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Sound Transit has deal with UW over rail route
Saturday, May 20, 2000
By KERY MURAKAMI
Sound Transit has averted a potentially costly delay by reaching a deal with the University of Washington to let the new light rail system run under the campus.
But in return, the transit agency will pay the university millions of dollars more than it had planned to minimize disruptions.
Under the agreement, approved unanimously by the agency's executive board yesterday, Sound Transit will put more shock absorbers under the train tracks, as well as other measures. The price will be $6.8 million to $11.24 million more than Sound Transit had budgeted.
A Sound Transit staff report said the agency may have to find the money by cutting another part of the system or use money that would have been used to extend the line to Northgate.
But Sound Transit board members said they can absorb the expense by building the system more efficiently.
A bill approved by the Legislature this year allows Sound Transit to enter a creative financing deal with a private bank, which could save the agency $60 million in the cost of buying trains. Sound Transit's full board is expected to approve the deal on May 25.
King County Councilman Greg Nickels, who serves on the board, said, "We'll have to swallow hard. But I think we can afford it. I know we couldn't afford not to do it."
Every month the university delayed the project would have increased the cost of the $1.9 billion project by $9 million and ultimately jeopardized the project, Nickels said.
The university was concerned that vibration from the trains would disrupt sensitive physics research.
They also worried people would park in the area to take the train, increasing traffic congestion.
In addition to shock absorbers under the track, Sound Transit will pay for university staff to monitor construction and do a before-and-after study of the light rail's effect on the university.
P-I reporter Kery Murakami can be reached at 206-448-8029 or kerymurakami@seattle-pi.com
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