November 29

Light rail may tunnel under more of Maple Leaf

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4  comments

The North Link light rain line might pop out of the ground further north into Maple Leaf, Sound Transit has announced.

The portal, which will bring light rail above ground to the Northgate station, was originally scheduled to emerge along Interstate 5 near Northeast 85th Street.

Now it might stay underground from the University of Washington until about Northeast 94th Street.

Sound Transit has a list of reasons this might be a better idea. But it also means a tunnel under more of the neighborhood. It’s recently been reported that the tunnel work can impact the homes above.

The new idea, according to Sound Transit:

  • Avoids utilities conflicts near Northeast 85th Street
  • Avoids impacts to the Northeast 92nd Street bridge across I-5
  • Has fewer impacts to 1st Avenue Northeast
  • Is a more efficient construction site
  • Is expected to be similar in cost to the Northeast 85th Street option

See our tunnel portal fact sheet to learn more.

There is a meeting on the Northgate station on Dec. 8 at Thornton Place.

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Sara W

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  1. This post really made me realize that I need to start paying attention to the light rail. I live right by 85th and 2nd NE and just read that there are an expected 100 trucks of dirt that are going to be rolling through my corner of Maple Leaf every day during the tunneling (3 years?). I’ll be happy when it’s done and I can ride the train downtown.

  2. Great news! This couldn’t come sooner in my eyes, it’s fantastic that Seattle is finally moving ahead with rapid public transit.

  3. I’m not sure how there would be any homeowner impact difference between the tunnel and retained cut construction options here. They’re not moving the line, as far as I’m aware – retained cut is FAR higher impact, so this would just reduce the impact.

    Hank, how would this not come to fruition? It’s funded, and contracts are being let soon. Remember, University Link is already half tunneled, and they’ve done the hardest parts already. 🙂

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