Executive Zahilay commits to regional collaboration and problem-solving in the face of Sound Transit’s long-term fiscal challenges

King County, Washington sent this bulletin at 03/18/2026 03:46 PM PDT

News Release – March 18, 2026

Contact:

Callie Craighead, Press Secretary, King County Executive Office

Executive Zahilay commits to regional collaboration and problem-solving in the face of Sound Transit’s long-term fiscal challenges

Summary:

Today, King County Executive and Sound Transit Board Member Girmay Zahilay released the following statement on the Sound Transit’s Board of Director’s retreat and conversations about the Enterprise Initiative. The Enterprise Initiative is an agencywide effort to ensure that project delivery and operations are affordable going forward while delivering on the objectives of the voter-approved Sound Transit 3 (ST3) plan. Sound Transit currently faces a $34.5 billion shortfall over the next 20 years.

Statement:

“This is a critical moment for Sound Transit as it grapples with cost pressures that affect almost every major infrastructure project in our country. Access to fast, reliable transit is essential as our region continues to grow, and ST3 projects unlock transformative new opportunities for jobs, affordable housing, and community development. We must keep projects moving forward – as promised to voters a decade ago. The longer we delay, the more it will cost.

“As King County Executive, it is my responsibility to listen to the needs and priorities of every part of our county when making decisions. Over the last few weeks, I've convened discussions with board members representing North, South, and East County subareas to begin to develop a shared approach. Additionally, I have met regularly with the Snohomish and Pierce County executives, recognizing that we have to work across our three counties to meet the collective needs of our region.

“Sound Transit has offered hundreds of ideas on how to deliver new projects and service in the most cost-effective way. Decisions over the next few months will require collaborative problem solving, creative cost saving measures, and regional compromises. There is a lot of commitment from the Board to deliver as much of the capital project as possible. I have been digging into each approach to understand the tradeoffs and am committed to working with my fellow board members to deliver an affordable, sustainable solution that keeps projects moving forward, connecting regional job centers.”