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Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel

The first Central Link Light Rail trains are test-run in the tunnel
Overview
Line	Central Link, Metro 41, 71, 72, 73, 74, 76, 77E, 101, 102, 106, 150, 212, 216, 217, 218, 255, 301, 316, STE 550
Location	Downtown Seattle
Coordinates	47°35′56″N 122°19′41″W / 47.599°N 122.328°W / 47.599; -122.328Coordinates: 47°35′56″N 122°19′41″W / 47.599°N 122.328°W / 47.599; -122.328
System	King County Metro bus and Sound Transit Central Link light rail
Start	9th Avenue and Pike Street
End	5th Avenue S. and S. Jackson Street
No. of stations	5
Operation
Work begun	March 6, 1987[1]
Opened	1990
Rebuilt	September 24, 2007
Owner	King County Metro Transit[2]
Operator	King County Metro, Sound Transit
Traffic	Bus, light rail
Technical
Length	1.3-mile (2.1 km)

The Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, also referred to as the Metro Bus Tunnel, is a 1.3-mile (2.1 km) public transit tunnel that runs the length of downtown Seattle, from 9th Avenue and Pike Street to 5th Avenue S. and S. Jackson Street. Approved by Metro Transit in 1983,^[3] construction began in 1987.^[4] It was completed and service began in 1990, at a total cost of $455 million.^[4] In May 2000, the King County Council transferred ownership to Sound Transit^[5] but ownership was transferred back to King County Metro in 2002.^[2]

The tunnel was closed on September 24, 2005 for modification to accommodate both buses and Sound Transit's Central Link light rail trains on a shared alignment. Prior to closure, around two dozen bus routes ran through the tunnel. The buses were dual-powered, using electricity in the tunnel from an above wire connection and diesel on city streets. It reopened on Monday, September 24, 2007.^[6] The two-year closure included retrofits for light rail as well as other operating system upgrades. Also, a stub tunnel, branching from the main tunnel, was constructed under Pine Street between 7th and Boren Avenues to allow light rail trains to stop and reverse direction and for future extension of Central Link.^[7]

Due to the conversion to light rail, the dual-mode buses that are powered by the above electric connection can no longer operate in the tunnel. Those buses have already been replaced by Metro's current new fleet of hybrid buses.These buses produce significantly less emissions than the dual-mode buses they replaced, produce fewer emissions than standard diesel buses, and, unlike the dual-mode buses, require no connection to overhead wires.^[8]

Since the floor of the tunnel was lowered for the light rail, there have been concerns that the bus mirrors are now at head height and may strike those who are waiting on the platform. To prevent this, the mirrors are equipped with flashing lights. As well, the buses' speed limit as they approach and leave stations has been lowered from 15 miles per hour (24 km/h) to 10 miles per hour (16 km/h).^[9]

The tunnel is entirely within the Ride Free Area, so no fare is required on buses at any station during hours when the policy is in effect. Due to Sound Transit's different fare structure, fares are required on Central Link light rail trains.

  Service

In addition to Central Link Light Rail, the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel currently serves the following bus routes during tunnel operating hours: King County Metro 41 (Northgate, Lake City), 71 (U-District, Wedgwood), 72 (U-District, Lake City), 73 (U-District, Jackson Park), 74 Express (U-District, Sand Point), 76 (Green Lake P&R, Wedgwood), 77 (Maple Leaf, Jackson Park, North City), 101 (Renton), 102 (South Renton, Fairwood), 106 (Rainier Beach, Renton), 150 (Southcenter, Kent), 212 (Eastgate), 216 (Sammamish, Bear Creek P&R), 217 (Eastgate, N Issaquah), 218 (Eastgate Freeway Station, Issaquah Highlands P&R), 255 (Kirkland, Brickyard P&R), 301 (Richmond Beach, Aurora Village), 316 (Green Lake P&R, NSCC, Meridian Park) and Sound Transit Express 550 (Bellevue).^[10]

The tunnel is open for light rail and bus service Monday through Saturday, 5:00 am to 1:00 am, and Sunday, 6:00 am to 12:00 midnight. Buses running after tunnel operating hours are rerouted to nearby surface streets.

  Route

The north portal is located near 9th Avenue and Olive Way, with dual entry/exit ramps onto the Interstate 5 express lanes. From this point, the tunnel runs southwest-northeast under Pine Street, then turns left and runs northwest-southeast under 3rd Avenue for most of its length. The tunnel passes four feet below the Great Northern Tunnel.^[11] The south portal of the tunnel is located near 4th Avenue and Royal Brougham Way, where buses have dual entry/exit onto the Interstate 90 express lanes, or the SoDo E-3 Busway. At the south portal, the light rail tracks split from the shared alignment onto their own right-of-way, which runs parallel to the SoDo Busway until just south of Lander Street.

  Stations

The Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel has five stations, listed below from north to south:^[12]

Station	Location	Notes
Convention Place	9th Avenue and Pine Street	Serves Washington State Convention Center, Paramount Theatre, Greyhound Lines terminal, Federal Courthouse. Transfer to surface bus or cross Interstate 5 to Capitol Hill. Bus routes from south of the tunnel have their terminus and layover here. This station is a future transit-oriented development site.[13] This station is served only by buses.
Westlake	Pine Street between 3rd and 6th Avenues	Serves Westlake Center, Seattle Center Monorail, South Lake Union Streetcar, Nordstrom, Macy's, Pike Place Market. Transfer to surface buses toward Belltown, Queen Anne Hill, Magnolia, Fremont, Shoreline, Green Lake, and Redmond. Transit information and passes can be obtained from the Metro Customer Stop on the mezzanine level. This is the northern terminus of the Central Link light rail. At this point, the tunnel makes a left, and follows Third Avenue.
University Street	3rd Avenue between Union and Seneca Streets	Serves Benaroya Hall, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Central Library, Main Post Office, Washington Mutual Tower. Transfer to surface buses toward First Hill
Pioneer Square	3rd Avenue between Cherry Street and Yesler Way	Serves Pioneer Square, King County Courthouse, King County and City of Seattle government offices, King County Jail, Washington State Ferries Colman Dock
International District/Chinatown	5th Avenue S. and S. Jackson Street	Serves International District, King Street Station, Uwajimaya, Waterfront Streetcar, Metro and Sound Transit offices. Transfer to surface buses toward Rainier Valley, Beacon Hill, Industrial District, SoDo, and the Eastside. Bus routes from north of the tunnel have their terminus and layover here.

  References

  External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel

• King County Metro
  • Bus Tunnel Information Page
  • Public art in the Transit Tunnel
• Sound Transit
  • Sound Transit Projects
• NYCSubway.org: The Metro Tunnel