6 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Urbanist,   9/11/23:

 

 

    Sound Transit Braces for Overcrowding As It Launches Lynnwood Link in 2024    

 

 

With approximately one year until Sound Transit plans to begin service on its extension of light rail north to Snohomish County, a clearer picture of some of the growing pains that are likely to come with that service expansion is coming into view.

 

Details

[KevinKorell]

Urbanist,  3/9/24:

 

 

 

    Sound Transit Unveils Plan to Boost Initial Lynnwood Link Frequencies  

 

 

 

When the Lynnwood Link Extension opens later this year, service levels are expected to be better than projected by Sound Transit planners last fall thanks to a plan to stash additional trains at elevated stations overnight. It’s genuinely good news for riders, but to do it there will be more near-term pain for riders to prepare the fleet.

 

Update

[CNJRoss]

Sound Transit news release

 

Sound Transit unveils new initiatives to reduce crowding when Lynnwood Link extension opens  

 

More frequent service and new bus options will improve passenger experience

 

March 7, 2024

 

In response to direction from the Board of Directors, Sound Transit announced today a series of actions designed to mitigate crowding and improve the experience for passengers when the Lynnwood Link extension opens later this year. Among the steps that the agency is proposing are increased storage capacity for trains, which allows for more frequent service during peak hours, and alternative bus service between Snohomish County and Seattle, including the introduction of a new temporary ST Express route.

 

“Snohomish County’s residents are eager to take advantage of improved mass transit and additional commuting options, particularly as Lynnwood Link prepares to launch,” said Sound Transit Board Vice Chair and Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. “We want people to use Link when it opens, since it is both convenient and good for the environment. By addressing the Board’s concerns about crowding, Sound Transit is proactively preparing for improved service for transit users across the region, and we greatly appreciate the responsiveness.”

 

“This action makes good on our commitment to open the starter line in East King County and will help make Lynnwood Link service much more reliable when it opens,” said Sound Transit System Expansion Committee Chair and King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci. “Frequency is freedom: Our system works best when it is frequent enough that people can ride without a schedule. I want to thank staff from Sound Transit and our partners at King County Metro and Community Transit for working so creatively to arrive at a solution that will benefit our entire region.”

 

“Getting the rider experience right from the beginning is essential to the success of the Lynnwood extension,” said Sound Transit Rider Experience and Operations Committee Chair and Tacoma Councilmember Kristina Walker. “The improved capacity and alternative bus service will help relieve the potential for overcrowding, making the new extension all the more attractive for passengers.”

 

Originally, the 2 Line was scheduled to open before the Lynnwood Link extension. The delay of the opening of the 2 Line over Lake Washington means that the Lynnwood extension does not have access to the new Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) East in Bellevue, where the agency was planning on storing new rail cars. Sound Transit’s OMF Central in SODO is already at full capacity, limiting storage options and creating the potential for very crowded conditions on trains when the Lynnwood extension opens.

 

As a result, Sound Transit had originally projected running four-car trains every 10 minutes during peak hours. Under the new plan, four-car trains will run every eight minutes during peak hours. Sound Transit will also deploy gap trains and extra trains as they are available during the busiest periods, when platform crowding is identified by the Link Control Center. The agency routinely deploys gap trains and extra trains during special events, such as concerts and sporting events.

 

The changes will create 25 percent more capacity on trains, reducing crowding, especially during afternoon peak hours. 

 

The additional capacity is possible due to Sound Transit and King County staff locating temporary storage sites for up to 36 additional vehicles outside of the OMF Central at various sites along the 1 Line. With the extra vehicles, the maximum storage capacity of 140 vehicles will be assigned to the OMF, 35 percent more than it was designed to manage safety inspections and maintenance activities.

 

While the new service schedule will reduce crowding and improve frequency, it does come with tradeoffs. Because of the extra maintenance required for the increased number of vehicles, Sound Transit is reducing some off-peak service levels. Starting around 8 p.m., service will move from 10-minute to 12-minute headways, allowing for more vehicle maintenance in the evening. Passengers may also experience variability in train length, timeliness, and cleanliness as a result of this updated maintenance schedule.

 

Besides the increased frequency in light rail service, Sound Transit is collaborating with Community Transit on ST Express alternatives for direct service from Snohomish County until the 2 Line is complete.

 

The proposal includes adding a new temporary Route 515 from Lynnwood, running in the peak direction every 10 minutes. It would also temporarily retain Route 510 from Everett, with service in the peak direction every 15 minutes. The routes will provide additional travel options to riders to avoid 1 Line crowding. Routes 512 and 513 would connect to Link at Lynnwood, not Northgate as they currently do.

 

“We couldn’t have accomplished these improvements without our staff and our partners joining in a collaborative effort to find innovative answers to the problems that we were facing,” said Sound Transit CEO Goran Sparrman. “Their hard work has yielded a workable solution that will benefit riders until we are able to open the full 2 Line.”

 

“These steps to reduce crowding and provide better service for passengers are a result of transit agencies working together to deliver solutions for our shared regional riders. King County operators and staff have stepped up to identify and implement these changes,” said King County Metro General Manager Michelle Allison. “We know that these changes aren’t always going to be easy, but it’s a testament to our staff’s commitment that they are willing to take these steps to help improve the experience for riders.”

 

“When the 1 Line opens in Lynnwood it will connect Snohomish County to the rest of the region and upgrade the speed and reliability of travel to and from Seattle,” said Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz. “Community Transit will leverage the Link investment by shifting downtown commuter bus routes into a dramatic expansion of local bus service in Snohomish County, including higher frequency on many existing routes and several new routes. County residents will have better connections within the county, along with new express routes and high frequency routes like the Swift Orange and Blue lines directly to light rail stations. I am grateful to Sound Transit for bringing creative solutions to the table to ensure our two systems are effectively integrated for customers until Link can achieve full service levels with the 2 Line opening next year.”

