Get ready for some disruptions, Seattle commuters! 🚌🚆
Sound Transit is temporarily shutting down parts of the Link light rail 1 Line in January, aiming to improve your future rides. But this necessary upgrade comes with a catch: you'll need to adapt to temporary bus replacements and extended travel times.
Here's the lowdown: the most significant disruptions will hit the stretch between Capitol Hill and SODO stations. Sound Transit is gearing up to install cutting-edge signaling gear in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, a move that promises smoother journeys ahead. However, this progress comes at a cost: commuters, take note that your trips could take an extra half hour during these closures.
The first shutdown kicks off on the night of Friday, Jan.. 9, with buses stepping in for trains between Capitol Hill and SODO. This arrangement will last from 10 p.m. Friday to noon on Saturday, Jan. 10, and again from 10 p.m. Saturday to noon on Sunday, Jan. 11. But here's the silver lining: trains will still run every 15 minutes between Lynnwood and Capitol Hill, and between SODO and Federal Way, ensuring some level of service continuity.
And that's not all. The Capitol Hill–SODO section will go dark again the next weekend, from Jan. 16 to 18, following the same schedule as the previous weekend. But this time, there's a twist: a longer closure is planned for the following week, from Jan. 23 to 26, as Sound Transit tests the new signaling system.
But wait, there's more! Sound Transit is committed to keeping the 1 Line open for Seahawks playoff games and fan events, working closely with the team as the NFL playoff picture unfolds. And as if that weren't enough, they're also gearing up for the Crosslake Connection, which will extend the 2 Line to Seattle, and preparing for the FIFA World Cup's influx of travelers.
So, Seattleites, what's your take on these temporary changes? Are you excited for the future improvements, or does the thought of bus replacements and delays leave you feeling frustrated? Share your thoughts below, and let's discuss how we can navigate these disruptions together!
