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Project Title & Location
King Street Station Track Improvements, Seattle, WA
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Project Description
Renovates tracks, train platforms and other facilities to handle up to seven trains at one time.
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Recent Progress
As previously reported, WSDOT, BNSF Railway, and Sound Transit have been working for some time on a preferred track design that works for all users of King Street Station. However, Sound Transit needs the improvements completed to fulfill their contractual commitments to BNSF and begin operating nine daily round trips between Tacoma and Seattle, which they have scheduled for January 2008.
In June 2006, Office of Financial Management approved the WSDOT request to advance $4 million for this project from the 2009-2011 biennium to make the total 2005-2007 biennium budget $7 million. This has allowed completion of Pre-construction Engineering, Property Acquisition, and the start of construction in the current biennium.
To construct the “preferred” design, the unused I-90 on-ramp from 4th Avenue needs to be removed and BNSF needed to purchase two properties. In July 2006, BNSF purchased one of the properties. The second property is owned by WSDOT and includes the area of the I-90 ramp. In August 2006, the bids for ramp removal came in nearly 9 percent under the Engineers Estimate of $938,091, and construction is anticipated to be completed in February 2007. WSDOT is also working with Sound Transit on an agreement to allow WSDOT to fund the design and construction of the majority of the track and signal work, which will be lead by BNSF.
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Environmental Impacts / Compliance
Environmental issues have not been identified at this time.
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Impacts to Traffic
Temporary shoulder closures may occur on the I-90 off ramp to 4th Ave. The project may impact freight and passenger operations when construction commences.
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