Comments on: Link Light-Rail and Sounder News

By: rex

rex — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:50:38 +0000

I thank Martin Duke and Chris Stefan for their contribution. Since Sound Transit has just posted proposals about the fare structure and payment system, it would be good to know how Phoenix’s system works as well.

By: Chris Stefan

Chris Stefan — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:42:38 +0000

I also wouldn’t be surprised if the Phoenix system didn’t have to do nearly as much property acquisition, pay nearly as much for what they did buy, or have to spend as much on mitigation.

I don’t remember the exact breakdown of the cost of central+airport link but IIRC a big chunk of it was the Beacon Hill tunnel and station with another large chunk being the elevated alignment from Boeing Access Road to the airport (along with the associated stations).

By: Martin H. Duke

Martin H. Duke — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:07:07 +0000

Well, for starters, Phoenix light rail is entirely on the surface — requiring many street and pedestrian crossings and the slower speeds that that entails. Sound Transit has some of these, but large sections are elevated or underground.

Moreover, Phoenix’s platforms will be able to accommodate three cars instead of four, which means the trains can carry only 3/4 as many people. That extra 100 feet or so of platform is expensive when it’s underground or elevated.

Finally, the new underground station at Beacon Hill is very deep, requiring lots of special and expensive measures.

By: rex

rex — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:40:42 +0000

The phoenix area recently opened its new Metro light rail system by Valley Metro. The system is 20 miles long and cost $1.4b. However, Sound Transit’s Link cost $2.1b but only 14 miles long. Could someone explain how come the Phoenix agency could build more with less compared to Sound Transit’s Link and which is taking longer to build than Valley Metro’s light rail.

By: Chris Stefan

Chris Stefan — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:26:53 +0000

True enough, but I hate seeing needed capital projects get pushed off every time the budget is tight. Some form of dedicated funding for non-road capital transportation projects would be nice.

Speaking of which, pushing off the capital needs of the ferry system yet again seems rather stupid. I don’t want to see another situation like we had with the steel electric ferries in a few years due to yet more deferred maintenance and a refusal to replace old vessels past the end of their useful lives.

By: alexjonlin

alexjonlin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:42:10 +0000

And is the date that Airport Link opens actually set?

By: alexjonlin

alexjonlin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:39:18 +0000

I hate to sound anti-rail, but although it is important to do the Point Defiance bypass, in the end it’ll only save five or ten minutes, and with a $5 billion budget deficit, children’s health care and education are more important than that this time around.

By: Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:03:13 +0000

Yeah me, too. It’s not a significant amount of cash for the feds, they spend that much on staplers.

By: The inside

The inside — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:33:48 +0000

Some inside info on the Nisqually crossover (south end of the bypass). We got to the 30% design submittal with BNSF Railway before it was put on hold. It’s not shovel ready. I don’t know about the Nisqually northward portion since we just worked on the BNSF-Bypass stuff.

By: Brian Bundridge

Brian Bundridge — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:54:21 +0000

Yeah the Point Defiance line should be a major priority for her but it isn’t and she is relying on the new Administration to providing funding for pretty much all of the rail projects. It is a good idea but who knows where that will stand at.

I’ve heard there is supposed to be a huge gather of private cars in Washington DC, my guess is that he and Biden will be on one of these cars on the rear of Amtrak.

John,

As of today – the Beacon Hill Tunnel project is coming along very well, and the elevators should be installed soon. The vent for Beacon Hill station should be starting pretty shortly as well which will bring down the blue wall.

By: John Jensen

John Jensen — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:07:11 +0000

How’s the Beacon Hill elevator coming?

By: Tim Whittome

Tim Whittome — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:00:32 +0000

I take it that Gregoire is not a rail fan by any stretch of the imagination. Her main problem with me, is that however competent an executive she is, she appears to lack imagination to see beyond what is right in front of her.

The Point Defiance bypass seems like a no-brainer shovel-ready-and-sunk-in-concrete type of project to me, but what do I know, I am just an European, right?

By the way, does anyone know if Obama and Biden are coming on a special train or a regular specially-decked out Amtrak commuter train to the inaugural?

By: Chris Stefan

Chris Stefan — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:07:29 +0000

Given the relatively small amount of money needed for the WADOT portion I have hope the Pt. Defiance bypass will make it either into the stimulus bill or the next Amtrak bill.

By: Brian Bundridge

Brian Bundridge — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:44:12 +0000

Correct Tim – The Gov. killed most of the funding for the bypass. It is listed as one of the Obama projects but we’ll see.

I forgot to mention – South Tacoma Station is just about completed. Looks very good.

By: Tim Whittome

Tim Whittome — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:19:25 +0000

Thanks Brian

So now Point Defiance bypass until 2015? That sucks, but Sounder can still get to South Tacoma and Lakewood by the scheduled 2012?

Tim