Sound Transit’s approved 2017 budget heavy on rail system expansion

Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
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Sound Transit | File photo

The board of Sound Transit, the regional transit system serving the greater Seattle area, has approved a $1.6 billion budget for 2017.  

 

Representatives say the budget allots $1.2 billion for light-rail and other system expansions, including work that will begin on projects approved by regional voters in November.

“In 2017 Sound Transit will make significant progress toward delivering infrastructure expansions that will boost our region’s economy while giving commuters a reliable and desirable alternative to the worsening congestion on our roadways,” said Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff. “Work is already underway on some of the new projects that voters approved last month.”

The board-approved budget stresses added construction work approaching the 2023 opening of the East Link light-rail project. Following the completion of Northgate Link tunnel mining in 2016, construction on the station is set to kick off in 2017 as the project moves toward its expected 2021 opening. Work on light-rail designs will continue as Sound Transit works toward the 2023 opening of light-rail to Lynnwood and 2024 openings to Federal Way and Downtown Redmond.

The 2017 budget outlines initial steps on Sound Transit 3 projects, as well. Work continuing in early 2017 will include the development of a Program Implementation Plan for both projects approved in 2008 and 2016, which will include a master program schedule and refinements of internal processes as the system works to grow its capacity. The Sound Transit Board is set to review the plan and evaluate amendments to the 2017 budget in the spring for additional project work during the year.

Sound Transit’s budget also invests $396 million in transit operations as the system’s weekday ridership now exceeds 150,000 daily passengers. The system plans to begin operating two new round trips on the Sounder south line in September 2017, providing expanded options and capacity for commuters to travel during rush hours.

 

Budget commitments for 2017 include:

Link light-rail

 

  • $393.4 million to extend light rail to from downtown Seattle to downtown Bellevue and the Overlake Transit Center
  • $258.9 million to continue construction of the Northgate Link Extension
  • $116.2 million to continue Lynnwood Link Extension final design
  • $99.8 million for a design-build contract for the East Operations and Maintenance Base Facility
  • $59.5 million for light-rail vehicle procurement
  • $14.2 million to complete preliminary engineering to extend light-rail about 3.7 miles from Overlake Transit Center to downtown Redmond
  • $6.1 million to complete the environmental process and preliminary engineering for the Federal Way Link Extension and transition to final design
  • $9.9 million for final design of the Tacoma Link Extension

 

Sounder commuter rail

 

  • $38 million to complete Tacoma Trestle construction
  • $6.9 million to complete construction of the second track for the Point Defiance Bypass Project
  • $4.7 million to complete Sounder Yard Expansion construction
  • $4.8 million to complete track and signal improvements for two additional Sounder south line round trips
  • $4.4 million for Puyallup Station access improvements design-build work
  • $3.8 million for nine Sounder train passenger cars
  • $506,000 for Kent Station Access Improvements conceptual engineering
  • $506,000 for Auburn Station access improvements conceptual engineering.

 

A copy of the approved 2017 budget is available to view here

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