Sound Transit U-Link Project Update

In this issue:
* Major Construction Activities Begin for University Link
* Capitol Hill Station Construction Kick-off Meeting
* Update on Nighttime Noise Variance for Capitol Hill Construction
* UW Station Construction Kick-off Meeting Recap
* What is University Link?

Major Construction Activities Begin for University Link
The next major phase of construction - excavation and tunneling – is beginning at both University Link light rail station sites.

At the Capitol Hill Station, the early work includes:

* Burying overhead wires and removing utility poles along E. Denny Way between 10th and Harvard avenues (this work is being conducted by Comcast and Seattle City Light).
* Relocating underground utilities on E. Denny Way. In addition, the Seattle Department of Transportation will install a new traffic signal at the intersection of Broadway Ave. and E. Denny Way.
* “Jet grouting” the soil near E. Denny Way. Jet grouting involves injecting the soil with a cement-like substance to improve stability.
* Removing three trees in the northwest corner of Cal Anderson Park and several street trees along E. Denny Way.

After this utility work is complete, a portion of E. Denny Way between Broadway and 10th Avenue will remain closed for up to six years in order to accommodate the excavation and tunneling activities for the underground station.

For more information, please attend the January 14th construction kick-off meeting (see below).
The UW Station early work activities include:

* Installation of an electrical duct bank under a portion of the Burke Gilman Trail has begun. While the work is underway, pedestrian and bicycle traffic along the Burke Gilman Trail has been re-routed for a short distance at the south end of the UW campus. The work is scheduled during UW’s winter break (Dec. 14, 2009 to Jan. 3, 2010) to minimize impacts on trail users. (Click here for a map of the detour route).
* Site preparation near Husky Stadium, begins in January and includes fencing off a portion of the southwest parking lot of Husky Stadium, clearing trees, grading the construction site, installing a portion of the construction wall noise wall, and building the access roads around the perimeter of the construction site.

A recap of the December 2nd construction kick-off meeting can be found below.

Capitol Hill Station: Construction Kick-off Meeting
To keep you informed about the construction progress, Sound Transit is hosting a community meeting on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010. Come to the meeting and meet the contractor, learn about the construction schedule, and ask questions about the upcoming work activities.

Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010 - 8 p.m. (presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.)
Seattle Central Community College
1701 Broadway, Room 1110 - Seattle, WA 98122
*South end of main building, use entry near the Broadway Performance Hall

For more information:
Contact Rhonda Dixon at 206-370-5569 or rhonda.dixon@soundtransit.org. You can also visit http://www.soundtransit.org/capitolhill.

Update on Nighttime Noise Variance for Capitol Hill Construction
Sound Transit applied for a variance to the nighttime noise ordinance from the City of Seattle. The variance, which is currently under review by the City of Seattle, would allow the nighttime work activity to take place on Capitol Hill Station site. To safely conduct the tunneling work, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) must operate around-the-clock. Continuous tunneling requires ventilation fans, generators and vehicle activity at the surface to support the workers and equipment below the surface.

For more information about the noise ordinance and variance process, please visit the City of Seattle Web site: http://www.Seattlegov/dpd/Enforcement/Noise_Abatement/Overview/default.asp

UW Station Construction Kick-off Recap
Sound Transit hosted the construction kick-off open house for the University of Washington (UW) light rail station on December 2nd. The meeting included an overview of the UW Station, the construction sequence and a description of the work that will occur over the next six months.
Andy Casillas of the University of Washington also gave a report on the Rainier Vista Plan, a potential re-design of pedestrian access to the UW campus from the station.

For more information about the open house:
Contact Wilbert Santos at 206-370-5516 or wilbert.santos@soundtransit.org. You can also visit http://www.soundtransit.org/UWstation.

What is University Link?
University Link is the 3.15-mile extension of light rail from downtown Seattle to the University of Washington. U-Link includes twin-bore tunnels and two stations, one at Capitol Hill (Broadway Ave E. and East John Street), the other on the University of Washington campus at Husky Stadium. Local tax funding for U-Link was approved by voters and the project also received a $813 million Federal Transit Administration grant.
U-Link is projected to add 70,000 daily riders to the Link system, bringing total daily ridership to 114,000 in 2030. Construction of U-Link began in early 2009 and will continue over the next seven years. Passenger service is scheduled to begin in 2016.