Link Light Rail

Build a station at N.E. 130th St.

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Background

Sound Transit has completed a 15.7-mile light rail line, called “Central Link” from Downtown Seattle through the Rainier Valley neighborhood to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It opened to passenger service on 18 July 2009 as far as Tukwila, and the final segment from Tukwila to the Airport was opened on 19 December 2009. Recently the line was extended north through Capitol Hill to a station near Husky Stadium, in the southeast part of the campus of the University of Washington.

Construction is currently underway on the Northgate Link Extension from Husky Stadium to the Northgate part of Seattle, scheduled to open in 2021. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2018 on the Lynnwood Link Extension that will further extend the line from Northgate to Lynnwood, and it is scheduled to open in 2023.

News

LIGHT RAIL BEGINS SERVICE TO AIRPORT (Saturday, 19 December 2009) — This morning at 10:00 a.m. a ribbon-cutting ceremony introduced the first passenger-carrying Link light rail train trip to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The line now provides regular, frequent service from downtown Seattle to the airport, with a one-way adult fare of $2.75 for the entire trip.

My Opinions

I was opposed to Link light rail because I felt monorail would be a better choice for that route, however now that it is a “done deal” I can only accept it. Actually the light rail line will be popular and a big help in our regional transportation crisis. I still believe monorail would have been a better choice, but now it is too late, and even though I consider light rail the second best option, I will support expansion of the system. However, I still believe that there are places where monorail will still be a better choice, such as West Seattle - Downtown Seattle - Ballard / Crown Hill, and along the Eastside Rail Corridor.

Regarding light rail, I strongly believe that on the Lynnwood Link Extension there should be a station at N. 130th St. in north Seattle. Click here for my arguments.


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©2002 Robert M. Fleming Jr.

This page was last updated 16 May 2018.

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