On Aug 30, Sound Transit will open the Link Line 1 extension from Northgate to Lynnwood to passengers. This will complete two phases of northward expansion of the Link rail system, part of the ST2 sales tax approved by voters in 2008. It will also expand light rail service to Snohomish County.
The extension features four new stations in the cities of Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, and Lynnwood. All the new stations will have parking available. The light rail alignment is all above ground on exclusive right of way, adjacent to the I-5 freeway, and have no at-grade crossings. The service is planned to operate every 8 minutes during peak hours and every 10 minutes midday and on weekends.
While the rail extension will be open right before the Labor Day weekend, the associated bus changes will occur two weeks later on September 15. All three agencies (Sound Transit, King County Metro, Community Transit) will implement major changes to realign bus routes to serve the new rail stops and eliminate routes that duplicate the new rail line. Major feeder bus routes that connect at Northgate will instead connect in Lynnwood. However, a direct Lynnwood to Seattle express bus will operate because of limited peak frequency on the rail line, caused by the delayed opening of Line 2 across Lake Washington, which would have brought additional trains to Lynnwood.
With the new extension opening, Sound Transit will also implement new fares for the Link Lines 1 and 2. Instead of distance based fares ranging from $2.25 to $3.50, Lines 1 and 2 will have a flat fare of $3. A flat fare will allow riders with ORCA cards to “tap on” only once before boarding, eliminating the need to “tap off” after exiting.
On the same date, University Street Station in Downtown Seattle will be renamed Symphony Station due to confusion between the station located on University Street and one adjacent to the University of Washington. The name Symphony was chosen because it’s located next to Benaroya Hall, home of the Seattle Symphony.
Featured image is provided by Sound Transit.