S-08: Additional Sounder Service
Project Number
Subarea
Primary Mode
Facility Type
S-08
South King/Pierce
Commuter Rail
Infrastructure
Improvement
N/A
ST Board Workshop
11-25-2015
Length
Version
Date Last Modified
PROJECT AREA AND REPRESENTATIVE ALIGNMENT
SHORT PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project would expand Seattle-Tacoma-Lakewood Sounder
service to operate primarily in periods outside of weekday peaks,
including implementing track improvements along the
Seattle/Tacoma Sounder line to support the service expansion.
Note: The elements included in this representative project will be
refined during future phases of project development and are subject
to change.
KEY ATTRIBUTES
REGIONAL LIGHT
RAIL SPINE
No
Does this project help complete
the light rail spine?
CAPITAL COST
TBD – subject to further analysis
Cost in Millions of 2014 $
RIDERSHIP
TBD – subject to further analysis
2040 daily boardings
PROJECT ELEMENTS
·
Options for expanded service levels, which would be determined by the ST board in collaboration with
partner agencies and organizations, include operating additional trains that connect the existing stations
(or some subset of them) along the alignment between Lakewood and Seattle primarily during off-peak
and/or weekend periods. Potential service expansion could consist of:
o Bi-directional "all-day" weekday service at full, supplemental or limited levels (i.e., every
approximately every 30, 60 or 120 minutes respectively) generally from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and
after 6:00 p.m.
o Bi-directional "regular" weekend service at up to approximately every 90 minutes generally from
7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
o Acquisition of operating rights and real property rights
o Related track and signal improvements between Tacoma and Seattle
o Up to 3 Sounder stations modified at platforms to accommodate additional train volumes
o Replacement of gated signal crossings as needed
o Roadway improvements associated with track
NOT INCLUDED
·
·
·
·
Additional maintenance facility capacity
Additional fleet
Track improvements funded by ST2
See separate document titled “Common Project Elements”
ISSUES & RISKS
·
Future freight and passenger rail trains on the BNSF corridor between Tacoma and Seattle are
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Release date: December 4, 2015
S-08: Additional Sounder Service
KEY ATTRIBUTES
ISSUES & RISKS
·
·
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projected to increase by 90% and reach capacity by the year 2035 (2014 Washington State Rail Plan,
WSDOT), not including possible additional oil and coal commodity train increases; this will increase
congestion and costs for Sound Transit to provide additional Sounder service unless capacity is added
to the corridor
Agreement(s) with BNSF to operate Sounder service at certain levels would be necessary and could be
affected by expectations of future freight markets and operations
BNSF agreement will be needed to construct necessary improvements or to purchase necessary real
property and operating rights
Release date: December 4, 2015
S-08: Additional Sounder Service
Sound Transit has developed a conceptual scope of work for this candidate project for the purpose of generating a representative range
of costs, both capital and operating; and benefits, including ridership forecasts, TOD potential, multi-modal access and others. This
information is being developed to assist the Sound Transit Board as it develops an ST3 system plan, including phasing of investments
and financial plan, for voter consideration. Final decisions on project elements (e.g., alignment, profile, number of stations, station
locations, and number of parking stalls) will be determined after completion of system planning, project level environmental review, and
preliminary engineering during which additional opportunities for public participation will be provided. Therefore, this scope definition
should not be construed as a commitment that all representative features will be included in the final developed project.
Long Description:
This project will expand Seattle-Tacoma-Lakewood Sounder service beyond current service levels. Track improvements for the purpose of
accommodating additional service will also be implemented. Track improvements may include elements such as additional main line track, turnouts,
gated signals, station platform rebuilds, and associated roadway improvements.
Assumptions:
· Track improvements are included for the length of the corridor from Bay Street/TR Junction in Tacoma to Argo in Seattle, unless otherwise
noted
· Track improvements from Ellingson Road in Auburn to S 277th Street in Kent were included as part of ST2, and are excluded
· Track improvements from James Street in Kent to Black River in Seattle were included as part of ST2, and are excluded
Environmental:
Sound Transit will complete project-level state and federal environmental reviews as necessary; provide mitigation for significant impacts; obtain and
meet the conditions of all required permits and approvals; and strive to exceed compliance and continually improve its environmental performance.
Utilities:
Utility relocation as needed to complete the project, including fiber optics, sewer, water, overhead electric/communications, etc.
