Q: Is Everett Link still happening?
A: Yes. Under Resolution R2026-11 presented to Sound Transit’s Executive Committee on May 7, 2026, both phases of the Everett Link Extension are listed as fully funded. The Sound Transit Board votes on the resolution on May 28.
For years, Snohomish County residents have watched Sound Transit’s budget crisis unfold with a single question hanging over everything: will Everett actually get light rail?
Sound Transit answered that question Thursday. Board Chair Dave Somers — Snohomish County Executive — presented Resolution R2026-11 to the agency’s Executive Committee, formally proposing a restructured ST3 System Plan. Under that resolution, both phases of the Everett Link Extension are listed as fully funded. The board votes on May 28.
This is the specific plan that was described in broad strokes at April’s town hall and debated ahead of the May 28 board meeting in recent months as Sound Transit navigated a $34.5 billion funding shortfall. Now it’s a named resolution with line-item project determinations, and Everett’s two light rail phases are in the fully-funded column.
Here’s what the resolution actually says — and what it means for the people who live between Lynnwood and downtown Everett.
What Is Resolution R2026-11?
R2026-11 is the Sound Transit Board’s formal proposal to update the voter-approved ST3 System Plan to bring it within the agency’s actual financial capacity. The resolution was introduced at the Executive Committee meeting on May 7, 2026, as a “discussion only” action. The board will take final action on May 28, 2026.
The resolution covers every project in the ST3 program and places each one in one of three categories: fully funded, partially funded through planning and design only, or construction not currently affordable. It also establishes a separate “defer until resources are identified” list for items like parking garages.
Staff preparing the resolution are Dow Constantine (CEO) and Alex Krieg (Deputy Executive Director – Enterprise Planning). The $34.5 billion shortfall driving the restructuring reflects COVID-era construction inflation, right-of-way cost escalation, added design complexity, reduced sales tax projections, and higher financing costs.
The Bottom Line for Everett: Both Phases Are Fully Funded
The resolution’s “Fully Funded Projects (opening order)” table includes:
- Everett Link, phase 1
- Everett Link, phase 2
Both phases appear in the same column as West Seattle Link, Tacoma Dome Link, and the Ballard Link initial segment to Seattle Center. The word “construction” is the operative term — these are not design-only commitments. The trains, the tracks, and the stations are funded. This is the answer to the uncertainty that has hung over Snohomish County since cost estimates started climbing.
The only Everett-related item on the deferred list is Everett Link Parking, which is pushed until additional resources are identified. The light rail service itself is funded. Park-and-ride construction is not.
What Got Cut
R2026-11 is explicit about what does not fit within Sound Transit’s financial capacity right now.
Construction not currently affordable: The full Ballard Link Extension from Seattle Center to Market Street is not funded for construction — only design through final stages. The Boeing Access Road Link Infill Station and Graham Street Infill Station are also in this category for construction, along with the remainder of Sounder South Additional Trips and remaining ST4 planning studies.
Deferred until resources are identified: In addition to Everett Link Parking, this list includes Tacoma Dome Link Parking, Stride Parking, North Sammamish Park & Ride, Edmonds and Mukilteo Parking and Access, the Bus on Shoulder Project, SR 162 Corridor Improvements, and multiple Sounder improvements.
Some projects remain funded but on extended timelines: The Tacoma Community College T Line extension is still funded but pushed back to 2043. The South Kirkland to Issaquah Link remains funded but pushed back to 2050.
Why Everett Wins: The Subarea Equity Explanation
Sound Transit’s taxing district is divided into five geographic subareas: Snohomish, North King, South King, East King, and Pierce. By policy, tax revenue collected in each subarea is primarily used on projects within that subarea.
This structure is the central reason Everett Link survives while the full Ballard extension does not.
The Ballard Link Extension is by far the most expensive project in ST3. It includes a second light rail tunnel under downtown Seattle — a design choice that has driven its costs far above initial estimates. Funding that project fully would require the North King subarea to borrow so aggressively that it would push other systemwide projects back by decades.
