Sound Transit presented three ideas to scale back light rail projects last week, prompting pushback from local officials who want to see trains reach Ballard, West Seattle and Tacoma.

The big picture: Sound Transit is facing a $35 billion shortfall to complete transit projects that local voters approved in 2016, prompting the agency to suggest cost-saving measures.

State of play: None of the proposals floated at last week's Sound Transit board retreat would complete the planned light rail extension to Seattle's Ballard neighborhood.

• One of the options would also cut out Tacoma, ending the new light rail line in Fife, a few miles north.
• Two of the concepts would affect the planned West Seattle extension — either by shortening the line or eliminating it entirely.
• Other possible cuts could include stations in South Seattle and Tukwila and a planned line between Kirkland and Issaquah.

What they're saying: The options drew swift rebuke from Seattle city officials.

• "Sound Transit needs to sharpen their pencils, do the analysis and bring us a plan that gets to Ballard to keep the promise made to voters," said City Councilmember Dan Strauss, who represents Ballard.
• A planned station at Martin Luther King Jr. Way and South Graham Street in Seattle was left out of previous light rail initiatives and shouldn't be delayed further, City Councilmember Dionne Foster said.
• "If we keep deferring the same communities over and over, we shouldn't be surprised when people stop believing us," Foster said.

Yes, but: The ideas presented last week are not final plans and are likely to change based on feedback from the board and the public.

• The scenarios were "intended to serve as the basis for conversation," King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda said.

What's next: The Sound Transit board is expected to decide later this year which cost-cutting options to pursue.

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Even fresh off a Super Bowl win, the Seahawks still aren't getting the respect they deserve.

State of play: A new NFL power ranking from Pro Football Focus slots Seattle at No. 2 — behind the despised Los Angeles Rams — even though the Hawks beat L.A. twice last season, including in the NFC Championship.

What's happening: Seattle lost key players this offseason, including Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, multiple defensive starters and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.

• But we still have an elite core with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed and Devon Witherspoon.
• And don't forget quarterback Sam Darnold, who was doubted hard by analysts last year and then led us to the title.

The other side: Some analysts see no clear weakness on the Rams roster after the team added Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, Sports Illustrated reports.

The bottom line: We were underestimated in 2025 and proved everyone wrong. Let's do it again.

Tell a fan

👮🏻‍♂️ President Trump said Sunday he will send ICE agents to U.S. airports starting today to assist TSA officers who have been working without pay for more than five weeks during a partial Homeland Security shutdown.

• It's not yet clear which airports will be affected or what roles the agents will fill. (Axios)

🪨 All NB lanes of I-5 remained closed Sunday south of Bellingham as crews began clearing debris from a landslide last week. (Cascadia Daily News)

A man charged in the 2023 fatal shooting of a pregnant woman in Seattle will be committed to a state psychiatric hospital after being found not guilty by reason of insanity. (KING 5)

Lime scooters in Seattle will soon chirp at people who are riding them on the sidewalk — a noisy reminder to stop breaking city law, The Seattle Times reports.

Why it matters: Even though e-scooters aren't allowed on sidewalks in Seattle, people still ride there, increasing their chances of crashing into pedestrians.

What's happening: By June, half of Lime's scooter fleet in Seattle will be upgraded with AI software and cameras that can detect if someone is riding on the sidewalk, the Times reports.

• The technology will sound an alert that will repeat until a rider either moves off the sidewalk or ends the trip, according to the newspaper.

The upgrades will begin rolling out next month, with all of Seattle's scooter fleet to be outfitted with the technology by year's end.

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Seattle tied Minnesota United 0-0 yesterday, extending their shutout streak to three straight MLS games and five overall this season.

State of play: The Sounders have kept five clean sheets in seven games across all competitions — giving up goals in just two matches, per Sounder at Heart.

What's next: One more road game in Houston, then home to Lumen Field for an April 12 rematch with Salt Lake City — the only team to beat them this year.