Railway Track & Structures - July 2008 - (Page 5)

INDUSTRY TODAY Sound Transit launches rail service to Mukilteo, Wash. Starting at the end of May, Snohomish County, Wash., commuters enjoyed a brand-new commuting option—Sounder commuter rail service to Mukilteo. Mukilteo now joins Edmonds as a stop for the three round-trip trains carrying commuters between Everett and Seattle each weekday. Sound Transit plans to launch a fourth round trip in September. The new service will expand commuting options for Snohomish County residents and will run on a schedule that also serves ferry commuters from Whidbey Island. The service will take more cars off the region’s roads and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The completed first phase of construction includes a passenger platform on the north side of the tracks, 68 parking stalls and public art by Whidbey Island artist Linda Beaumont. The second phase of the project, expected to begin next year, will include a south platform, pedestrian bridge and additional parking spaces. The $19.6million project budget for both phases is being funded by Sound Transit and the Federal Transit Administration. By the end of this year, Sound Transit expects to run four round-trip trains in the north corridor between Everett and Seattle. It also operates six round-trip trains in the south corridor between Seattle and Tacoma, including a “reverse commute” round-trip train; two more round-trip trains will be added in the south corridor this fall, and a ninth in 2009. Sound Transit’s Mukilteo Station is part of a larger effort to revitalize Mukilteo’s waterfront neighborhood and create a transit hub that serves both local residents and ferry riders. Sound Transit worked with the Port of Everett, the City of Mukilteo, the City of Everett and Washington State Ferries on planning and integrating the transit elements. Sound Transit also worked closely with BNSF. Also, Sound Transit officials made the final connections joining more than 14 miles of continuous light rail tracks. The connection finishes the track that southbound light rail trains will travel on between Westlake Station in downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac International Airport when the line opens in 2009. Crews will continue work on the northbound track and the last portion of track leading into Airport Station. More than 6.5 million work hours have gone into light rail construction since project work began about five years ago. www.rtands.com Railway Track & Structures July 2008 5 http://www.rtands.com

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Railway Track & Structures - July 2008 On Track Industry Today Supplier News AREMA News NRC News TTCI R&D Products and Literature People Calendar Sales Representatives Website Directory Advertisers Index Professional Directory Classified Advertising Chicago Perspective Extending Service Life for Costly Special Trackwork Rail Welding Gets Act Together Premium Fasteners, Rail Steels Help Meet Strain of Heavy Haul

Railway Track & Structures - July 2008

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