The Snohomish subarea, by contrast, has lower cost overruns relative to its budget. Everett Link’s cost increases, while real, are smaller as a percentage of the subarea’s overall financial capacity. The resolution is explicit: building extensions to Everett and Tacoma Dome is affordable within available resources, while building the full Ballard extension is not.
This is exactly what Everett City Council’s unanimous April demand letter to Sound Transit argued: that the Snohomish subarea pays its own way, and that Snohomish taxpayers should not be asked to fund Seattle projects at the expense of their own extension.
The resolution also makes one financial adjustment to address debt allocation: interest on bond repayments will be shared systemwide across all five subareas, rather than charged only to the subarea that incurs the debt. This is described as compliant with ST3’s financial policies.
What Comes Next
May 28, 2026 is the next critical date. That’s when the Sound Transit Board takes final action on R2026-11. The May 7 Executive Committee meeting was discussion-only; no vote was taken.
If the board adopts R2026-11 on May 28, the restructured ST3 System Plan becomes the official program of record. Projects that are fully funded would proceed on their adopted schedules. Projects in the “not currently affordable” category — like the full Ballard extension — would wait until costs drop, revenues increase, or additional funding sources are identified.
The resolution also directs Sound Transit’s CEO to develop an adaptive program management plan by Q4 2026. That plan is designed to provide earlier warnings when project costs exceed forecasts, so the agency does not face the kind of sudden multi-billion-dollar reckoning that drove the current restructuring.
Timeline: When Does Everett Actually Get Light Rail?
Resolution R2026-11 does not update specific opening year projections for Everett Link. The current published range — 2037 to 2041 — remains the planning framework, and the resolution states that “all previously baselined projects are proceeding on their adopted schedules.”
What has changed is the funding certainty behind that timeline. The unresolved question at the April town hall — whether Everett would even be in the plan — now has an official answer in the form of a board resolution. Both phases are funded. Construction will proceed.
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement, which will set more precise station locations and alignments, is expected later in 2026. That document will open a formal public comment period that Snohomish County residents will be able to participate in directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Resolution R2026-11?
A formal Sound Transit Board resolution to update the ST3 System Plan, placing each project into a funded, partially funded, or not-currently-affordable category based on the agency’s actual financial capacity. The Executive Committee heard it May 7; the board votes May 28.
Are both phases of Everett Link funded?
Yes. Under R2026-11 as presented May 7, both Everett Link phase 1 and phase 2 are listed as fully funded projects. Everett Link Parking is deferred to a separate future funding decision.
Is the resolution final?
No. The Executive Committee heard the resolution on May 7 as a discussion item. The full Sound Transit Board votes on May 28, 2026.
Why is Everett funded but Ballard is not?
Sound Transit’s subarea equity structure requires that Snohomish tax revenues be spent on Snohomish projects. The Snohomish subarea has lower cost overruns relative to its budget than the North King (Seattle) subarea, which bears the cost of the Ballard tunnel project.
What does “Everett Link Parking” being deferred mean?
Park-and-ride garages at Everett Link stations are not included in the current funding plan. The light rail stations, tracks, and service remain fully funded. Parking construction would require additional resources to be identified before proceeding.
When will Sound Transit make the final decision?
The board is scheduled to take final action on R2026-11 at its May 28, 2026 meeting.
What To Do Next
- Comment on R2026-11: Submit public comment at soundtransit.org or contact Sound Transit before May 28. Written comments submitted before the board meeting are included in the public record.
- Watch the May 28 board meeting: Sound Transit board meetings are open to the public and streamed online. Meeting details are published at soundtransit.org/board-of-directors.
- Contact your Sound Transit board representatives: Snohomish County board representatives include the County Executive and Mayor of Everett. Find contact information at soundtransit.org/board-of-directors.
- Watch for the Draft EIS: The Everett Link Extension Draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected later in 2026 and will open a formal public comment period on station locations and alignments.
- Track the adaptive management plan: Sound Transit’s CEO is directed to present the new adaptive program management framework by Q4 2026.
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