University Link
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This article or section contains information about a proposed, planned, or expected public transportation infrastructure in the United States. It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change dramatically as the construction and/or completion of the infrastructure approaches, and more information becomes available. |
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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, 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 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 to connect the University of Washington and Capitol Hill to Downtown Seattle 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] 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.[4] The recent agreement opens up the possibility of construction for University Link to begin as soon as 2008.
[edit] 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.[2] 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.[5]
[edit] 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.
[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.
- ^ Mike Lindblom. "Husky Stadium light-rail construction may start next year", The Seattle Times, 2007-06-06. Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
- ^ Eric Pryne. "Board cuts First Hill rail station", The Seattle Times, 2005-07-29. Retrieved on 2007-02-26.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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