Sound Transit commuters to see travel delays as Seattle braces for 10-day Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel repairs

Seattle, Washington – Essential rail maintenance work in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel will cause major interruptions to Seattle’s Line 1 light rail service starting April 14th, hence impacting everyday commutes and travel plans throughout the city. The ten-day disturbance running till April 23rd is required by the pressing necessity to fix a damaged rail found in the southbound tunnel spanning between the Pioneer Square and International District stations.

The southbound track from Westlake to Stadium stations will be completely closed for the repair activity. Crews will do the difficult work of removing the damaged rail, repairing it, and rebuilding the impacted track segment to help the repairs. This process requires the employment of heavy machinery and loud construction equipment, which may be noticeable to passengers using the remaining operational parts of the tunnel.

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Sound Transit has planned an alternative method of transportation to accommodate displaced commuters. The northbound track will remain in use for trains, which will benefit southbound as well as northbound lines. On this common track, a shuttle train will run every 25 to 30 minutes between Stadium and Westlake stations. Though with an estimated 12-minute frequency, regular trains will continue to link Lynnwood to Westlake and Angle Lake to Stadium. Under this setup, travelers will have to transfer twice to go across downtown Seattle during the time of repair.

Given these interruptions, travelers should expect major delays and consider thinking about alternative forms of transportation. Particularly beneficial for individuals wanting to go between Westlake and Stadium stations will be local bus services, including King County Metro’s “downtown circulator” bus. To reduce some of the congestion anticipated from the rail disruptions, the circulator bus will operate on weekdays during peak evening commute hours.

Courtesy of Sound Transit

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Other transportation routes including the N Line, and Routes 510 and 515, are excellent options for people arriving from Snohomish County. Community Transit has even increased the 515 service with extra journeys to help fit more riders at this time.

Moreover, Sound Transit has promised to improve customer service in this challenging period. Station ambassadors will be available to help travelers with navigation and transit options. A separate language line (800-823-9230) will also be there to help those with little to no English understanding.

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Sound transportation encourages passengers to be informed via their automatic email alert system, which offers fast updates on service adjustments and weather-related advisories, as the city prepares for these major temporary adjustments to its transportation system.

While guaranteeing the safety and integrity of Seattle’s light rail service for years to come, this proactive strategy by Sound Transit seeks to reduce the annoyance to the thousands of Line 1 users every day.