Federal loan deal helps to plug Sound Transit expansion shortfall

摘要

On 18 August the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced a USD3.84bn package of new and refinanced loans for six Link light rail projects in the Seattle metropolitan area (population four million). The largest-ever package agreed between the USDOT and a single transit agency will help to fill a projected USD6.5bn shortfall for the ST3 expansion plan approved by voters in November 2016. The welcome news comes after Sound Transit agreed a 'realignment plan' which would see many ST3 projects delayed for periods of between two and five years due to the shortfall.