University of Washington station

University of Washington
Light Rail Station
The main entrance, under construction in 2015
Location	Montlake Boulevard NE & NE Pacific Street Seattle, Washington
Coordinates	47°38′59″N 122°18′13″W / 47.6496°N 122.3037°W / 47.6496; -122.3037Coordinates: 47°38′59″N 122°18′13″W / 47.6496°N 122.3037°W / 47.6496; -122.3037
Owned by	Sound Transit
Line(s)	University Link Extension   Northgate Link Extension
Platforms	1 island platform
Tracks	2
Construction
Structure type	Underground
History
Opening	March 19, 2016 (2016-03-19) (planned)[1]
Electrified	1,500 V DC, Overhead catenary
Services
Preceding station   Link Light Rail   Following station Capitol Hill toward Westlake University Link Extension Terminus Terminus Northgate Link Extension U District toward Northgate

University of Washington Station will be an underground Sound Transit University Link light rail station near the University of Washington in Seattle. It is scheduled to open along with the rest of the University Link project on March 19, 2016.^[1] Sound Transit estimates that there will be 21,500 daily boardings at the station in 2030.^[2]

Location

The University of Washington, or UW, Station is deep underground beneath what is now the Husky Stadium parking lot. Its entrance is located adjacent to Husky Stadium, east of Montlake Boulevard between NE Pacific Street and NE Pacific Place. A curving pedestrian bridge connects the station with Rainier Vista on the UW campus. One can access the bridge from just north of the Burke-Gilman Trail in the Rainier Vista, from the Triangle Plaza, and from the station itself.^[3]

Construction

The tunneling contract from UW station to Capitol Hill station came in under-budget by $86 million, or nearly 22%, in March 2009.^[4] A groundbreaking ceremony for the station was held in February 2009, and initial excavation began shortly thereafter. Construction of the deep slurry walls and excavation of the station box structure took place in 2010 and 2011. Tunneling toward the Capitol Hill station began in 2011 and was completed in 2012. Construction of the UW station was completed in 2015, and revenue service is scheduled to begin in 2016.

An art installation known as the "Great Wall of Us" surrounded the site during its construction period. The wall, built by the university and Sound Transit, featured photos of faces of various individuals taken at university events.^[5]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to University of Washington (Link station).