Sound Transit Opens Pinehurst Station 5 Years Ahead of Schedule as Mayor Wilson Transmits $9.1B Biennial Budget

Sound Transit Celebrates Grand Opening of Pinehurst 130th Street Infill Station

SEATTLE, Washington — Delivering a transformative transit connection for North Seattle neighborhoods, Sound Transit and municipal leaders officially opened the Pinehurst Station at Northeast 130th Street on the Link 1 Line in early October 2026. Serving as the agency’s very first modern infill light rail facility—constructed directly along an active, operating rail alignment—the station debuted an astonishing five years ahead of its original 2031 schedule following decisive acceleration approvals by the Sound Transit Board.

The station delivers 4-to-5 minute peak rail frequencies, connecting neighborhood residents to Downtown Seattle and the University of Washington in under 15 minutes. To support multimodal connectivity, King County Metro restructured local feeder routes—including the high-frequency Route 77—and the City of Seattle completed protected sidewalk and bikeway networks connecting Lake City and Bitter Lake directly to the transit platform.

Mayor Katie Wilson Transmits $9.1 Billion 2027–2028 Proposed Biennial Budget

Parallel to regional transit milestones, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson delivered her administration's inaugural $9.1 billion 2027–2028 Proposed Biennial Budget to City Council. Emphasizing fiscal stability and structural deficit reduction, the budget eliminates reliance on short-term reserves while safeguarding essential public safety, delivering a $68 million operational increase for the Seattle Police Department alongside expanded domestic worker protections and algorithmic grocery pricing transparency measures.

The budget proposal complements City Council preparations for the November 2026 renewal of the Seattle Transit Measure, which seeks voter authorization to double dedicated municipal revenues for bus transit frequency and sidewalk safety enhancements across every councilmanic district.

A Coordinated Vision for Sustainable Pacific Northwest Growth

Civic and neighborhood leaders commended the synchronized delivery of accelerated rail infrastructure alongside disciplined municipal budgeting. By expanding light rail access and securing dependable local transit funding, Seattle continues to strengthen its reputation as a national leader in transit-oriented urbanism.