54 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

8/18/22

 

 

 

 

Project update

 

The Sound Transit Board System Expansion Committee today received a detailed briefing on continuing efforts to identify new opening dates for current Link construction projects, including the Lynnwood Link extension project. This email provides an update on work to open these extensions as quickly as possible.    

 

Since April, Sound Transit has been flagging delays affecting not only the Lynnwood project but also on the Federal Way, Downtown Redmond and East Link extensions.

 

"Within about the next four years, our carbon- and congestion-free light rail system will more than double from 26 to 62 miles and from 25 to 50 stations," said Sound Transit Interim CEO Brooke Belman. "While we are on a path to fully resolve impacts of COVID-19, the concrete delivery strike and our construction challenges, we have more work to do before we can reliably establish opening dates. We will work tirelessly with our contractors to complete these extensions as rapidly as possible without compromising on safety or quality.”

 

As with other projects, the Lynnwood Link Extension has been impacted by the concrete delivery strike as well as COVID-19. The strike came at a critical time for construction on the Lynnwood extension, when concrete needs were especially important. The strike primarily affected L200, the southern segment of the project, which runs north from the existing Northgate Station to just south of the Snohomish County line. Due to lack of work, the contractor (Stacy and Witbeck/Kiewit/Hoffman) had to temporarily lay off some craftspeople. This resulted in a lag time for returning to work once the strike ended.  

 

The strike and COVID-related shutdowns and restrictions eroded much of the project’s eight-month float. As a result, future risks have the potential to further delay the opening of the project.  

 

Fortunately, known risks specific to the project are relatively limited. They include general risks such as challenges that can arise from staffing and supply chain issues, as well as completing fiber-optic connectivity, with work already underway to mitigate risks for the latter.   

 

While the Lynnwood Link extension was scheduled to open in mid-2024, continuing work is required to identify new project opening timelines for this as well as the other three projects. Timelines must include time for activation work once construction is complete. Based on the most recent assessments, completion of construction for the Lynnwood extension may be impacted by four to six months. This only slightly exceeds the more than four-month delay caused by the concrete delivery strike that ended in April, with project schedules absorbing most other impacts. An upcoming programmatic review will assess rail activation sequencing and time requirements to support the identification of new opening timeframes.  

 

Identifying new opening timelines requires continuing work to resolve project risks, as well the mentioned programmatic review that is now getting underway. Sound Transit will maintain intensive focus on these tasks and opening these projects as rapidly as possible without compromising their safety and quality. Action plans responding to challenges with all four of the current projects are summarized in a presentation provided at today’s meeting and a detailed memo.  

 

For more information, please contact Erik Ashlie-Vinke, Government & Community Relations Manager – North Corridor, at erik.ashlie-vinke@soundtransit.org.

 

More project info: soundtransit.org/lle56

 

90

[KevinKorell]

Everett, WA Herald, 4/3/24:

 

 

    Lynnwood light rail opening date announcement coming Thursday  

 

 

Sound Transit plans to announce the opening date of the Lynnwood Link extension on Thursday morning.

 

Full story

 

Cross posted in two relevant threads.

[KevinKorell]

The Registry,  4/15/24:

 

 

    Sound Transit’s Link 1 Line Service to Lynnwood begins Aug. 30    

 

 

Sound Transit announced today that passenger service on the Link 1 Line will begin to Lynnwood on Aug. 30. The 8.5-mile segment will add four new stations: Shoreline South/148th St., Shoreline North/185th St., Mountlake Terrace, and Lynnwood City Center. During peak hours, trains will run approximately every eight minutes.

 

Entire story

[CNJRoss]

Sound Transit news release

 

Pre-revenue testing underway on Lynnwood Link Extension   

 

Milestone marks countdown toward Aug. 30 opening

 

June 7, 2024

 

Testing on the 8.5-mile long Lynnwood Link Extension has entered the pre-revenue phase, marking an important milestone toward the opening on Aug. 30. This phase includes training for operators and maintenance staff, and continued testing to ensure stations, tracks, utilities, and vehicles work together as expected in preparation for the start of service.

 

During this period, light rail vehicles are running frequently between the Northgate and Lynnwood City Center stations. In addition to trains on the tracks, people can expect to see maintenance vehicles, testing equipment, and personnel involved in the testing process, and hear sounds typical in an operating light rail system including station announcements, wheels on the tracks, and warning signals.

 

“With the start of pre-revenue service, the countdown has begun toward opening day for the Lynnwood extension, connecting King and Snohomish counties,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and King County Executive Dow Constantine. “This is an exciting moment for our communities as we prepare to further expand the green, integrated transit system our region deserves.”

