Sound Transit 3 & Why is Building Transit So Expensive Anyway

Sound Transit 3 is set to be the next major expansion for Link Light Rail, but cost overruns have forced Sound Transit to downsize the scope of the expansion. In this video, I talk about ways other countries keep costs manageable without sacrificing the quality of service. Reports: Transit Costs Project https://transitcosts.com/transit-cost... Eno Center for Transportation https://projectdelivery.enotrans.org/... Sources: Sound Transit 3: https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/de... https://www.theurbanist.org/sound-tra... Cost Overruns: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-... https://www.theurbanist.org/sound-tra... Changing the Scope: https://www.theurbanist.org/sound-tra... https://www.theurbanist.org/sound-tra... https://publicola.com/2026/05/29/soun... West Seattle Bridge design https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Dep... Stride Bus Rapid Transit Is on the Way–Eventually https://www.theurbanist.org/stride-br... Sound Transit ‘Building Blocks’ Set Stage for Major Decisions this Spring https://www.theurbanist.org/sound-tra... Original SODO Station: https://www.seattle.gov/documents/dep... West Seattle extension final Design https://www.theurbanist.org/sound-tra... https://www.soundtransit.org/st_share... VTA's BART Silicon Valley Phase II https://www.vta.org/projects/bart-sv/... https://www.vta.org/blog/single-bore-... https://www.vta.org/blog/federal-gove... Jacobs selected to design light rail extension in Seattle https://www.jacobs.com/newsroom/press... Permitting Sound Transit's hopes revived; Tukwila's approval 'not required' https://archive.seattletimes.com/arch... Washington Legislature Delivers Sound Transit a One-Two Punch in 2026 https://www.theurbanist.org/washingto... SB 6309 - 2025-26 https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?Bi... Put real experts in charge of transit https://citythatworks.substack.com/p/... Feasibility of Cutting 2nd Downtown Transit Tunnel https://www.soundtransit.org/st_share... https://www.theurbanist.org/sound-tra... Sound Transit Sacrifices Light Rail to Ballard, Moves Long-Deferred Graham Station Forward, in Latest “Realignment” Plan https://publicola.com/2026/05/29/soun... Ballard Link Extension CID Options https://cidstationalternatives.info/ https://www.soundtransit.org/st_share... Sound Transit Board Backs Last-Minute Proposal to Skip Chinatown and Midtown Stations https://www.theurbanist.org/sound-tra... Why building rail transit in U.S., Seattle costs so much and takes so long https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-... Be bolder to get light rail done, expert panel tells Sound Transit https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-...