Sound Transit’s current governance structure is inadequate for delivering timely and cost-effective transit projects. The decision-making process is politically driven, with no accountability, leading to delays and inflated costs. This flawed structure has resulted in canceled stations, inferior station locations and routing, while blowing budgets and delivery timelines for every Sound Transit funding package from Sound Moves to Sound Transit 3. The time for action is now.

West Seattle/SODO is only the most recent example of a project gone awry. Costs have ballooned from an estimated $1.4-1.5 billion ($340-360 million per mile) in 2016 to $6.7-7.1 billion ($1.63-1.73 billion per mile), driven in part by a politically motivated tunnel costing $600-850 million. In contrast, Montreal's Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM), approved only one year earlier in 2015, opened its first segment last year at a cost of $141 million per mile. The segment took only eight years from approval to opening and features fully automated trains that arrive up to every two minutes versus six.

Montreal delivered 3x the service for 1/10th the cost in less than half the (estimated) time.

Montreal’s success is no accident. Provincial legislators made its authorization contingent on governance, design, and procurement reforms identified as major shortcomings in preceding projects. Minnesota took a page from Montreal’s book. After witnessing cost increases and delays, the State Legislature commissioned a comprehensive audit in 2022 that culminated in reform recommendations adopted partially in 2024.

We must follow their examples.

The Washington State Legislature must commit to the following:

• Audit Sound Transit’s governance, decision-making, and powers in comparison with national and global leader’s in transit delivery,

• Identify opportunities for Sound Transit to partner with Washington State Department of Transportation to leverage their capabilities and take action on permitting reform,

• Establish a Blue-Ribbon Commission to identify how the State and local governments can effectively deliver promised infrastructure projects faster, cheaper, and better by reviewing global best practices in infrastructure delivery.

Washington and the Puget Sound Region are at a critical juncture. To achieve our climate, economic, health, and social goals, we must reform our project delivery systems now. Let's demand better governance and efficiency for the future of our transit infrastructure.

For a further information on the merits of project reform please see coverage in:

the urbanist or visit transportationreform.org