University Link

University Link is a 3.15 mile light rail extension of Sound Transit's Link light rail system in Seattle, Washington, USA. The line will connect downtown Seattle with the University of Washington via Capitol Hill. The line was approved by the Federal Transit Administration in November 2006 with construction scheduled to begin in late 2008 and end in 2016.

History

Sound Transit began the federal grant process in August 2005 for a US$750 million grant that would allow Sound Transit to build the $1.6 billion project to connect the University of Washington and Capitol Hill to Downtown Seattle without increasing local taxes. [cite news | url=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/293820_transit27ww.html | title=Light rail to UW one step closer | publisher=Seattle Post-Intelligencer | author=Gregory Roberts | date=2006-11-27 | accessdate=2007-02-26] In November 2005, the line received the FTA's best rating of "High".cite web | url=http://www.soundtransit.org/x1698.xml | title=University Link | publisher=Sound Transit | accessdate=2007-02-26] During a visit in November 2006 by Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and Senator Patty Murray, it was announced that the line had passed its third of four milestones to get the grant when it received federal approval to complete its final design. [cite news | url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003450789_soundtransit28m.html | title=Light-rail tunnel gets key support | publisher=The Seattle Times | author=Mike Lindblom | date=2006-11-28 | accessdate=2007-02-26] After years of negotiations, Sound Transit reached an agreement with the University of Washington in regards to the placing of the University station near Husky Stadium instead of north of campus on 45th Avenue. [cite news | url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003736716_websoundtransit06m.html | title=Husky Stadium light-rail construction may start next year | publisher=The Seattle Times | author=Mike Lindblom | date=2007-06-06 | accessdate=2007-06-06] The recent agreement opens up the possibility of construction for University Link to begin as soon as late 2008.

Route

University Link is underground for its entire route. It will start at the northernmost stop of Central Link underneath Westlake Center and continue northeast to its first stop beneath Capitol Hill at Cal Anderson Park, near Seattle Central Community College, before heading north to its final stop at the University of Washington near Husky Stadium and the Burke-Gilman Trail. The line originally included a station on First Hill, but due to alleged soil conditions that might increase costs and construction risks, as well as "cost-effectiveness requirements" recently redefined by the Bush Administration so as to disfavor existing transit users, the station was dropped from the route. [cite news | url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002408576_soundtransit29m.html | title=Board cuts First Hill rail station | publisher=The Seattle Times | author=Eric Pryne | date=2005-07-29 | accessdate=2007-02-26]

Equipment

Kinkisharyo-Mitsui was chosen to design and manufacture low-floor light rail vehicles and provide additional equipment and support. An unknown number of light rail vehicles will be purchased as part of this project, additional to the 35 already purchased for Central Link.

References

ee also

*List of rapid transit systems

External links

* [http://www.soundtransit.org/x1698.xml Sound Transit's page on University Link]
* [http://www.soundtransit.org/images/projects/lightrail/MAP_Central-Link.jpgSystem Map(Project) by Sound Transit]