measure, then dropped. "This is a [2006] project that is several years behind, and 45 days isn't going to make any difference," he said.

Transit CEO Joni Earl and Ron Lewis, a senior manager, have argued that the project should go forward, offering a number of reasons and urging that the SeaTac extension should be brought to at least one-third of its full design, which would enable a bid competition.

Other reasons they cited:

• The Link trackway path will affect roads the Port of Seattle is designing for the south entry to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

• If construction starts in the near future, prices could be relatively low in the down economy.

• The agency promised the city of Tukwila it will add more parking if the Tukwila International Boulevard Station lot fills, which is happening.

• The station there would improve mobility for students and employees in the South End commuting to the University of Washington, which is scheduled to get its first Link station in 2016.

Earl said a yes vote Thursday wasn't "critical," but also said she believed the board had enough information to move ahead.

The 2008 ballot measure gives a 2020 opening date for the station, as part of a longer south segment reaching Highline Community College.

Voting yes on the design funds were Bellevue City Councilwoman Claudia Balducci, Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine and King County Council member Larry Phillips.

Against were Drago, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and Issaquah Councilman Fred Butler. The station, along with a proposed new South Park Bridge, is competing for federal stimulus grants, called TIGER II.

Mike Lindblom: 206-515-5631 or mlindblom@seattletimes.com