We know the upcoming 1 Line service disruption is going to be difficult. But there are ways to make it a little less difficult. With some advance planning and handy tips, you can make help make your trip a lot smoother.
As a reminder, from Jan. 13 through Feb. 4, we’re going to be completing some major maintenance projects to improve the quality of your ride as we prepare to add more riders to the system with the opening of new extensions.
On weekends during this period, Link will not be running between Capitol Hill and SODO stations. Bus shuttles will be running every 10-15 minutes to replace the trains and serve all the closed stations. Trains will run every 15 minutes between Northgate–Capitol Hill and between SODO–Angle Lake.
Weekdays will be a bit more complicated. 1 Line trains will run only every 26 minutes between Northgate and Angle Lake. Additional weekday trains will run between Northgate–University of Washington, and between Stadium–Angle Lake, for combined service every 13 minutes in these areas.
So how can you navigate through this disruption to make it a bit less stressful? Here are some tips.
- Give yourself extra time. Whether you’re traveling on weekdays or weekends, it’s going to take longer than usual to get to your destination, especially if you’re traveling through downtown. Plan on your trip taking 30 extra minutes just to be on the safe side.
- Look at the overhead signs on the train. If you’re traveling on weekdays, check the destination sign on the train. If you are heading southbound and traveling past the University of Washington, look for a train going to Angle Lake. If you are heading northbound and traveling past Stadium, look for a train going to Northgate.
- Ask a staff ambassador for help. We will have staff volunteers at stations throughout the disruption to help you If you have a question or are uncertain about the changes, don’t hesitate to ask someone in a teal vest for help. They will be happy to assist.
- Consider alternative transit. You may want to think about another transit option if you have one nearby. Our website has a list of King County Metro routes that serve Link stations. If you travel to get to Link, think about what else you could access. Coming from up north? Maybe Sounder would work, or bus routes such as ST Express 510, any Community Transit 400-series route, or Metro’s Rapid Ride E Line. We’re lucky to have a great transit network, so think about all your options.
- Add a day or two (or more) of remote work to your schedule, if possible. We love seeing you onboard, but if you don’t want to deal with the disruption, we understand. If you have the flexibility, you may want to take advantage of working from home more than usual during this period. We’ll see you again when the work is done.
- Be patient and kind. Let’s face it. It’s going to be a drag to wait longer for trains, which will be more crowded than usual, and to transfer to shuttle buses, particularly in gloomy January. Please be patient when you get ready to travel. And remember to be kind to your fellow passengers; they’re experiencing the same inconvenience you are. Allow seniors and people with disabilities to board the train first and take seats.
- Finally, keep the end goal in mind. The inconvenience now is to make things a lot better in the future. While we’re sorry we all have to go through this disruption, the result will be a system that will function better for you and your fellow riders.