 

“We’re less than three months away from the opening of the Lynnwood extension,” said Sound Transit Board Vice Chair and Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. “Each milestone brings us that much closer to fast, reliable light rail service that Snohomish County residents have been wanting and needing for years. I’m thrilled that we will finally be able to ride Link and enjoy the economic, climate, and community benefits that it will bring to the county.”

 

“Thanks to the hard work of our construction teams and staff, the finish line for the Lynnwood extension is rapidly approaching,” said Sound Transit Interim CEO Goran Sparrman. “With this new phase, our partners at King County Rail will be playing an important role in ensuring that we are ready for full operations when we cut the ribbon on opening day.”

 

The next phase of testing will be simulated service, which will begin next month. During simulated service, all trains will discharge passengers at Northgate and continue to Lynnwood. When the Lynnwood extension opens, trains will run every eight minutes during peak hours.

 

Stacy & Witbeck/Kiewit/Hoffman JV and Skanska Constructors L300 JV are executing the civil construction on the Lynnwood Link Extension. The $3.26 billion project budget includes up to $1.17 billion from a Full Funding Grant Agreement executed by the Federal Transit Administration. In addition, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau executed a $658 million low-interest loan supporting the project, including new light rail vehicles and support facilities.

 

The Lynnwood extension will serve the following stations, all of them with connections to multiple transit modes:

• Shoreline South/148th Station. Located just northeast of I-5 at the NE 145th Street exit, the elevated Shoreline South/148th Station includes a parking garage with approximately 500 new spaces as part of the project.
• Shoreline North/185th Station. Located on the east side of I-5, the Shoreline North/185th Station serves Shoreline Stadium, the Shoreline Conference Center and the surrounding neighborhoods. Improved pedestrian pathways connect the station to the west side of I-5. A parking garage with approximately 500 new spaces is part of the project.
• Mountlake Terrace Station. Located east of I-5 at the Mountlake Terrace Transit Center just north of 236th Street Southwest, west of Veterans Memorial Park, the elevated Mountlake Terrace Station straddles 236th Street Southwest, and is a short walk from the Mountlake Terrace Library, new city hall and future transit-oriented development. There are 890 existing parking spaces near the station.
• Lynnwood City Center. Located at the Lynnwood Transit Center, this elevated station serves one of the busiest transit centers in the region, with extensive connections to local and regional service. A new garage containing 1,670 parking stalls in a five-story structure opened last year.

In 2016, voters approved the addition of a light rail station to the Lynnwood Link Extension at NE 130th Street. That station is scheduled to open in 2026.

 

Visit this page to learn more about the 1 Line to Lynnwood.

 

 

[CNJRoss]

6/7/24

 

 

 

Project update

 

 

What’s next for WSLE?

 

For those following along, we are nearing a milestone. After Sound Transit published the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in 2022 and a 90-day public comment period, the Sound Transit Board confirmed and modified the preferred alternative for the West Seattle Link Extension in July 2022. We expect to publish the Final EIS later this year, which will include responses to comments received on the Draft EIS. While we’re getting close, we do not have a date set for publication yet. We will share more information about specific timing for the availability of the Final EIS when we can.

 

After the Final EIS is published, the Sound Transit Board will select the project to be built. Their decision will consider the years of technical study and public engagement since 2018. In the past, we gathered your feedback through station planning and neighborhood forum events, scoping and Draft EIS comment periods, community briefings, and one-on-one meetings. Following the Board’s decision and the Record of Decision by the Federal Transit Administration, the project will move into the design phase. 

 

What is the design phase? The design phase will focus on advancing detailed design of the guideway and stations and preparing for construction. This includes refining what the facilities will look like, how the stations fit within neighborhoods, and how people will move through the station. We look forward to engaging with you as the design advances.

 

As we near the Final EIS milestone, we are excited to be one step closer to providing fast, reliable new light rail connections to residential and job centers in the SODO, Delridge, and West Seattle neighborhoods.

 

We hope that you continue to stay engaged with us along the way! 

 

Learn more

Stay up to date

• Stay current with the West Seattle Link Extension project.  

• 隨時掌握West Seattle Link擴展項目的最新資訊。  

• 获取有关West Seattle Link扩展项目的最新消息。  

• Luôn cập nhật thông tin về dự án Mở Rộng Tuyến West Seattle Link.  

• Manténgase al tanto del proyecto de Extensión de West Seattle Link.  

 

More project info: soundtransit.org/wslink

Get in touch: westseattlelink@soundtransit.org