(The Center Square) – Much of the funding for Sound Transit’s projects, including ST3, has come from federal grants. In the past seven years, it has secured a total of $3.8 billion, with $9 billion expected in future grants for ST3. However, as the transit system struggles to recover its pre-pandemic ridership volumes, the agency faces a growing fiscal challenge due to what a spokesperson says are rising property values and increased construction costs. Those challenges could affect how much money it can expect, or need, from the federal government. In an email to The Center Square, Media Relations Manager John Gallagher wrote that “the agency has been transparent about the financial headwinds that we face on capital projects. We anticipate coming to the Board later this year with an update to the financial plan.”