Right-of-Way and Property Acquisition:
Some right-of-way acquisition will likely be necessary as a result of the project. In addition, BNSF agreement, and possible local jurisdiction
agreements for right-of-way use will be required.
Potential Permits/Approvals Needed:
· Building permits: Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing
· Utility connection permits
· Construction-related permits (clearing and grading, stormwater management, street use, haul routes, use of city right-of-way)
· Master use
· Land use approvals (Conditional use, design review, site plans, Comprehensive Plan or development code consistency, Special Use
Permits)
· BNSF
· All required local, state, and federal environmental permits
· NEPA/SEPA and related regulations
Project Dependencies:
Sound Transit will need to acquire real property and operating rights from BNSF.
Potential Project Partners:
· WSDOT
· Amtrak
· BNSF
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·
·
·
Cities of Lakewood, Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner, Auburn,
Kent, Tukwila, Seattle
FTA
Transit Partners Also Serving Project: King County Metro,
Pierce Transit
Release date: December 4, 2015
S-08: Additional Sounder Service
Cost:
Sound Transit has developed a conceptual scope of work for this candidate project for the purpose of generating a representative range of costs,
both capital and operating; and benefits, including ridership forecasts, TOD potential, multi-modal access and others. This information is being
developed to assist the Sound Transit Board as it develops an ST3 system plan, including phasing of investments and financial plan, for voter
consideration. Final decisions on project elements (e.g., alignment, profile, number of stations, station locations, and number of parking stalls) will
be determined after completion of system planning, project level environmental review, and preliminary engineering during which additional
opportunities for public participation will be provided. Therefore, this scope definition should not be construed as a commitment that all
representative features will be included in the final developed project.
In Millions of 2014$
ITEM
Agency Administration
Preliminary Engineering & Environmental
Review
Final Design & Specifications
Property Acquisition & Permits
Construction
Construction Management
Third Parties
Vehicles
Contingency
Total
Design Basis:
COST
TBD
TBD
COST WITH RESERVE
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Conceptual
The costs expressed above include allowances for TOD planning and due diligence, Sustainability, Bus/rail integration facilities, and Non-Motorized
Access. These allowances, as well as the costs for Parking Access included above, are reflected in the following table. Property acquisition costs are
not included in the table below, but are included within the total project cost above.
ITEM
TOD planning and due diligence
Sustainability
Parking access
Non-motorized (bicycle/pedestrian) access
Bus/rail integration facilities
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COST
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
COST WITH RESERVE
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Release date: December 4, 2015
S-08: Additional Sounder Service
Evaluation Measures:
MEASURE
MEASUREMENT/RATING
Regional Light Rail Spine
NOTES
No
Does project help complete regional light rail spine?
Ridership
TBD – subject to additional analysis
2040 daily station boardings
Capital Cost
TBD – subject to additional analysis
Annual O&M Cost
TBD – subject to additional analysis
Cost in Millions of 2014 $
Cost in Millions of 2014 $
Travel Time
TBD – subject to additional analysis
In-vehicle travel time along the project (segment)
Reliability
Medium-High
Some at grade crossings
Quantitative/qualitative assessment of alignment/route in exclusive
right-of-way
System Integration
N/A
Qualitative assessment of issues and effects related to connections to
existing local bus service and potential future integration opportunities
Ease of Non-motorized Access
N/A
Qualitative assessment of issues and effects related to non-motorized
modes
Percent of Non-motorized Access
N/A
Percentage of daily boardings
Connections to PSRC-designated Regional Centers
10 centers
Number of PSRC-designated regional growth and
manufacturing/industrial centers served
Land Use and Development/TOD Potential
Quantitative/qualitative assessment of adopted Plans & Policies and
zoning compatible with transit-supportive development within 0.5 mile
of potential stations
N/A
Qualitative assessment of real estate market support for development
within 1 mile of potential corridor
N/A
Density of activity units (population and employment for 2014 and
2040) within 0.5 mile of potential stations
N/A
Manufacturing and Industrial
Centers: Kent, North Tukwila and
Port of Tacoma
Regional Growth Centers: Auburn,
Kent, Lakewood, Puyallup
Downtown, Seattle CBD, Tacoma
Downtown and Tukwila
Socioeconomic Benefits
Existing minority / low-income populations within 0.5 mile of potential
stations
2014 and 2040 population within 0.5 mile of potential stations
N/A
2014 and 2040 employment within 0.5 mile of potential stations
For additional information on evaluation measures, see http://soundtransit3.org/document-library
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Release date: December 4, 2015