November 16, 2022August 1, 2026

Sound Transit update: Highline Forum

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Port of Seattle

Highline Forum 2022

A November 2022 Sound Transit presentation to the Highline Forum outlines planned transit expansions in South King County, including the Federal Way Link Extension (SeaTac to Federal Way), the Tacoma Dome Link Extension, and the Stride S1 bus rapid transit route connecting Burien to Bellevue via Tukwila. The update also introduces new CEO Julie Timm and highlights additional improvements such as a new S Boeing Access Road Station, Sounder parking upgrades, and track and platform enhancements. While focused on regional transit growth, the projects have direct relevance to communities near Sea-Tac Airport affected by transportation and land-use planning.

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A Sound Transit presentation to the Highline Forum on November 16, 2022, introducing new CEO Julie Timm. The presentation covers South King County transit projects including the Federal Way Link Extension, Tacoma Dome Link Extension, S Boeing Access Road Station, Stride S1 bus rapid transit, and Sounder improvements.

As the source for federal transportation grants, the Puget Sound Regional Council was charged with developing a system to meet the growing need for commercial aviation. When the search for a second airport failed, they authorized the Port of Seattle to build the Third Runway, with a mandate to develop a noise abatement and mitigation program. In their effort to stop the Third Runway, the ACC argued over every detail of the Port's efforts--including property buyouts and sound insulation. The dispute was meant to be settled by a three member Expert Arbitration Panel. This is their final report. It finds 2-1, that the Port's program was insufficient in several respects. Despite that, funding for the Third Runway was approved by the PSRC, and the 'Port Package' program, proceeded largely unchanged. Expert Arbitration Panel's final decision finding that the Port of Seattle had not shown sufficient reduction in real on-the-ground noise impacts to satisfy noise reduction conditions required for approval of a third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport. The majority decision concluded the Port's noise abatement programs were insufficient despite being impressive in scope.

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