(The Center Square) – Sound Transit is adding $60 million to the budget for its East Link light rail extension, even as the project nears completion and is now projected to open fully later this year.
Following approval by Sound Transit’s Board of Directors, the East Link Extension’s baseline budget will increase from $3.76 billion to $3.82 billion. The project’s 2026 annual budget will rise from $50.62 million to $110.62 million, with the additional funding coming from the agency’s $8 billion fund balance.
The $60 million increase represents a 3.8% rise above the East Link baseline budget established in 2015.
Sound Transit Executive Project Director Tony Raben said the project is 99.8% complete, with the full East Link Extension trending to open by late May.
“This new funding will cover support that adds value to the project and the agency by increasing resiliency and provides for a robust handover of the cathodic protection system over to the [Washington State Department of Transportation],” Raben said during Thursday’s board meeting.
The additional funding will cover startup costs, resiliency improvements, design support during continued construction, extended construction management and quality oversight, and third-party support.
The East Link Extension includes 10 stations, connecting Seattle’s International District to Judkins Park, crossing I-90 to Mercer Island and South Bellevue, and continuing through downtown Bellevue and the Redmond Technology Station.
Since construction began in 2016, the East Link Extension has experienced significant delays that consumed remaining project float – the amount of time a task can be delayed without delaying the entire project’s finish date – and extended construction and support contracts. Contributing factors include the COVID-19 pandemic, a prolonged concrete delivery strike, and contractor challenges in meeting planned production rates.
The 2 Line first opened services between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology Station on April 27, 2024. The extension to Downtown Redmond opened May 10, 2025.
Sound Transit Chief Financial Officer Hughey Newsome told board members that the $60 million increase does not have any material impact on the agency’s $190 billion long-range plan. He acknowledged that the $60 million will be added to Sound Transit’s $34.5 billion gap in its long-range plan, which was previously reported on by The Center Square.
“The $60 million, when you look at the $34.5 billion gap, or even the $190 billion long-range financial plan, it’s still very, very small,” Newsome said.
Charles Prestrud, the director of Washington Policy Center’s Cole’s Center for Transportation, believes $60 million is a lot of money for almost any other government agency.
“If that is just budget dust with no impact on their plan, then it tells us something about Sound Transit’s plan. Though you’d think they’d take it seriously since they revealed their plan was unaffordable,” Prestrud emailed The Center Square. “$60 million would pay for 240,000 hours of bus service at $250 per hour. That gives some idea of the service Sound Transit won’t be able to provide due to the cost increase.”
Sound Transit Board Vice Chair and King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci said she was encouraged by the board’s final approvals ahead of the East Link’s full opening, but asked whether additional budget actions could still be needed. Raben said unresolved claims could remain.
