Sound Transit Opens Pinehurst Light Rail Station 5 Years Early as Seattle Council Considers Housing Accelerator Bill

Pinehurst Link Light Rail Station Opens Five Years Ahead of Schedule

SEATTLE, Washington — Delivering a landmark regional infrastructure triumph, Sound Transit and civic leaders celebrated the official passenger opening of Pinehurst Station at Northeast 130th Street and 5th Avenue Northeast in North Seattle on September 30, 2026. Originally scheduled for passenger activation in 2031, the infill station was completed five full years ahead of schedule, delivering rapid, grade-separated Link light rail connections linking North Seattle directly to downtown Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport, and Lynnwood.

The opening coincided with Sound Transit issuing the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Everett Link Extension, initiating a 45-day regional public comment window to finalize light rail alignments across Snohomish County.

'Housing Accelerator' Bill Slashes Development Fees to Unlock Stalled Projects

At Seattle City Hall, City Councilmember Dionne Foster introduced the landmark 'Housing Accelerator' bill to jumpstart stalled residential developments across the city. The proposed legislation temporarily slashes municipal Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) fees by up to 80 percent for builders who break ground rapidly, incentivizing private capital deployment while establishing inclusionary zoning frameworks across newly upzoned single-family neighborhoods.

Mayor Katie B. Wilson welcomed the legislative initiative as part of a synchronized economic strategy to curb downtown office vacancy rates, stimulate ground-floor small business vitality, and expand workforce housing supply.

Waterfront Seattle Program Advances Elliott Bay Connections

Complementing transit and housing milestones, construction crews progressed final phases of the Waterfront Seattle Program. Following the successful public openings of the Overlook Walk, Pier 58, and Pier 62, crews advanced work on the Elliott Bay Connections initiative, designing a continuous, car-free pedestrian and bicycle greenway connecting Pier 62 to Smith Cove.

Civic and planning leaders praised the synchronized momentum, affirming that accelerated mass transit and streamlined housing construction are charting a dynamic future for the Puget Sound region.