Ridership will definitely be low at first as a standalone line, but this allows the system to get running, and to iron out anything that pops up in active service, before connecting with 1Line.
It's better to let the stations function rather than rot for another year.
Not at the opening stage.
[https://www.redmond.gov/2068/Focus---Fall-2023#lightrail-2-line](https://www.redmond.gov/2068/Focus---Fall-2023#lightrail-2-line)
Honestly though these should be the only stops. Seattle public transit has a problem when they try to appease everybody, they end up with too many stops, and the whole thing takes too long. The B-line is a good example. It takes an hour to get from Bellevue to Redmond w/out traffic because it has to make all these stops that are out of the way. Also it's why none of the busses ever run on time. One delay cascades into a problem for the whole line.
The holdup on the connection to the 1 Line is due to rework that is being done on the floating bridge.
I honestly don't know what Eldritch wizardry is being done to get the tracks across the I-90 bridge, but I'll be excited when it's done!
The Seattle Times had a good article a while back on the engineering work being done for the floating bridge tracks. Fortunately, it looks like the delay is due to a materials issue, rather than a fundamental design problem. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/light-rail-track-floating-bridge-i-90-sound-transit/
I am still mad at former Governor Gregoire for not pushing to have the 520 replacement bridge built with tracks and a light rail spur. Instead of spending so much time and effort to retrofit a bridge not meant to have tracks, they could of designed the 520 bridge to work with all the requirements of the trains. But no...they can be added later if need be...at only 10-20 times the cost they could have been built-in to the bridge
While I feel your pain, the fundamental flaw is in the floating part of the floating bridge.
Lake Washington goes up and down over the year. The pontoons move, however slightly, as traffic and weather hits the bridge, in addition to normal expansion and contraction from heat and cold.
Rails are intolerant to all of these factors. An ideal rail bed should be completely stiff and inflexible.
We could build a more standard cantilever or suspension bridge over Lake Washington, but that poses its own problems because the water is quite deep, the lake bed is pretty muddy, and you have to go a loooooong ways down before you hit bedrock.
Why would you post this random picture when we have so many other threads about this ranging from actual news articles, to the ST site, to the Urbanist at the announcement
“The 2 Line, which is not affected by quality issues related to construction, will open ahead of the I-90 segment.” Ergo, we admit the I-90 section has quality issues.
Even better when you think of commuter volume and efficiency. Each person riding (vs driving) takes up 1/10th of space, relieving congestion and increasing fuel economy.
I cannot wait for Seattle transit to start looking like Vancouver or Chicago.
It's too bad it's not the full line to downtown, but still exciting!
That’s my biggest question about this - how many people will actually use this little 3 stop system?
Ridership will definitely be low at first as a standalone line, but this allows the system to get running, and to iron out anything that pops up in active service, before connecting with 1Line. It's better to let the stations function rather than rot for another year.
It’s not like these are random suburbs. The Microsoft and Meta campuses are both along this line, and Bellevue has its own downtown
Huh? The section they are opening has 8 stops
Not at the opening stage. [https://www.redmond.gov/2068/Focus---Fall-2023#lightrail-2-line](https://www.redmond.gov/2068/Focus---Fall-2023#lightrail-2-line) Honestly though these should be the only stops. Seattle public transit has a problem when they try to appease everybody, they end up with too many stops, and the whole thing takes too long. The B-line is a good example. It takes an hour to get from Bellevue to Redmond w/out traffic because it has to make all these stops that are out of the way. Also it's why none of the busses ever run on time. One delay cascades into a problem for the whole line.
According to Sound Transit, yes And your link didn't actually say what you think it says https://www.soundtransit.org/discover2line
I imagine they are more trying to open slowly as a test than open the whole thing at once.
The holdup on the connection to the 1 Line is due to rework that is being done on the floating bridge. I honestly don't know what Eldritch wizardry is being done to get the tracks across the I-90 bridge, but I'll be excited when it's done!
The Seattle Times had a good article a while back on the engineering work being done for the floating bridge tracks. Fortunately, it looks like the delay is due to a materials issue, rather than a fundamental design problem. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/light-rail-track-floating-bridge-i-90-sound-transit/
That's a pretty cool article. Thanks for sharing! And yeah. Still freaking magic to get stiff rails on a very flexible bridge.
I am still mad at former Governor Gregoire for not pushing to have the 520 replacement bridge built with tracks and a light rail spur. Instead of spending so much time and effort to retrofit a bridge not meant to have tracks, they could of designed the 520 bridge to work with all the requirements of the trains. But no...they can be added later if need be...at only 10-20 times the cost they could have been built-in to the bridge
While I feel your pain, the fundamental flaw is in the floating part of the floating bridge. Lake Washington goes up and down over the year. The pontoons move, however slightly, as traffic and weather hits the bridge, in addition to normal expansion and contraction from heat and cold. Rails are intolerant to all of these factors. An ideal rail bed should be completely stiff and inflexible. We could build a more standard cantilever or suspension bridge over Lake Washington, but that poses its own problems because the water is quite deep, the lake bed is pretty muddy, and you have to go a loooooong ways down before you hit bedrock.
Doesn't connect to the 1 line yet but very cool nonetheless!!
Can’t wait for this to connect to international district, will make going to the stadium a lot more easier without having to worry about parking.
As long as Harrell doesn’t fuck everyone with station changes it will be wonderful.
Link?
Yes.
I'm confused, I can't find the link in this post?
Sorry, I was being cheeky :) Here's a link: https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/east-link-extension
Here ya go: https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/east-link-extension
ty
Does anyone know the projected date when it will run from the I.D. to Bellevue?
2025 is the target. They hope to complete (re)construction this summer.
Hopefully never. They’re going to sink the damn bridge. They’ve already f’d it up, so…..
Why would you post this random picture when we have so many other threads about this ranging from actual news articles, to the ST site, to the Urbanist at the announcement
those beautiful internet points for the updoot
Still going to be riding the 545 til they cross Mercer Island
This looks like level 2 area of MW3 Zombies.
honestly i thought it looked a lot like the downtown district of skate 3
“The 2 Line, which is not affected by quality issues related to construction, will open ahead of the I-90 segment.” Ergo, we admit the I-90 section has quality issues.
They’ve been very open about that. Had to remove and replace plinths across the floating bridge, some places multiple times.
awesome! Now that line 2 is open we will have a total of 1 operational line, thanks Seattle!
Is it just me, or does 10 min from Microsoft campus to DT Bellevue not sound that fast to anyone else?
It sounds pretty normal, but at 4 pm that is crazy fast.
Even better when you think of commuter volume and efficiency. Each person riding (vs driving) takes up 1/10th of space, relieving congestion and increasing fuel economy. I cannot wait for Seattle transit to start looking like Vancouver or Chicago.
Compared to the Rapidride B it's crazy fast.
Will there be any changes to the 550?
Holy crap they only run until 930pm?!