Light rail coming to campus and perhaps Brooklyn Avenue

[img1]For now, students only dream of a system that would take them from campus to Capitol Hill in three minutes, but in a few years this will be a reality.

The Sound Transit Board finalized plans yesterday that will extend light rail service from downtown Seattle to Capitol Hill and the University District.

The 3.15-mile University Link will offer service via tunnel to an underground station near Husky Stadium, while a longer route running to Northgate may include a stop near Brooklyn Avenue Northeast and Northeast 45th Street.

"The northward extension will provide much better service to the north end of the campus -- there's no doubt about that," said Sound Transit representative Geoff Patrick. "We're optimistic we will be able to go that far in a future public vote."

The North Link would include also include stations in the Roosevelt area. A light rail line between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac airport is under construction, expected to be completed by 2009.

The intended station on Brooklyn Avenue will provide huge benefits to students, as well as members of the U-District business community, said Teresa Lord Hugel, executive director of the Greater University Chamber of Commerce.

"I think it's good news for commuters, it's good news for people who want to come and shop, it's good news for students," Hugel said. "It's good for the future, and it will encourage economic revitalization with people who want to get in [the area] now."

The University Link will cost about $1.5 billion, including $800 million from stored taxes revenue and $700 million from a federal grant. The proposition will be submitted to the public for a vote in 2007.

"I have a feeling it will go through," Hugel said. "The town will approve making things better in the north part of the community."

When the University Link is completed, almost 19 miles of light rail will run between the University and the airport.

Sound Transit estimated that the project will increase light rail use from 45,000 to 114,000 commuters.

Besides reducing travel time from the U-District to Capitol Hill by 19 minutes, the light rail will carry passengers from downtown the UW in nine minutes instead of 25 and to Capitol Hill in six minutes instead of 14.

"You can really go places with link light rail," Hugel said.