University Link Stirs Up Issues and Helpful Solutions for Commuters
SEATTLE — Turner Construction’s Seattle office recently won a contract for the University of Washington’s underground light rail project, University Link. The construction will extend 3.15 miles and will serve the three largest urban centers in Washington: downtown Seattle, Capitol Hill and the University District. The extensive project is slated for completion by 2016.
Turner is also working with the school on another project at UW. The company is in charge of renovating the school’s football stadium, Husky Stadium.
“Turner offered the most inexpensive option for Sound Transit, which was around $6.9 million. We also scored highest in a ranking of compatibility with the project,” said Chris McFadden, Turner Construction’s vice-president of communications.
The project is environmentally friendly and when Sound Transit applied for federal grants to fund the construction, the project received the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) highest rating possible. The EPA will contribute $816 million to the $2 billion project.
The University Link is expected to carry an estimated 75,000 riders daily, according to Sound Transit. Sound Transit also predicts that the light rail transportation system will cut commuters’ travel time in half between Capitol Hill and the University District.
“It’s been our experience that trains and fixed-rail transits attract a lot of new riders that would have never thought to use a rail transit. We’re really looking forward to a growing transit movement here in Seattle,” said Sound Transit spokesperson Bruce Gray.
The project is currently in the tunnel boring and station evacuation phase. There are two tunnel boring machines, working simultaneously, from UW to Capitol Hill and from Capitol Hill to downtown.
The light rail recently went through a trial run and finished the trip successfully, according to Gray. He also stated that the tunneling work would be complete by 2013.
“We’re going to be taking it (tunnel boring machine) apart and putting it back together in early December. We will be hauling it back to Capitol Hill for a second drive-through,” said Gray.
Neighbors complain about light rail construction
Since construction started on the University Link, some neighbors in the area have been sending in noise complaints to Sound Transit, according to Gray.
Dozens of homeowners in the surrounding areas voiced concern about vibrations from the construction site and how that might affect their homes.
“We don’t think these vibrations are a threat to people’s homes. We do consider it a serious issue when people are losing sleep because of the impact, and that’s why we’re taking these steps in order to reduce the vibrations,” said Gray.
Those steps include installing thicker padding between the rail ties and tunnel lines. The padding installation is projected to help absorb the sound vibrations caused by the passing trains.
Despite noise, transportation will benefit community
Although the noise and vibration issue is a concern with those residents residing in close proximity to the light rail, the Sound Transit is doing working to solve the problem and get people excited about the public transportation issue.
The University Link will provide passengers a fast and efficient form of travel that will be faster than any bus or car according to Sound Transit.
The light rail will also provide an alternative form of public transportation for those passengers who currently deal with busy downtown congestion and traffic while using the bus system. The light rail’s underground design will bypass all five o’clock traffic frustrations on the streets above.