Former Portland Tri-Met project manager named interim director for Link light rail

Lyndon "Tuck" Wilson Jr., the former project director for Tri-Met's Westside light rail project in Portland Ore., has been named interim director for Sound Transit's Link light rail department. Wilson, who begins work immediately, succeeds Paul Bay as director of the light rail department. Bay announced his resignation on Nov. 17, but will stay with the agency through the first of the year to assure a smooth transition.

Wilson served from 1990 to 1998 as project director for design and construction for Tri-Met's 18-mile, one billion dollar Westside light rail extension which included construction of a three-mile twin bore tunnel. Wilson will be employed under a consultant contract for 60 days, with the option for a 60-day extension. His compensation will be $180 an hour, plus expenses.

At its meeting on Nov. 16, the Sound Transit Board voted to suspend negotiations with its contractor-elect for design and construction of the 4.5-mile light rail tunnel between downtown Seattle and the University District. The board took the action after learning that the firm's lowest cost estimate for the project was $728 million, significantly more than the $500 million currently budgeted. The board has directed staff to detail the options available for reducing the cost of the segment of light rail project between downtown Seattle and the University District, and to present an updated cost estimate for completion of the entire 21-mile Link light rail line at its next meeting on Dec. 14.

Sound Transit is implementing a series of transit improvements in the Central Puget Sound region approved by voters in 1996. The agency has already implemented 13 of the 18 ST Express limited-stop regional express bus routes, and recently launched Sounder commuter rail service between Tacoma and Seattle.

For more information on Sound Transit e-mail us at main@soundtransit.org, call or write us at 401 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 398-5000.

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Sound Transit plans, builds and operates regional transit systems and services to improve mobility for Central Puget Sound.