Everett Link Draft EIS 2026 | Routes and Displacements

Sound Transit released the Everett Link Extension Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on September 18, 2026. If you own a home or business between Lynnwood and Everett, this is the time to look closely at the proposed alignments. The document compares potential property acquisitions and displacements, and public comments are open through November 2, 2026.

The headline numbers deserve attention: depending on the alternative, the Draft EIS estimates 287 to 300 residential units displaced in the Mariner segment, 181 to 204 in the Broadway/I-5 segment, and 32 to 184 in the SR 526/Evergreen segment. These are estimates for different alternatives in each segment, not numbers to add together or a list of properties already selected for acquisition. Source: Everett Link Draft EIS, Chapter 4, Tables 4-32, 4-69 and 4-84.

What is the Everett Link Extension?

The proposed extension would add about 16 miles of light rail from Lynnwood City Center Station to the Everett Station area, generally following I-5, Airport Road and SR 526. Sound Transit is studying six new stations: West Alderwood, Ash Way, Mariner, SW Everett Industrial Center, SR 526/Evergreen and Everett Station. A seventh, SR 99/Airport Road, is provisional: it is funded for planning and environmental review, but not currently for final design or construction. The project also includes an operations and maintenance facility, called OMF North. Source: Everett Link Draft EIS, Fact Sheet.

The Draft EIS examines environmental and community effects under federal and Washington state law. It compares routes, stations and the maintenance facility, including what land might be acquired and which homes or businesses might need to relocate. A preferred alternative in this document is not a final route decision. Sound Transit says the Board will consider public comments before confirming or changing preferred alternatives; a Final EIS is expected in late 2027. Source: Sound Transit Draft EIS overview.

How many homes and businesses could be displaced?

Here is a readable comparison from Chapter 4 of the official Draft EIS. “Residential units” counts homes or apartments, not parcels or people. “Business units” counts businesses. Ranges reflect the alternatives and, in some cases, how they connect to adjoining segments. The station and alignment choices are assessed together in the EIS tables, so there is no independent displacement total to assign to each station letter on the map.

Project segment	Alternatives compared in EIS	Potential residential units displaced	Potential business units displaced	EIS table and page
West Alderwood	ALD-1B, ALD-2D, ALD-2F, including design options	0	14–37	Table 4-4, p. 87
Ash Way	ASH-1A, ASH-2D	38–63	0–1	Table 4-18, p. 98
Mariner	MAR-1B, MAR-2D, including design options	287–300	45–68	Table 4-32, p. 110
SR 99/Airport Road	AIR-1A, AIR-2B	5–17	23–27	Table 4-45, p. 119
SW Everett Industrial Center	SWI-1A, SWI-1B, SWI-1C, including a design option	0–52	29–37	Table 4-57, p. 127
SR 526/Evergreen	EGN-1A, EGN-2B, EGN-3E, including design options	32–184	5–24	Table 4-69, p. 138
Broadway/I-5	BI-1, BI-2	181–204	9–11	Table 4-84, p. 152
Everett Station	EVT-1A, EVT-2C, EVT-3D	6	17–37	Table 4-97, p. 160

Source: Everett Link Draft EIS, Chapter 4 displacement tables. These are segment comparisons, not corridor totals. The maintenance facility is studied separately: OMF North site alternatives show 0 to 189 residential units and 13 to 68 business units potentially displaced, depending on the site and design option (Table 4-110, p. 169). Its effects need to be considered alongside the chosen rail alignment without simply summing every option.

A few comparisons stand out to me. At Mariner, MAR-1B is estimated to displace 300 residential units and 68 businesses; MAR-2D would displace 287 residential units and 45–46 businesses. At Broadway/I-5, preferred BI-1 would displace 204 residential units, compared with 181 for BI-2. At Everett Station, all three options displace six residential units, while the business count ranges from 17 under EVT-1A to 37 under preferred EVT-3D. Source: Draft EIS, Tables 4-32, 4-84 and 4-97.

These counts matter, but they do not tell you whether a particular address will be acquired. A parcel can be affected without its existing use being displaced, and project design and the list of affected properties may change. For an individual property, review the official alternatives maps and the full Draft EIS, then ask Sound Transit about your specific location. Source: Sound Transit Draft EIS overview.

What is the projected construction and opening timeline?

The Draft EIS proposes construction beginning in 2030. It analyzes an initial light rail opening to SW Everett Industrial Center in 2037, with service extending to Everett Station in 2041. OMF North is projected to open in 2034. The EIS assumes parking facilities at Mariner and Everett Station in 2046 for its analysis; that year is not the opening date for the whole rail line. Sound Transit's current project page says final design and construction of those parking facilities are deferred. These dates remain proposed schedules, subject to future decisions. Sources: Draft EIS, Fact Sheet; Sound Transit project overview · Project overview.

How can you comment by November 2?

If an alternative affects your property, neighborhood or business, identify the segment and alternative code, describe the specific impact, and cite a map, page or table where possible. Ask what design changes or mitigation Sound Transit should evaluate. The formal comment period ends November 2, 2026. Sound Transit's comment guidance explains these options:

Online: Submit a comment through the official portal.
Email: [email protected].
Voicemail: 425-243-6255.
In person: Public hearings are scheduled for October 13 at Mariner High School, October 15 at the Carl Gipson Center and October 21 at the Lynnwood Neighborhood Center. A virtual hearing is scheduled for October 6. Check the official event details before attending.

Sound Transit says comments are part of the public record. If privacy matters to you, read its comment instructions before submitting.

What should homeowners and buyers take from this?

If you own property near a studied route or station, start with the exact alternative maps and ask Sound Transit about your parcel. If you are buying, selling or evaluating an investment nearby, make the current planning status part of your due diligence. Proximity to a proposed line is not proof of acquisition, and a future station is not a guaranteed increase in property value. The proposed route and mitigation measures can still change as the environmental review proceeds.

At Team NSRG, we will keep following the Everett Link process and what it could mean for Snohomish County homeowners and businesses. If you want to discuss how a proposed alignment fits into a real estate decision, reach out to our team—and send project-specific property questions and formal EIS comments to Sound Transit.

Frequently asked questions

Has Sound Transit selected the final Everett Link route?

No. The Draft EIS compares alternatives, and some segments have a preferred alternative. The Board can confirm or change those preferences after reviewing public and agency comments. The final selection follows further environmental review. Source: Sound Transit Draft EIS overview.

Does an affected parcel mean a home or business will be displaced?

No. The EIS distinguishes affected parcels from residential and business displacements. An acquisition can affect part of a parcel without removing its existing use. Source: Draft EIS, Chapter 4 table notes.

When is Everett Link expected to reach Everett Station?

The Draft EIS proposes light rail service to Everett Station in 2041, following an initial phase to SW Everett Industrial Center in 2037. Those are proposed dates, not guarantees. Source: Draft EIS, Fact Sheet.