Sound Transit, the regional transit authority serving the Greater Seattle Area, officially opened the University Link Light Rail Extension, bringing fast, reliable rail service to Capitol Hill and the University of Washington.
The transformational project, with CH2M serving as the lead in a construction management joint venture, opened six months ahead of schedule and approximately USD 200 million under its USD 1.6 billion budget.
The 3.15-mile extension runs through twin-bored tunnels from downtown Seattle north to the UW, with stations at Capitol Hill and on the UW campus near Husky Stadium.
The eight-year construction scheme involved nine separate contracts for demolition, utilities, site preparations, two underground stations, 3.15 miles of twin-bore tunnel with precast placed liner, 21 hand-mined cross passages and expansion of the pre-existing rail yard. CH2M’s construction management services included overall program management, resident engineering, inspection, project controls, cost estimating, constructability reviews and contract administration.
The University Link, which provides eight-minute rides between the UW and downtown Seattle, is estimated to nearly double weekday ridership on the existing light rail line to more than 70,000 riders on weekdays by 2020.
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