How are impacts to Downtown Seattle being minimized?

How are impacts to Downtown Seattle being minimized?

$16 million in street improvements are the primary mitigation for the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel closure. During the tunnel conversion buses and cars on Downtown streets will be kept moving by:

• Giving transit priority on Third Avenue by restricting through traffic between Stewart Street and Yesler Way during morning and evening peak hours (6-9a.m. and 3-6:30p.m.). During those periods, other vehicles will have limited circulation and business access.
  
  
• Assigning Seattle Police Department Officers to control traffic and pedestrians at key Downtown intersections, and to patrol the Third Avenue transit corridor for enhanced security.
  
  
• Improving the street and sidewalk environment by upgrading more than 50 bus stops with new shelters, benches and better lighting.

Sound Transit is working with its partners at King County Metro, the City of Seattle and Community Transit to keep the Downtown community informed about the temporary closure of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel. Information tools include this web site, meetings with stakeholders, property owners and community meetings with the contractor.

Sound Transit is responsible for retrofitting the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel for use by both bus and light rail. In September 2005, Sound Transit took possession of the tunnel from King County Metro, and then Sound Transit’s contractor began the tunnel retrofit.

Who manages the project?

• Sound Transit manages the retrofit of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel.
• City of Seattle - SDOT manages the surface street improvements, and issues the permits that allow Sound Transit to construct light rail in Downtown Seattle.
• King County Metro manages transit service in Downtown Seattle and the bus zone improvements related to the tunnel closure.
  
• Community Transit is contributing nearly a half a million dollars over the next four years toward projects related to the tunnel closure which will benefit Snohomish County. Projects include new bus stops in Downtown Seattle, congestion monitoring and customer surveys.
  

What's the project schedule?

Project Timeline - The Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel closed in September 2005 for retrofitting, and will remain closed for up to two years.

• Prior to the tunnel closure, $16 million dollars in project mitigation was used to keep buses moving efficiently through Downtown during the tunnel closure.
• The tunnel will reopen in 2007 for buses.
• Light rail will begin operating in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel in 2009.

What areas are affected?

Downtown Map - Click here to view a map of Downtown Seattle, highlighting closed tunnel station entrances, and the Downtown streets that carry most of the tunnel buses during the tunnel retrofit.

What can downtown businesses and commuters expect?

During tunnel construction traffic revisions to surface streets have been implemented to maintain transit speed and reliability as close to existing service as possible.

Improvements included moving loading zones and eliminating short term parking. We are sensitive to the need for service and customer access and are balancing business needs with transit movement.

Alternative load zones have been identified within one block of any changes (including alleys).
A map of off-street parking is available at
www.trueguides.com/downtown/downtown.html.

The street improvements that occured in preparation for tunnel closure help to maintain transit speed and reliability, as the 21 tunnel bus routes are moved to surface streets. Every attempt is being made to not affect bus schedules. Route changes will be advertised early to ensure bus riders know of any changes in advance.

Tools to keep you moving

A package of new programs and incentives has been designed to make it easier for you to commute smart during tunnel construction. Many of these new incentives build upon existing programs available today. Click here for tools to keep you moving.

If you would like information on the programs and products that are available today please contact us.

• Individual commuters can call or log on to: King County Metro at 206-553-3000; Sound Transit at 888-889-6368; Community Transit at 425-353-7433; and Pierce Transit 800-562-8109.
  
• For employers with less than 100 employees, please contact Urban Mobility Group at 206-613-3123
• For employers with more than 100 employees please contact King County Metro Employer Commute Services or call 206-263-3444.

You can also sign up to learn more about special incentives and products available to your business and for your employees during the tunnel closure.

Project Updates?

Sound Transit Project Updates - Contact Brooke Belman , Sound Transit Community Outreach Specialist.

Construction and Transit Alerts - Sign-up on the Regional Public Information Network (RPIN) to receive notices about planned closures or traffic impacts and get regional transit or road disruptions as they happen.

Performance Report on Surface Streets in the Seattle Central Business District - A report monitoring the impacts of the tunnel closure.

Second Performance Report on Surface Streets in the Seattle Central Business District - A report monitoring the impacts of the tunnel closure.