Seattle University Link project update

Late next year, the first Tunnel Boring Machine will arrive at Pine Street from Capitol Hill. To prepare for the TBM, ground stabilization (jet grouting) is needed in Pine Street, west of the Paramount Theatre. Starting in early August and lasting through September, a lane reduction is needed on Pine Street between 9th and Boren avenues. The eastbound lane of Pine Street between 9th and Boren avenues will be closed and traffic detoured to Pike Street. The two-westbound lanes will remain open. In addition, the sidewalk on the south side of the Pine Street between 9th and Boren avenues will be closed to pedestrians.

Excavation has started at
the Capitol Hill Station site, and there are now more dump trucks in the area.
The dump trucks used for excavation have a second container, often referred to
as a "pup."

On the sidewalk on the
south side of John Street, Sound Transit’s contractor has installed a walkway
made up of empty steel cargo containers known as "connex" boxes. The boxes are
painted red to match the construction wall around the work site. The boxes were
installed for pedestrian safety and also double as part of the noise mitigation
for construction activities. Viewing portals installed inside the walkway provide
an excellent vantage point to watch the station excavation.

In the very near future,
the Seattle Department of Transportation will install a crosswalk at the
intersection of 1thh Avenue E. and E. John Street. This crosswalk, which is
funded by Sound Transit, will help create a safer environment for pedestrians
to cross John Street.

Come and join the
conversation about including an outdoor plaza as part of the future development
above the Capitol Hill light rail station. Sound Transit, the City of Seattle,
the Capitol Hill Community Council, and the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce
are co-sponsoring a public workshop on the design of the extension of Nagle
Place, the future home to the Broadway Farmers Market.

Construction at the
University of Washington Station is under way. Sound Transit’s contractor is
ready to start the next phase of construction on August 2. This work includes
nighttime construction activities and marks the start of the 24-month Technical
Noise Variance for the UW Station work approved by the City of Seattle. The TNV
establishes noise limits and other requirements that allow the contractor to
work at night between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. on
weekends and legal holidays.

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 near Husky Stadium. Local tax funding for U-Link was approved by voters
and the project also received an $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 six years. Passenger service is
scheduled to begin in 2016.