Sound Transit Addresses Sinking Track between SODO and Capitol Hill Stations

Sound Transit

SEATTLE – Sound Transit will suspend service between SODO station and Capitol Hill station due to sinking track caused by rainfall.

According to KIRO7, Sound Transit is suspending its light rail service between SODO station and Capitol Hill station because the ground underneath the track is sinking. Starting this weekend, the track at Royal Brougham Way will be “reconstructed because soil conditions are causing the track alignment to sink and create a buildup of puddles in the depression.” The area surrounding the depressed track allows water to build up when it rains, and it subsequently reduces the train speeds through this crossing. In order to address the issue, “reconstruction must be completed during the region’s sunny months due to the stormwater ponding and infiltration isssues at the site.”

Julie Timm, CEO of Sound Transit, commented that “operating systems require repairs and maintenance, and Sound Transit prioritizes scheduling as much of this work as possible during non-service and lower ridership times such as winter months to minimize impacts to our riders. When we must disrupt service for needed work on our infrastructure, such as with the coming work which must be done in the dry season over a prolonged period, we prioritize scheduling as much work as we can to reduce or eliminate future impacts to riders.”

Sound Transit has stated in a news release that “1 Line service will undergo several phases of disruption to allow crews to work on the tracks at the S. Royal Brougham Way crossing.” The first phase of this work will begin August 12^th and last until Sunday, August 20^th. During this first phase, Sound Transit will run bus shuttles between the SODO and Capitol Hill stations every ten minutes.

Sound Transit has stated that the second project “will have a more limited impact on service.” The Othello and Rainier Beach stations will have the tiles replaced as the current tiles are “cracked or broken, creating a safety hazard for passengers.” The platforms will be closed during the entire period to ensure crew safety.