Seattle Light Rail Link, USA

On 11 January 2001 The Sound Transit Board voted to continue moving forward with its Seattle light rail project, adopting a revised budget and schedule, and agreeing to enter into a pending $500 million federal grant agreement. The vote was 14 to 1, with three board members absent.

It is the belief of many that further delays in starting construction could stall plans to extend light rail to places such as Snohomish County. However critics have warned that the decision was rushed and could set the region on track for cost overruns that could suck away funding for light rail beyond King County and erode public support for expanded efforts.

The central link light-rail line is part of a package of regional transit services and facilities approved by the region's voters in 1996. Sound Transit is operating the Sounder commuter rail service between Tacoma and Seattle, USA, with plans to expand the service north to Everett and south to Lakewood. The agency also has implemented 13 limited-stop regional express bus routes in the three-county region, with five additional routes going into service over the next two years.

RAILWAY TUNNEL

The board also directed the staff to proceed with a six month work plan to complete the contracting process for the tunnel portions of the project and to continue investigating methods to reduce the costs and risks associated with the tunnel. The analysis will look at alternatives to crossing beneath Portage Bay and deep tunnel stations in the University District.

Light rail is the most cost-effective solution to expanding the people-moving capacity along Interstate five in the central Puget Sound region. Organisers of the project stressed that it would not be possible to expand the freeway, so this project does the next best thing by creating a new right-of-way. It is a new road that will serve the region for the next 100 years and longer.

CENTRAL LINK LIGHT-RAIL SYSTEM

The revised budget sets the cost for building the central link light-rail system at $3.6 billion and extends the completion date to November 2009. This is $1.2 billion more expensive, and will take three years longer to build, than previously predicted. The first segment to be built will be the seven-mile line between NorthEast 45th Street in the University District and Lander Street in the Duwamish industrial area. Construction is anticipated to begin in June 2002. The budget for the first segment, which includes the planned 4.5 mile tunnel between downtown Seattle and the University District, is set at $2.6 billion. Construction on the segment south of Lander St. is planned for 2004.

Construction will be done in ways that minimise closures and detours. Sound Transit will work with businesses to avoid construction activities during peak retail times. The agency will coordinate with communities to minimise disruptions to community activities such as parades, fairs and festivals.

Sound Transit contractors will not only be required to adhere to local city construction regulations, but specific provisions will be placed in the contract plans to minimise disruption to businesses and residences. Those measures may include: limiting construction hours in sensitive areas, locating stationary construction equipment away from noise-sensitive areas, timing disruptions to utility services and working with transit agencies to replace temporarily reduced access. Contractors will also use dust, erosion and water-pollution control measures such as regularly cleaning the project site, sweeping streets and sidewalks, watering, placing tarps over heavy dust or erosion areas and covering truckbeds.