Passenger Transport - 04/29/2016

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Sound Transit in Seattle broke ground April 22 for the 14-mile East Link light rail extension that will connect the east and west sides of Lake Washington when it enters service in 2023.

Sound Transit Board Chair and King County Executive Dow Constantine said at the event that the line “will revolutionize travel to and from the Eastside” suburbs on the east side of Lake Washington and “will transform our region.” Contractors have begun preparing the site, just south of downtown Bellevue, for the tunnel portal where trains will transition from the surface to a one-third-mile-long tunnel before returning to the surface.

“Coming on the heels of the unparalleled success of the University Link opening, we’re excited to get to work on the next phase of expanding the regional light rail system by connecting the east and west sides of Lake Washington with fast, reliable light rail service,” said Sound Transit Chief Executive Officer Peter Rogoff. The agency announced that ridership in the first month of University Link light rail service is ahead of expectations and has set new single-day ridership records for the system.

The extension will connect downtown Seattle to downtown Bellevue in 24 minutes. Other destinations include Mercer Island, Redmond’s Overlake area and Microsoft campus.

Sound Transit projects that the line will carry about 50,000 riders each weekday by 2030 with 10 stations. By that time, the entire regional light rail system is expected to carry more than 280,000 riders each weekday.

The project is budgeted at $3.7 billion, which includes a $1.3 billion TIFIA loan; a $100 million in-kind contribution from the city of Bellevue; and contributions from Microsoft of $33 million and the city of Redmond, $10 million.

The Edmonton Transit System (ETS), Edmonton, AB, broke ground April 22 on the largest infrastructure project in the city’s history: the first phase of Valley Line LRT, including 11 stops on a 13-km route.

“As a former bus driver and city councillor, I know how important affordable and efficient transit infrastructure is to allow Canadians to get to work on time and back home at the end of a long day,” said Amarjeet Sohi, Canada’s minister of infrastructure and communities. “Public transit infrastructure is what connects people to their communities and allows them to be active participants, both socially and economically. This vital public transportation improvement project will make Edmonton a stronger, more inclusive and sustainable city.”

Brian Mason, Alberta’s minister of transportation and minister of infrastructure, said, “Our government is committed to supporting public transit across Alberta. The Valley Line is an exciting next step towards creating sustainable, accessible transit options.”

The Valley Line LRT project—a P3 connecting the city with TransEd Partners—involves construction of a low floor LRT line. The first stage of construction is projected to generate $3.1 billion (Cdn.) in total economic output, including nearly $1 billion in wages and salaries and just under 13,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

Elements of Phase One of the Valley Line, scheduled to open in 2020, include a 1,400-spot park-and-ride facility, transit center, the new Tawatinâ Bridge across the North Saskatchewan River and a short tunnel to a future mixed-use development area. Passengers will be able to connect to two existing LRT lines.

Funding for the $1.8 billion (Cdn.) project will include up to $400 million from the Canadian government, up to $600 million from the provincial government and up to $800 million from the city.

St. Louis Metro hosted representatives from FTA and the city at an April 19 ground-breaking ceremony to mark the beginning of an expansion project at the Civic Center Transit Center in downtown St. Louis.

“It is our duty to ensure that residents, workers, tourists and visitors can travel safely and efficiently throughout the bi-state region,” said Ray Friem, Metro executive director, “and that they enjoy the best possible transit system and experience we can provide.”

The project, scheduled to take up to 18 months to complete, will triple the current number of bus bays, allowing MetroBus passengers to connect with all routes inside the center, out of traffic. The new facility can accommodate 40-foot buses, 60-foot articulated buses and electric buses and can serve as a BRT terminal point with minor modifications.

A new building to be constructed on the site will feature an indoor waiting area, digital boards with MetroBus arrival times, a concession area and a public safety substation.

Federal funds account for 80 percent of the $10.5 million project, with the rest coming from local sources.

“Making investments to improve and expand the Metro transit system is critical toward ensuring our region remains competitive on a global stage,” said St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay. “Because where Metro goes, economic growth follows.”

Florida DOT broke ground April 25 for the second phase of SunRail commuter rail, which will add 17.2 miles south of the existing alignment and four new stations: Meadow Woods, Tupperware Station, Kissimmee adjacent to the current Amtrak station and Poinciana.

Construction on the project, in addition to the stations, will include grade crossing improvements, vehicle storage and layover facilities at the Poinciana Station, installation of a second track along most of the corridor and an upgraded signal system. The expansion is expected to open for passenger service in early 2018.

“We’re looking at the projected opening day ridership at about 2,000 boardings per day on day one, and that’s only projected to grow. It just means a better opportunity for people to have more choices,” said Noranne Downs, Fla. DOT District Five regional secretary.

FTA provided half the funding for the $187 million project, with the state and local funding partners providing 25 percent each.

The first phase of SunRail, covering 32 miles with 12 stations, connects DeBary in Volusia County and Sand Lake Road south of Orlando.