Seattle Transportation, Waterfront, and Seattle Center Committee

Seattle City Council's Transportation, Waterfront, and Seattle Center Committee convened for a consequential meeting addressing two major transportation initiatives: new 2024 levy programs and anti-displacement strategies for Sound Transit-impacted small businesses. Chair Rob Saka opened with notable traffic safety data—no reported fatal traffic incidents since the committee's immediate steps meeting—while acknowledging this represents only a short timeframe. The meeting's centerpiece was a community roundtable on anti-displacement strategies for West Seattle Link Extension, featuring directly impacted small business owners from North Delridge. Laurel Trujillo from Ounces Taproom and Erin Rubin from Mode Music shared their experiences navigating uncertainty around relocation support, with Rubin emphasizing the financial challenge of fronting relocation costs as a single mother business owner. Sound Transit announced significant project modifications aimed at cost savings and impact reduction, including elimination of the Avalon Station and realignment that would preserve the West Seattle Health Club and avoid displacing Jefferson Square's 40 businesses. These changes represent approximately $2.6 billion in cost savings while reducing displacement impacts by about 100 properties. King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda joined to advocate for additional support measures including protective rent, rights of first refusal for displaced businesses to return to completed transit-oriented development sites, and immediate funding relief during the uncertainty period.