The 22km long Seattle light rail’s system’s 1.6km long tunnel section could be extended by nearly 220m if a proposal is agreed between the University of Washington and client Sound Transit to shift the alignment to the eastern fringe of the university campus, adding US$20-30M to tunnel costs.
Concerns were expressed by the university that construction of the proposed alignment under the centre of the campus would cause vibrations that could ruin research into acoustics and electromagnetic waves in the science and engineering department. As T&TI went to press, Seattle’s transit board were being asked to approve studies into the environmental effects and costs of the move.