November 2009
In this issue:
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UW Station: Construction Update Meeting
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Burke Gilman Trail and Partial Montlake Boulevard Closures
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City of Seattle Approves UW Station Technical Noise Variance
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STart on Broadway
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Upcoming Activities in Cal Anderson Park
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Contract Approved for University Link Tunnel Work
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Capitol Hill Station: Transit Oriented Development Community Forum
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What is University Link?
UW Station: Construction Update Meeting
Sound Transit is hosting a community meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009. Please join us to meet the contractor and learn about the following topics:
• UW Station construction activities schedule
• Temporary Burke Gilman Trail closure
• Partial closure of Montlake Boulevard
• UW Station design and the Rainier Vista plan
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
6 - 8 p.m. (presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.)
Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI - McCurdy Gallery)
2700 24th Avenue E, Seattle, WA 98112
For more information:
Contact Wilbert Santos at 206-370-5516 or wilbert.santos@soundtransit.org
Burke Gilman Trail and Partial Montlake Boulevard Closures
Between December 14, 2009 and January 3, 2010, Sound Transit's contractor will install the infrastructure for an electrical ductbank that will provide power to the UW Station construction site and ultimately additional high voltage service to the University of Washington light rail station. The work is scheduled during UW's winter break to minimize impacts on trail users. While the work is underway, pedestrian and bicycle traffic along the Burke Gilman Trail will be re-routed for a short distance at the south end of the UW campus (see map).
Also during that time, contractors will install the electrical ductbank under Montlake Boulevard and it will be necessary to restrict traffic to one lane in either direction. This work will be conducted at night to minimize the impact to traffic on Montlake Boulevard.
Sound Transit will discuss this work at the December 2nd meeting (see above for more details).
For more information:
Contact Wilbert Santos at 206-370-5516 or wilbert.santos@soundtransit.org.
City of Seattle Approves UW Station Technical Noise Variance
Sound Transit's application for a Technical Noise Variance has been approved by the City of Seattle, subject to various mitigation measures, to allow the nighttime work activity to take place on the Sound Transit station site near Husky Stadium. To safely conduct the tunneling work, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) must be operated 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.
STart on Broadway
Dan Corson created the "Oscillating Field" on the future site of Sound Transit's Link light rail Capitol Hill Station in Seattle. The temporary art project can be viewed at Broadway Avenue and East Denny Way, with a nightly light show from 6 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Laser light plays across a field of undulating fiberglass rods to keep the area active during the dark nights of fall, and to entertain Hill-goers hanging out in one of Seattle's most interesting restaurant and shopping neighborhoods. Laser light testing began October 28, 2009. A reconfigured field with rods varying in height from 2 to 8 feet was completed with the help of many volunteers on November 7, 2009.
To view pictures and videos of the art project by Dan Corson visit his Flickr website.
For more information:
Contact Barbara Luecke at 206-398-5059 or barbara.luecke@soundtransit.org.
Upcoming Activities in Cal Anderson Park
In early 2010, work will begin on the Capitol Hill Station excavation contract. A portion of the project construction wall and subsequent station box excavation will be in the northwest corner of Cal Anderson Park. Before work begins, Sound Transit's contractor must remove three trees that are located along the edge of the station box excavation on Nagle Place. The Chinese Scholar Tree, located in the northwest corner of the park, is a Seattle Heritage Tree and will remain and be protected during all Capitol Hill station construction work.
Over the next several weeks, the Seattle Parks Department will prepare the northwest corner of the park for Sound Transit work activities by removing existing landscaping for transplant and capping irrigation to the area. Sound Transit has installed tree removal notification signs on the three trees to be removed, along with more information about Sound Transit's planned work in the area.
In 2014-15, when major construction near Cal Anderson Park is complete, Sound Transit will restore all landscaping in the corner of the park, including planting three replacement trees.
For more information:
Contact Rhonda Dixon at 206-370-5569 or rhonda.dixon@soundtransit.org
Contract Approved for University Link Tunnel Work
The Sound Transit Board on November 5, 2009 unanimously approved a contract to excavate the Capitol Hill station box and dig twin-bored tunnels between the Capitol Hill Station and downtown Seattle for the University Link light rail extension. This contract is the second of two major excavation and tunneling contracts for the University Link project.
The contract, with JCM, is for $168.9 million, which includes a 10 percent contingency. The firm's bid was 12 percent below the engineer's estimate.
Capitol Hill Station: Transit Oriented Development Community Forum
Sound Transit hosted a Capitol Hill Station Transit Oriented Development Community Forum meeting on October 27 and discussed the Nagle Extension and parking issues at the future station site. Sound Transit also announced preliminary plans to locate the Broadway Farmers Market at the station site following station construction completion in 2016. The presentation from the meeting can be found on our website at www.soundtransit.org/CapitolHillTOD.
For more information:
Contact Michelle Ginder at 206-398-5328 or michelle.ginder@soundtransit.org.
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 and East John Street) and 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.
