Inside UW Station’s mezzanine level. Image: Sound Transit
With construction well ahead of schedule, Sound Transit is starting to plan for an early opening of UW Station. Seattle Transit Blog has details from ST’s Board meeting today, with three scenarios for an early rollout of U-Link light rail trains.
The current opening date of September 24, 2016 has been calculated based upon the finishing of major construction (September 2015), 180 days of systems testing (September 2015-March 2016), plus 169 days of schedule float (September 24, 2016). Mr. Fazal presented 3 scenarios for an earlier opening:
- Q2 2016: Adhering to the current schedule but using the scheduled float.
- Q1 2016: Adhering to the current construction schedule but compressing systems testing and using the scheduled float.
- Q4 2015: Compressing the remaining construction schedule, compressing systems testing, and using the float.
The earliest option, a Q4 2015 opening, would incur additional costs of $10-12m, while the other two options incur no additional costs. Accordingly, staff recommended the middle option to the board: that the construction schedule be left intact, that systems testing be shortened from 180 to 90 days, and that the 169 days of float be used. Doing the back-of-the-napkin math, ULink could open as early as January 8, 2016.
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