 

The Lynnwood Link extension is currently scheduled to open by this fall. Pre-revenue and simulated service for the extension is planned to begin in the second quarter of this year.

 

When the Lynnwood extension opens, riders will enjoy fast, frequent and reliable service between south Snohomish County, the University of Washington, downtown Seattle, and Sea-Tac Airport. The extension includes four new stations serving Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Shoreline and Seattle.

 

 

[KevinKorell]

Sound Transit website, 3/29/24:

 

 

    Looking forward to Lynnwood: What's next for the 1 Line extension?  

 

If you’ve been eagerly awaiting light rail’s arrival to Snohomish County later this year, you’ll want to stay tuned in the coming weeks for some big news. 

 

In the meantime, you can expect to see a lot more activity on the Link 1 Line extension, because we’ll be entering the “pre-revenue service” phase of testing on April 15. 

 

Continue reading

[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.

[CNJRoss]

Sound Transit news release

Link 1 Line service to Lynnwood begins August 30

 

Opening will add four new stations and bring light rail to Snohomish County

 

April 4, 2024

 

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.

 

Community Transit and King County Metro have agreed to revise the date for bus service upgrades and improvements originally planned to take effect Aug. 31. Bus changes will instead take place Sept. 14, allowing a smooth launch of extended 1 Line service before bus routing changes occur.

 

“Opening the 1 Line to Lynnwood is a major milestone in the growth of light rail,” said King County Executive and Sound Transit Board Chair Dow Constantine. “For the first time, the light rail system is joining two counties, bringing voters’ vision for our region’s integrated transit system one step closer to reality. Thanks to the collaboration between our region’s transit agencies, we are ready for the start of service, with increased capacity for Link riders and a smooth service transition for other riders.”

 

“The opening of light rail to Lynnwood will be transformational for Snohomish County,” said Sound Transit Board Vice Chair and Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. “Light rail is essential for supporting our projected growth in the years to come, allowing residents to travel reliably, safely, and efficiently to downtown Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport, and beyond without having to contend with highway traffic. This is a game-changer. I’m looking forward to the next phase in Link’s growth in Snohomish County, as we work toward extending service to Everett.”

 

“The Link light rail extending into Lynnwood heralds the start of a new era for our city and the rest of Snohomish County,” said Sound Transit Boardmember and Lynnwood Mayor Christine Frizzell. “Light rail is number one in our list of strategic priorities as we fulfill our Community Vision for a sustainable and vibrant community. We are eager for the day at long last when we can be part of helping people get from where they are to where they want to be throughout the Puget Sound region!”

 

“Today’s announcement is the culmination of years of commitment and hard work on the part of Sound Transit’s project team, our contractors, and the construction workers,” said Sound Transit CEO Goran Sparrman. “They deserve our thanks for maintaining their focus on this project despite the COVID pandemic and the months-long concrete strike. I also want to thank our partners at King County and Community Transit for their ongoing collaboration in ensuring that we will have additional train capacity and transit options for riders when the Lynnwood extension opens.”

 

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to expanding transit across the country, including the Puget Sound Region,” said FTA Regional Administrator Susan Fletcher. “By opening Lynnwood Link, Sound Transit takes another step to ensuring that people throughout Snohomish County and our entire region have access to fast, reliable transportation that avoids highway congestion while getting them where they need to go safely and efficiently. FTA is proud to have been a partner with Sound Transit in this critical project.”

 

“Light rail service reaching Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace translates directly to more bus service and better connections for people all over Snohomish County,” said Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz. “Starting Sept. 14, we will shift Community Transit resources off I-5 and redeploy more service locally, including great connections to light rail at Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, and Shoreline. Snohomish County residents can look forward to dramatic improvements to both local and regional travel options.”

 

“We’re excited to transform and improve bus service connections for riders as they travel between communities, the new light rail stations and the new RapidRide G Line,” said King County Metro General Manager Michelle Allison. “As the 1 Line expands northward, we’re ensuring a smooth and successful transition for tens of thousands of daily riders as they explore the upgraded transit network.”

 

Metro’s planned route changes were proposed by Executive Constantine and approved by the King County Council. Highlights for Metro riders regionwide include five new bus routes, 15 revised routes, a new Metro Flex service and the launch of RapidRide G Line in Seattle.

 

Stacy & Witbeck/Kiewit/Hoffman JV and Skanska Constructors L300 JV are executing the civil construction on the extension. The $3.1 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 multiple transit connections:

• 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, 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 the future Gateway transit-oriented development neighborhood. There are 890 existing parking spaces at 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.

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

 

 

[CNJRoss]

Sound Transit email, 4/4/24

The 1 Line extension to Lynnwood opens Aug 30

 

 

 

 

Say hello to a new way to get around

 

Link light rail service to north King and Snohomish County begins Aug 30. We're opening four new stations from Shoreline South/148th to Lynnwood City Center, offering another way to get where you want to go.

 

How to ride basics:

1. An ORCA card is the easiest way to pay and the only way to transfer between buses and trains without paying twice.
2. Reduced fares are available, and youth ride free.
3. Trains will run every 8 minutes during peak travel times.
4. Stay behind the yellow line on the platform to be safe around tracks and trains.

Subscribe to find out more about the 1 Line extension opening or follow the hashtag #SnoCoLink on social media.

 

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