Sound Transit prepping for Lakewood expansion
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TACOMA, Wash. -- Sound Transit workers are taking a big step forward by testing the tracks of a new commuter rail line to Lakewood, which is set to open in a matter of weeks.
As it stands, the southbound Sounder train only goes as far as the Tacoma Done Station, but the train will soon continue all the way to Lakewood.
Before that can happen, the tracks have to go through weeks of testing. A full Sounder commuter train with everything on board except passengers is now testing the tracks, and residents are getting excited.
"I think it will be kind of a neat thing, in fact," said Tacoma resident Joe Gavett. "There hasn't been much use of the tracks around here lately."
Workers aren't just testing the eight miles of track, either. They're also testing people's reactions, because most people in the area aren't used to seeing so much train traffic through the area.
Sounder employees are also at the main crossing areas handing out flyers and letting people know that the tracks will soon become very busy during commute times. They've even unveiled a slogan to help keep people safe: Don't start dashing until the lights stop flashing.
While they will certainly have to get used to the added train traffic, most people in the area see the addition of south Tacoma and Lakewood to the Sounder system as a positive.
"It's going to be a really nice addition, and it's really changed this area. It's beginning to be real lively," said Renee Crist of Tacoma.
If all goes as planned and the testing stays on track, the hope is to have the line open all the way to Lakewood by October.
As it stands, the southbound Sounder train only goes as far as the Tacoma Done Station, but the train will soon continue all the way to Lakewood.
Before that can happen, the tracks have to go through weeks of testing. A full Sounder commuter train with everything on board except passengers is now testing the tracks, and residents are getting excited.
"I think it will be kind of a neat thing, in fact," said Tacoma resident Joe Gavett. "There hasn't been much use of the tracks around here lately."
Workers aren't just testing the eight miles of track, either. They're also testing people's reactions, because most people in the area aren't used to seeing so much train traffic through the area.
Sounder employees are also at the main crossing areas handing out flyers and letting people know that the tracks will soon become very busy during commute times. They've even unveiled a slogan to help keep people safe: Don't start dashing until the lights stop flashing.
While they will certainly have to get used to the added train traffic, most people in the area see the addition of south Tacoma and Lakewood to the Sounder system as a positive.
"It's going to be a really nice addition, and it's really changed this area. It's beginning to be real lively," said Renee Crist of Tacoma.
If all goes as planned and the testing stays on track, the hope is to have the line open all the way to Lakewood by October.
With Sound Transit apparently gaining in popularity it is time for them to stand on their own financial feet by removing State funding. This funding then could be used elsewhere like primary education.
I ride the Sounder to work every work day for 6 years now. The train has so many more riders since I started riding. It keeps all those cars off the freeways that we would otherwise drive; it has opened up the area for job searches - in my case I would never have accepted a job in Seattle if I had to drive there every day with the cost of gas and parking - riding the train allows a non-stressful way to get to work; you can sleep, read, get a start on your e-mails - there are places to plug in your computer. I have met some people who will be life-long friends. It is gratifying to ride along side I 5 by Boeing Field and see all the cars creeping along as we whiz by. Public transportation is a necessity that any metropolitan city needs.
This is a very efficient way to get around cheaply, all of Asia, Europe, and New York have been doing it for decades, you can commute further everyday, some people don't even need to own a car, you can sleep on the train (as long as you wake up at your stop), you don't have to worry about fighting traffic everyday, if you don't want to be bothered by someone talking to you, just put on your headphones. I used to take the train all of the time when I was in the Army stationed in South Korea going from Dongducheon to Seoul is about the same distance from Lakewood to Seattle, got there in no time, by the time your album on your Ipod is done, you are there.
They need to elevate the tracks, they already did it in the Tacoma U-district on South Tacoma Way and Pacific Ave where there is a lot of traffic, there are going to be a lot of accidents, bottle necks, and traffic delays.
It's nice to see this stretch of track up and running, seeing as it's been laid out for some time now. Now we can only wait and see the rider ship increase once its fully running, especially when the track goes all the way down to Olympia, if that is still in the plan of course.
An hour to get from Seattle to Tacoma?
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It's a train, not a subaru wagon. I look at the schedule and averaging 30 mph is not good enough.
@brewzbrothers Sound Transit has its hands tied by BNSF. Unless they can find more capacity and the dollars and utilize faster equipment, then the trip won't be sped up. I would like to see a 45 minute travel time to Tacoma, 1 hour to Lakewood. Along with an eventual extension to JBLM if ridership would warrant the addition. 45 minutes would be faster than the car during the worst of commute hours.
How wonderful! It is so heartening to see that we have millions of dollars available to spend so foolishly.
 @BlueH20 No problem. You can go back to your horse and buggy. Meantime the rest of the area would like an alternative to gridlock.
 @BlueH20 I'm tired of you people, almost every major city in the country has some kind of commuter rail system. Get over it, its here to stay and expand, you honestly are not paying much to support it anyway.
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 @ein_verit Want some cheese with your whine?
She's cheesey enough already.
 @ein_verit God I could slap you anti-transit folks. I don't ride the Sounder very often myself but I have no problem with my tax dollars supporting.