What's new in the tunnel?

Since September 2005, Sound Transit has retrofitted the tunnel for joint use by bus and rail. More than 18,000 feet of rail has been laid and more than 20,000 cubic yards of concrete poured. The project included:

Retrofitting for joint bus and rail operations
Building the Pine Street Stub Tunnel
Installing new station identification signs
Adding accessibility features
Enhancing overall station appearance
Light rail operations in the tunnel

Retrofitting for joint bus and rail operations
The tunnel originally opened in 1990 and was due for upgrades to its electrical, mechanical, and safety systems. It also needed to be retrofitted to handle the latest in light rail technology, which has changed significantly since the tunnel was first designed and constructed. To take advantage of the new low-floor rail cars and buses, the roadbed in the tunnel stations was also lowered and rails replaced and fitted with a “rubber boot” that contains stray electrical current. Over time, stray current causes corrosion to utilities and reinforcing steel in the concrete.

Joint bus and rail operations will allow for maximum transit use of the tunnel. Part of Sound Transit’s retrofit work has been to install a state-of-the-art communication system and add the signaling and overhead catenary systems that will allow for joint operations. Buses and trains will alternate use of station platforms depending on schedule and riders will have a choice of transit options depending on their final destination.

Each of the underground stations is equipped with two sets of station exhaust fans, in addition to four high-volume emergency fans that provide emergency service to the tunnel. To supplement the ventilation capacity in each station under emergency circumstances the station exhaust fans were replaced with new units in order to meet National Fire Protection Association standards for such use. - Back to the top

Building the Pine Street Stub Tunnel
Sound Transit’s Central Link light rail trains will begin running in 2009. In preparation, Sound Transit constructed a short extension of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel under Pine Street between Seventh and Boren avenues to allow trains to stop and reverse direction.

The extension, called the “stub tunnel,” was built using a cut-and-cover method of excavation that included digging from the surface and decking over the excavation to allow traffic to pass over while construction continued 40 to 90 feet below. The stub tunnel will also make the future University Link extension possible without any interruption to bus and rail service in the tunnel.

The stub tunnel includes a permanent vent shaft structure east of Ninth Avenue. This structure will be the only visible indication of the Pine Street Stub Tunnel. The vent shaft houses two fans that are 10 feet in diameter that will provide emergency ventilation to the stub tunnel 90 feet below, Westlake Station and to the future University Link tunnels. A series of steel sculptures by Ries Niemi entitled “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry” will be installed at Pine Street surface.

On May 15, 2007, Sound Transit completed restoring Pine Street to its pre-construction configuration of two-westbound lanes and one-eastbound lane from 8th Avenue. Sound Transit is leaving Pine Street as it was, and in many cases better than the original condition. The roadway surface and surrounding sidewalks have been newly paved. The permanent poles were repainted and restored. The pedestrian signal heads were upgraded to indicate crossing times. A new cut-away loading zone was created and included in the final street configuration in front of the Tower @ 801 apartments and Caffe Ladro. New trees will be replanted up and down Pine Street. And the public art at the vent shaft was created to incorporate the local community’s vibrant energy.
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Installing New Station Signage
Sound Transit and the partner agencies have been working on a new signage program to make the tunnel station entrances easily identifiable at the surface level. The new tunnel entrance signs will be consistent with a regional transportation theme and will be either attached to the buildings with entrances or on a way-finding pole just outside the entrance. In addition, signage throughout each station has been updated.

New electronic message signs have been installed at main station entrances and on the platform that could alert riders of train times. These signs can also be activated in an emergency situation alerting riders not to enter a station and assisting with general communications.

In addition, a “Regional T” icon will appear at the tunnel entrances, which identifies regional transportation hubs throughout King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Riders can expect a wealth of services from stations with the Regional T including:

Regional emphasis - regional connections to a variety of destinations
Multiple system transfer opportunities - opportunities to transfer between different providers and modes of transportation
Peak hour and mid-day service options - service to and from locations during a normal day
Regional transportation information such as timetables and maps
Center for local service connections

All Sound Transit facilities are identified with the Regional T. Learn more >>>
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Adding accessibility features
In addition to retrofitting the tunnel for joint bus and rail use, Sound Transit added features to assist visually impaired passengers traveling from the station entrances to the station platform. A ‘braid’ was sandblasted in the existing marble the serves as a tactile path from the most accessible station entrance to the future ticket vending machines and then to the station platform. A new yellow tactile strip was added to each station curb to help passengers identify the platform edge.

Additionally, the trackbed, or driving surface, at each station was lowered roughly eight inches to provide a 14-inch curb height, which will accommodate level access onto low-entry bus and rail vehicles.
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Enhancing overall station appearance
As part of Sound Transit’s retrofit of the tunnel, work has taken place at each station to improve its appearance. A fresh layer of paint has been applied to station features, metal work and ceilings. Painting also occurred on the iron structures on the International District/ Chinatown Station lid. The color scheme for the structure on the International District / Chinatown Station lid had primarily been teal with blue and pink accents. Sound Transit worked with the Pioneer Square Preservation Board and International Special Review District Board to change the pink accent to red, which more accurately reflects the traditional colors of the International District/Chinatown community.

The artwork at each station was either removed or covered to protect it during the construction work. All artwork has now been reinstalled or uncovered and cleaned. The stone and porcelain surfaces at each station have been cleaned and polished. New emergency access telephones have been installed throughout the tunnel and stations.

Once rail service begins in 2009, daily operating hours will be extended to 5 a.m. to 1 a.m., which means less time for any maintenance to the tunnel. Sound Transit made changes to lighting fixtures and other amenities to lengthen their maintenance life in preparation for the longer operating hours. The lighting fixtures have had new high-efficiency bulbs installed and as a result, are brighter. Additionally, the light fixtures at the University Street Station have been replaced due to aesthetics and efficiency.
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Light rail operations in the tunnel
Train testing began in January 2007 in the SODO area, south of Downtown Seattle. Testing in other areas, including the tunnel, will occur as the construction work wraps up. Testing in the tunnel will likely occur during non-passenger operating hours, but it is possible you will see trains entering and exiting the tunnel between September 2007 and when light rail operations begin in 2009. Read more about train testing in SODO
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