Seattle, WA

The rush to reach West Seattle

Published

2 years ago

March 12, 2024

Last week Sound Transit revealed more details about three grandiose new stations in West Seattle, one hugely upgraded SODO station, and a big cable-stayed (“suspension”) bridge over the Duwamish. On Thursday the System Expansion Committee will discuss early land acquisitions. This seems to indicate that the Board takes approval of the extension for granted though the final EIS is not expected to be released until June. In the meantime, the target opening of the Ballard extension has been pushed out from 2035 to 2039, partially due to lack of funding. What would happen to land already acquired if the line would fail to obtain federal funding or the Board would decide to focus on Ballard instead? Are we making the right tradeoffs?

As a transit advocate, I am excited about expanding transit options and frustrated with the delays in Federal Way and crossing Lake Washington. Shouldn’t I be excited that Sound Transit is bringing light rail to West Seattle?

During the open house Sound Transit revealed more details. For the Alaska Junction station it shows two full-block, multiple-story high entry halls which remind me of the Seattle Symphony. Do we need large entry halls to serve 6400 daily riders, most of which will transfer from bus? I would prefer more modest entries like Sound Transit built at Roosevelt or UW stations with far higher ridership, and add more housing above and retail at street-level.

While some West Seattle residents are excited about a light rail option, more and more voices are skeptical. The West Seattle Blog posted more detailed pictures on their report of the event and received many critical comments. Jennifer Dowling and Patrick Robinson reported on the destruction of local businesses. Some locals organized as Rethink the Link. The destruction of the Jefferson Square complex at the Alaska Junction station would eliminate many apartments and 40 businesses by itself, mostly small businesses but also large ones such as Safeway and Bartell Drugs. The Avalon station would close many restaurants, and construction would disrupt the main access to West Seattle for many years. The Delridge station would force the closure of Alki Beach Academy, one of the largest day care providers in Seattle and crucial for many parents in West Seattle. All the impact may be justified by ridership progress, but the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) estimates only 27,000 daily riders. That’s about the same ridership as the main West Seattle bus lines (C, 120, 21…) carried before the pandemic.

The city pointed out that there are many areas of concern along the route and they still need to issue permits to mitigate these impacts.

While the city and state has been issuing grants to increase tree coverage along the Duwamish River, Sound Transit is planning to clear cut the northern portion of the Duwamish Greenbelt on Pigeon Point which will destroy a heron colony, wetlands, and public trails, and impact steep unstable slopes. Sound Transit also has changed the route to go over the Longfellow Creek, whose tributaries the city has been improving upon to expand salmon spawning and beaver habitat. As this change was made after the DEIS was published, the public only had limited ability to provide input.

Other commentators pointed out that the travel time and complexity will increase, as most riders will still need to rely on buses and then have to transfer in West Seattle and SODO. At SODO station Sound Transit plans to build another huge glass structure where riders will be forced to navigate multiple escalators. If Sound Transit would instead run the West Seattle line on the existing tracks and add a center platform, riders could simply step off one train and step on the next train in another direction.

For now, the West Seattle line will terminate at the SODO station. Ultimately Sound Transit plans to extend it downtown, but this will take at least another five years. The DEIS points out that until the line connects downtown there is little incentive to ride light rail, in particular if you arrive on a bus as most riders do. Sound Transit hopes that Metro will continue to run the buses downtown until the line connects downtown.

Why do we spend $4 billion and 614,000 tons of carbon now on the construction of this extension? For their Stride service (along SR-522 and I-405) Sound Transit plans to acquire and operate electric buses. Why not operate Stride buses for West Seattle instead of Link light rail? It would reduce the overall carbon footprint, offer better transit experience, and the cost savings could be used to accelerate the Ballard extension. The Ballard/SLU line promises much higher ridership, more ridership growth and travel time savings. Now that Dan Strauss has joined the System Expansion Committee, we may hear his perspective before land acquisitions start for a light rail extension with questionable value.

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Seattle, WA

Seattle brings losing streak into game against San Jose

Published

4 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Seattle brings losing streak into game against San Jose

Seattle Kraken (12-14-6, in the Pacific Division) vs. San Jose Sharks (17-15-3, in the Pacific Division)

San Jose, California; Saturday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Seattle Kraken look to end a four-game losing streak with a victory over the San Jose Sharks.

San Jose is 17-15-3 overall and 4-4-2 against the Pacific Division. The Sharks have conceded 117 goals while scoring 104 for a -13 scoring differential.

Seattle is 12-14-6 overall with a 5-4-0 record in Pacific Division play. The Kraken have a -20 scoring differential, with 79 total goals scored and 99 conceded.

The matchup Saturday is the third time these teams square off this season. The Kraken won 4-1 in the last meeting. Jaden Schwartz led the Kraken with two goals.

TOP PERFORMERS: William Eklund has eight goals and 14 assists for the Sharks. Tyler Toffoli has five goals and five assists over the past 10 games.

