Sound Transit is using taxpayer money to acquire more property for the light rail after giving away valuable public land and approving affordable-housing deals that its own review says surrendered nearly $100 million in potential revenue.
The agency’s board voted October 22 to authorize acquiring property rights across 64 parcels for the West Seattle Link Extension, including through eminent domain if negotiations fail. The package includes three full purchases, one partial acquisition and easements across 60 other parcels. One household and one commercial tenant face permanent relocation.
That action follows an August proposal to increase funding for West Seattle property acquisition and construction support by $765 million, taking that allocation from approximately $738.6 million to more than $1.5 billion. The broader funding increase is separate from the price of the October acquisition package…