Welcome to the CEO Corner
Here you'll find the latest news on Sound Transit as we continue building a mass transit system that connects the Puget Sound region. In 2008, we carried more than 16 million people on our buses and our commuter and light rail trains. Every day we are improving mobility and providing alternatives to sitting in traffic.
As the CEO of Sound Transit, I can assure you that everyone here, including the Board of Directors, Sound Transit staff and our consultants, is committed to offering safe and reliable service and building quality transit projects throughout the three-county region. Sound Transit is accountable to the public. The agency’s commitment to openness and accountability is evident in its cost and project controls, its outside audits and oversight and with its clearly defined milestones that are updated every year.
Joni Earl, Sound Transit Chief Executive Officer
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CEO Report
November 20, 2009
Link to the airport Saturday, Dec. 19
Less than a month. That's all the time left before Link light rail trains begin regular passenger service to the airport.
This light rail connection to Sea-Tac is a big achievement for the region. On that first day, service begins at 10 a.m. following a ceremony at the new SeaTac/Airport Station. Normal Link operating hours are 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.
The SeaTac/Airport Station is connected to the airport's main terminal garage via a pedestrian walkway. Airport passengers will follow a covered separated walkway through the garage to the main terminal. Luggage carts will be available.
Once trains are running, the free shuttle bus that's been operating between the Tukwila light rail station and the airport will be discontinued.
First Hill Streetcar on the way
We were very pleased to announce this week that Sound Transit and the City of Seattle have an agreement for expedited construction of the First Hill streetcar.
Under the agreement, a streetcar line linking Seattle's First Hill neighborhood with Capitol Hill and the International District will open by 2013 instead of the originally planned 2016.
The First Hill Streetcar will serve major Seattle work centers, including Swedish Hospital, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle University and Seattle Central Community College.
The line will also provide easy access to the Link light rail system that opened this summer and the Capitol Hill light rail station when University Link opens in 2016.
FTA quarterly this week
The 45th Sound Transit/ Federal Transit Administration quarterly meeting was held here on Wednesday. As in the past, we gave the FTA a detailed update on our Sound Transit projects and services, including the latest on ridership, the Link connection to the airport and construction of the University Link line from downtown to the UW.
Update to Washington State Transportation Commission
On Tuesday, I was in Everett meeting with the State Transportation Commission. At the meeting I gave the commission an update on Sound Transit projects and services and also talked about our strategies for dealing with the national economic recession.
Like most agencies that rely on the local sales tax revenue, Sound Transit's revenues are down. Over the course of this year, a team of internal Sound Transit experts studied that issue and released a report outlining our principles for dealing with the shortfall.
Those principles include:
- Saving operating dollars wherever and whenever possible.
- Acquiring knowledge early on about capital projects to increase certainty and reduce risks.
- Maintaining strict cost and scope control on projects.
- Optimizing the building phases of projects to save dollars.
The meeting in Everett went very well and there was good discussion.
Thanksgiving holiday service
Happy Thanksgiving!
Next Thursday, Thanksgiving day, ST Express buses, Central Link and Tacoma Link light rail trains will run on a Sunday schedule. Sounder commuter trains will not run.
On Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, all services will run on their regular weekday schedule.
Photo of the Week
Our photo this week shows continuing work on the Newcastle Transit Improvements project.
The Sound Transit Finance Committee on Thursday:
- Approved a two-year contract with a one-year option with Point B to provide document management services for a total authorized contract amount not to exceed $462,160.