Vince Dunn has five goals and 14 assists for the Kraken. Chandler Stephenson has four goals and three assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Sharks: 5-5-0, averaging 3.4 goals, 5.9 assists, 2.9 penalties and 5.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game.

Kraken: 1-9-0, averaging 2.2 goals, 4.1 assists, 3.9 penalties and 9.6 penalty minutes while giving up 3.6 goals per game.

INJURIES: Sharks: None listed.

Kraken: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Seattle, WA

Roster Moves: Seattle Seahawks activate Young off IR

Published

16 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

Roster Moves: Seattle Seahawks activate Young off IR

The Seattle Seahawks activated wide receiver Dareke Young from injured reserve and elevated running back Cam Akers and offensive tackle Amari Knight off the practice squad Thursday ahead of their pivotal primetime showdown against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field.

Bump & Stacy: 3 keys for Seattle Seahawks to beat the Rams

Young, 26, has missed Seattle’s past eight games with a quadricep injury. The fourth-year pro is a key special teams member for the Seahawks and was on the field for over 50% of the team’s special teams snaps in each of the six games he’s played this season. He has seven tackles and 10 kickoff returns for 322 yards. He also has two receptions for 48 yards.

Akers, 26, would be making his Seahawks debut against his former team if he gets into Thursday’s game. He played in three games for the Minnesota Vikings earlier this season and totaled 19 yards on five carries.

A sixth-year pro, Akers spent three-plus seasons with the Rams after they selected him in the second round of the 2020 draft out of Florida State. Akers’ best season with Los Angeles came in 2022 when he rushed for career highs of 786 yards and seven touchdowns. He has 2,044 yards and 13 TDs on the ground in 56 career NFL games.

Knight, 24, provides the Seahawks with some depth at tackle with starting left tackle Charles Cross ruled out for Thursday’s game with a hamstring injury. Veteran backup Josh Jones is getting the start in place of Cross.

Knight went undrafted out of UCF and made his pro debut in Seattle’s Week 4 win over Arizona.

The Seahawks face the Rams on Thursday night at 5:15 p.m. Radio coverage begins at 2 p.m. with the pregame show on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle sports app.

Seattle Seahawks coverage

• Breaking down everything at stake in Seahawks-Rams showdown
• Seattle Seahawks rule out LT Charles Cross for showdown vs Rams
• How Seattle Seahawks and L.A. Rams stack up in NFL power rankings
• Do Rams have Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold’s number?
• Huard: Shaheed will be X-factor for Seattle Seahawks’ stretch run

Follow @ZacHereth

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Seattle, WA

Alex Carpenter scores twice as Seattle Torrent beat Charge 4-1

Published

1 day ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

Alex Carpenter scores twice as Seattle Torrent beat Charge 4-1

article

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 17: Alex Carpenter #25 of the Seattle Torrent celebrates her goal during the second period against the Ottawa Charge at Climate Pledge Arena on December 17, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)

SEATTLE – Alex Carpenter had two goals and an assist, and Hannah Bilka had a goal and two assists as the Seattle Torrent earned a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Charge on Wednesday night.

Hannah Murphy was 38.1 seconds away from the first shutout in Torrent history before Ottawa finally got on the board late in the third period on a goal from Rebecca Leslie. Murphy made 24 saves on 25 shots in the victory.

Julia Gosling also added a goal on the power play as the Torrent won their second straight game.

Seattle took the lead on Gosling’s power play goal late in the first period with Rory Guilday in the box for a hooking penalty. Ottawa looked like they were going to get the game into the intermission scoreless after clearing the zone in the final 20 seconds of the period, but Carpenter and Bilka combined to find Gosling driving the back post for a finish past Sanni Ahola for a 1-0 lead.

Another power play chance off a Mannon McMahon tripping penalty allowed Carpenter to strike for a 2-0 lead.

A shot from the right circle from Bilka deflected off a skate to Carpenter at the front of the net as she back-handed the puck into the net for a two-goal advantage.

The Charge then lost track of Carpenter in the offensive zone as she found space directly in front of Ahola, beating the goaltender for a 3-0 lead off a pass from Megan Carter off the left boards.

Murphy was sharp in net for Seattle, turning aside 13 shots in the first period alone as Ottawa had the upper hand early. She’d face just 12 more shots over the final two periods combined, with only Leslie’s goal finding a way through.

After Bilka’s empty-net goal made it 4-0, Leslie outflanked Carter and the Seattle defense to get a near breakaway look in on Murphy that she finished to avoid the shutout for Ottawa.

Murphy has been the goaltender for both of the Torrent’s victories this season as the rookie out of Colgate University has been terrific early in the season for Seattle.

The Source: Information in this story came from FOX 13 Seattle reporting.

MORE TORRENT NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE

Two late power play goals give Seattle Torrent first win, 2-1, over Sirens

Seattle Torrent set PWHL attendance record in inaugural home-opener

Fans pack Climate Pledge Arena for Seattle Torrent’s historic home opener

Torrent set record for highest-attended U.S. women’s hockey game, lose 3-0 to Minnesota Frost

Julia Gosling scores first goal in Seattle Torrent history in team’s debut

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