In 1996, voters approved Sound Transit’s light rail plan that would connect S 200^th Street (South of Sea-Tac) to the University of Washington at 45th Street. In 2009, thirteen years later, the initial segment opened from Seatac to Downtown Seattle. Sound Transit officials just opened the recent rail expansion, a 3.1 mile light rail connector from Downtown to the UW, called University Link, just a few days ago.

Sound Transit officials say the project is ahead of schedule. The problem – it was supposed to open in 2006.

Despite a decade of delay, Sound Transit claims the recently-opened University Link was completed “early and under budget.” But that is because Sound Transit moved the goal posts. To be fair, Sound Transit admitted years ago that planned projects were experiencing cost overruns and delay. However, Sound Transit officials continue to use language that misleads the public (see below):

• Potential early University Link opening “Fact Sheet”
• University Link now on track to open in first quarter of 2016
• University Link light rail opens

It wouldn’t be the first time Sound Transit claimed something was built under budget. Sound Transit officials claimed the “Initial Segment” finished $130 million under budget. Yet the 15.6 mile project cost $2.4 billion, about the same amount as Sound Transit officials originally estimated for the entire 21-mile Starter Line from S. 200^th Street to NE 45^th Street, per the 1999 Environmental Impact Statement. In other words, taxpayers received a much shorter rail line at a higher cost.

In fact, once the entire 1996-line is built by 2021 (as estimated), officials will spend closer to $5 billion, more than double the original projections. Ridership will also be lower than originally promised.

The public knows Sound Transit is working toward rebuilding trust. But claiming that ULink is "early and under budget" isn't the way to do it.