Seattle Politics and Urbanism Daily
ST3 Tunnel Fight Reopens as Seattle Tests Its Reform Nerve
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 · 9 min
Sound Transit ST3 is back in the hot seat as Dan Strauss revives the downtown tunnel fight, while Seattle weighs a costly Center bond, blocks a car-free Ave pilot, and faces hard limits on SPD staffing.
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Show notes
Sound Transit ST3 is back in the hot seat as Dan Strauss revives the downtown tunnel fight, while Seattle weighs a costly Center bond, blocks a car-free Ave pilot, and faces hard limits on SPD staffing.
In this episode
- Dan Strauss Restarts Downtown Tunnel Debate on Eve of ST3 Plan Update — The Urbanist
# Dan Strauss Restarts Downtown Tunnel Debate on Eve of ST3 Plan Update Published: 2026-05-25T19:15:51+00:00 Source: theurbanist.org (theurbanist.org) Language: en ## Story Dan Strauss Restarts Downtown Tunnel Debate on Eve of ST3 Plan Update 📰 Support nonprofit journalism Donate # Dan Strauss Restarts Downtown Tunnel Debate on Eve of ST3 Plan Update By Ryan Packer- May 25, 2026 Share An…
- Step Back — When Seattle leaders revive the downtown light-rail tunnel debate this late in ST3 planning, who actually has the power to change the alignment or scope — and what would that realistically do to cost, schedule, and other promised projects?
Background sources
- West Seattle light rail costs soar again | The Seattle Times — Mike Lindblom
- Will Seattle light rail keep its promise for your neighborhood? — Seattletimes
- Sound Transit should drop tunnel from ST3 to save money, says board member — Komonews
- Eliminating Second Seattle Rail Tunnel Could Save $4.5B, But With Major Impacts, Delays » The Urbanist — Theurbanist
- Dan Strauss Restarts Downtown Tunnel Debate on Eve of ST3 Plan Update — Theurbanist
- Tacoma pushes back as Sound Transit weighs ending light rail line at Fife, not Dome — Komonews
- Mayor Harrell Proposes Actions to Address Increased Sound Transit Expansion Costs, Deliver Seattle Transit Expansion - Office of the Mayor — Ben Dalgetty
- Costs to taxpayers unknown as Seattle Center renovation plans ramp up - Mangaloremirror.com — The Center Square
Costs to taxpayers unknown as Seattle Center renovation plans ramp up - Mangaloremirror.com (The Center Square – Seattle property owners won’t be the only ones funding a renovation plan for the Seattle Center. Private dollars will also be sought out to match or exceed any public contribution to the aging campus, said the city councilman sponsoring the renovation plan. Ron Saka, chairman of the…
- SDOT Delays Response, Denies Permit Just One Week Before Event Due to Biz Opposition — r/Seattle (244 pts, 125 comments)
\[Reposting without link to sign petition because that post got deleted by auto mod--see comment below\] An update from the Car-free ave pilot organizers regarding the denied permit, due to business opposition. Action network to tell the city/mayor have SDOT to grant the permit for the remaining two summer Saturdays planned for early September. \[Text from second image below:\] **An…
- 'There are potential hurdles': Seattle council president says SPD staffing goals face constraints amid Aurora concerns - MyNorthwest.com — MyNorthwest
# 'There are potential hurdles': Seattle council president says SPD staffing goals face constraints amid Aurora concerns - MyNorthwest.com Author: Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show Published: 2026-05-25T05:00:35-07:00 Source: mynorthwest.com (mynorthwest.com) Language: en ## Story 'There are potential hurdles': Seattle council president says SPD staffing goals face constraints amid Aurora…