Olympia Seeks to Boost Sound Transit with Long-Awaited Permit Reforms
Sound Transit could soon gain a significant advantage in securing permits for long-planned light rail projects, thanks to a set of reforms advancing through the Washington State Legislature. These reforms, if enacted in the coming weeks, aim to streamline the permitting process and address the challenges faced by Sound Transit.
Despite receiving voter approval to build essential public facilities, Sound Transit often encounters delays in local permit approval, particularly in cities where local leaders are either hostile or indifferent to the regional transit network's expansion. These delays, which can add years to projects, result in wasted funds as inflation increases costs. Two bills, House Bill 2517 and Senate Bill 6309, are designed to tackle this issue.
While these bills won't revolutionize Sound Transit's permit process, they will remove unnecessary obstacles. Currently, Sound Transit is prohibited from applying for construction or technical permits for properties it doesn't yet control, despite its eminent domain authority. This restriction can be exploited by a few property owners to delay projects. The bills grant Sound Transit the authority to apply for construction permits before official land use decisions, ensuring a smoother approval process once everything is finalized.
Amendments to the bills also mandate that property owners be notified when Sound Transit submits permits related to their properties. Representative Joe Fitzgibbon emphasized the importance of concurrent processes, as sequential steps can significantly extend project timelines. The goal is to optimize efficiency for a multi-generational, tens-of-billions-dollar investment, benefiting the economic connectivity of the Seattle metropolitan area.
Additionally, the reforms allow Sound Transit to override local development standards that don't accommodate light rail, such as height limits and setback requirements, as long as they comply with applicable regulations. This flexibility is crucial, as local development regulations often create complex and resource-intensive requirements. For instance, Seattle's special legislation required unifying development standards for light rail in 19 different zones.
Sound Transit representative Mike Shaw estimates that these changes could save the agency up to nine months on certain projects, translating to tens of millions of dollars in savings. However, some Puget Sound transit advocates advocate for granting Sound Transit its own permitting authority, reducing local governments' role in transit projects.
Despite the potential benefits, such a move remains a distant possibility due to the intertwined nature of Sound Transit and local government work. The bills have received mixed support, with some expressing concerns about private property rights. The question of potential cost savings if these reforms had been enacted sooner adds to the debate.
As the session progresses, Sound Transit is counting on these bills and others, like SB 6148, which allows longer-term bond issuance, to advance its project portfolio. While these reforms offer a step in the right direction, the challenges of balancing efficiency and public interest persist.
