Dallas-based engineer Jacobs has been selected by Sound Transit to provide design services for a 6.6km expansion of Seattle’s light rail network to the west of the city.
The project, valued at $7.1bn, is expected to improve connectivity, reduce road congestion and stimulate the growth of retail and affordable housing.
As well as the track, the West Seattle Link Extension includes building a 520m cable-stayed bridge over the Duwamish River, a tunnel and four stations.
The line will run between the industrial SoDo (South of Downtown) neighbourhood and west Seattle’s Alaska Junction district.
Jacobs will lead Phase 1 design and design validation for the extension, which will combine underground, surface and elevated sections.
Ron Willia, the company’s executive vice-president, commented in a press statement: “Jacobs has delivered some of Puget Sound’s most critical transportation solutions for 70 years, including approximately 30 miles of light rail system expansions for Sound Transit.”
The line is expected to cut daily travel times by up to 50% for some 26,000 riders. It will also offer commuters an alternative to the West Seattle Bridge during periods of peak demand.
Planned since 2017, the line is expected to break ground in 2027 and enter service in 2032.
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