Sound Transit sets East Link construction strategy, adds board member

Sound Transit last week previewed operational plans for early next year when construction starts to connect the East Link light-rail system in downtown Seattle to Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond, Washington.

Under "tightly choreographed operations," Link will continue serving riders over a 10-week construction period from January through mid-March 2020 at the International District/Chinatown Station, Sound Transit officials said in a press release. Work on the East Link extension is slated to be completed in 2023.

During the process to connect East Link to the transit tunnel — known as Connect 2020 — Sound Transit plans to close one platform at a time at the station. The agency expects to mitigate reduced service frequency by operating four-car trains.

Link will essentially operate as two lines during the construction period, with northbound and southbound segments operating at a frequency of 12 minutes in each direction, Sound Transit officials said.

"We had two options: Close the line for several weeks during construction, or continue to serve our 80,000 daily riders over a slightly longer construction period. We choose to keep service running at the highest level conditions will allow," said Sound Transit Chief Executive Officer Peter Rogoff. "By scheduling this construction during our slowest weeks for light-rail ridership, we aim to inconvenience the fewest number of riders possible."

The agency is simultaneously working to extend light rail north, south, east and west, and open new stations every few years to form a 116-mile regional system by 2041.

Meanwhile, Sound Transit’s board last week added Fife Mayor Kim Roscoe as its newest  member. She has been a member of the elected leadership group for the Tacoma Dome Link extension for the past year.

Roscoe will represent Pierce County and her board term will extend through 2020. She also will serve on the board's rider experience and operations committee.