University Link
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University Link is a 3.15 mile light rail extension of Sound Transit's Link light rail system in Seattle, Washington. 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 2009 and end in 2016.
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[edit] 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 without increasing local taxes.[1] In November 2005, the line received the FTA's best rating of "High".[2] 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.[3]
[edit] Route
University Link is underground for its entire route and will start at the northern most stop of Central Link in Westlake Center and continue west northwest 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.[2] The line originally included a station on First Hill, but due to poor soil conditions that would increase costs and construction risks the station was dropped from the route.[4]
[edit] Equipment
Kinkisharyo-Mitsui was chosen to design and manufacture low-floor light rail vehicles and provide additional equipment and support. 35 cars are to be delivered between November 2006 and September 2008, two of which were in testing in the US as of December 2006. Although the system is designed to accommodate trains of up to four cars each, initial trains will consist of only two cars. As ridership increases the number of cars per train will be increased. The cars are 95 feet (30 m) long, accommodate 200 people each (74 seated), and double-ended to allow travel in either direction.
Kinkisharyo's website states the maximum speed of the light rail vehicle is 65 mph. Sound Transit, on the other hand, indicates the maximum and cruising speed is 55 mph.
[edit] References
- ^ Gregory Roberts. "Light rail to UW one step closer", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 2006-11-27. Retrieved on 2007-02-26.
- ^ a b University Link. Sound Transit. Retrieved on 2007-02-26.
- ^ Mike Lindblom. "Light-rail tunnel gets key support", The Seattle Times, 2006-11-28. Retrieved on 2007-02-26.
- ^ Eric Pryne. "Board cuts First Hill rail station", The Seattle Times, 2005-07-29. Retrieved on 2007-02-26.
