Light rail just weeks away
SEATTLE -- It won't be long before you can zip through Seattle, riding the rails.
The new $2.5 billion light rail service between Seattle and Tukwila begins July 18. Sound Transit trains are already rolling.
A special run for VIP passengers left the downtown transit tunnel at Westlake Center Wednesday. The riders were as giddy as kids in a candy store as they boarded the new train.
The train’s driver took the group from Westlake Center all the way to Tukwila and back. You'll see a lot of trains criss-cross the city over the next 6 weeks.
"We're testing, testing, testing," said King County Councilman Larry Phillips.
They’re testing their stops at each station, opening and closing the doors, as if passengers were loading and unloading.
They’re looking at onboard safety, plus the safety of all other drivers and pedestrians at every street crossing. The trains are electric and very quiet. Sound Transit officials are asking everyone to really watch out for the trains. They don’t want any mishaps, with drivers trying to turn in front of trains or people out walking or running, thinking they too could beat a train at a crossing.
Through the city, the trains run about 33 miles an hour and then out on the highway, the trains cruise even faster.
The other aspect of testing is making sure they can stay on schedule.
During peak hours, from 6-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m., a train will arrive every 7.5 minutes. The total time to ride from end to end, from Westlake Center to Sea-Tac Airport, will be 36 minutes.
"It's been a long road," said Mayor Greg Nickels.
It's been over 20 years in the making -- first locking up the money and then hustling the construction along.
"And when we open on July 18 we will be on time and $135 million under budget," Phillips said. "We were very vigilant in holding our contractors accountable."
Light rail will start running to the Tukwila station in July but it won't be able to take you all the way to Sea-Tac Airport until December. During the interim, buses will shuttle people from the Tukwila station to the airport.
And, there's no getting stuck in traffic. The trains run down the middle of streets, through tunnels and elevated over highways.
"It's reliable, convenient and cheap," Phillips said.
Adults will pay just $2.50 to ride end to end. It’s half that for seniors and just $2 for kids and teens. Children under 6 ride free.
The rails also give people more access to the places they need to go. More than 10,000 people work within a half mile of the SoDo stop.
Sound Transit expects more than 1,000 people to get off at the stadium stop for each Mariners or Seahawks game.
The new Link Light Rail system will give free rides all day when it opens on July 18. Regular service begins July 20, running daily from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.
The new $2.5 billion light rail service between Seattle and Tukwila begins July 18. Sound Transit trains are already rolling.
A special run for VIP passengers left the downtown transit tunnel at Westlake Center Wednesday. The riders were as giddy as kids in a candy store as they boarded the new train.
The train’s driver took the group from Westlake Center all the way to Tukwila and back. You'll see a lot of trains criss-cross the city over the next 6 weeks.
"We're testing, testing, testing," said King County Councilman Larry Phillips.
They’re testing their stops at each station, opening and closing the doors, as if passengers were loading and unloading.
They’re looking at onboard safety, plus the safety of all other drivers and pedestrians at every street crossing. The trains are electric and very quiet. Sound Transit officials are asking everyone to really watch out for the trains. They don’t want any mishaps, with drivers trying to turn in front of trains or people out walking or running, thinking they too could beat a train at a crossing.
Through the city, the trains run about 33 miles an hour and then out on the highway, the trains cruise even faster.
The other aspect of testing is making sure they can stay on schedule.
During peak hours, from 6-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m., a train will arrive every 7.5 minutes. The total time to ride from end to end, from Westlake Center to Sea-Tac Airport, will be 36 minutes.
"It's been a long road," said Mayor Greg Nickels.
It's been over 20 years in the making -- first locking up the money and then hustling the construction along.
"And when we open on July 18 we will be on time and $135 million under budget," Phillips said. "We were very vigilant in holding our contractors accountable."
Light rail will start running to the Tukwila station in July but it won't be able to take you all the way to Sea-Tac Airport until December. During the interim, buses will shuttle people from the Tukwila station to the airport.
And, there's no getting stuck in traffic. The trains run down the middle of streets, through tunnels and elevated over highways.
"It's reliable, convenient and cheap," Phillips said.
Adults will pay just $2.50 to ride end to end. It’s half that for seniors and just $2 for kids and teens. Children under 6 ride free.
The rails also give people more access to the places they need to go. More than 10,000 people work within a half mile of the SoDo stop.
Sound Transit expects more than 1,000 people to get off at the stadium stop for each Mariners or Seahawks game.
The new Link Light Rail system will give free rides all day when it opens on July 18. Regular service begins July 20, running daily from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.