[nfbwatlk] FW: Sound Transit Link Project Update : Light rail opening for service

Fri Jul 17 03:40:04 UTC 2009

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From: Sound Transit [mailto:soundtransit at govdelivery.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 10:08 AM
To: lawnmower84 at hotmail.com
Subject: Sound Transit Link Project Update : Light rail opening for service

The journey begins: Link light rail opens for service this Saturday 

What to expect opening weekend  
Link light rail opens for passenger service between downtown Seattle and
Tukwila on Saturday, July 18, with free rides all weekend before moving to
regular paid service on Monday. Here's what riders can expect during opening
weekend.  

Inaugural ribbon cutting 
The Link inaugural ribbon cutting happens on the plaza at Mt. Baker Station
on Saturday morning at 8:20 a.m. After the ceremony, ticket-holders for the
two inaugural trains (one northbound and one southbound) will move to the
platform and board the trains. The majority of inaugural ride ticket holders
are members of the public who received tickets through radio giveaways and
other promotions. 

Schedule, service levels opening weekend 
The free opening weekend light rail service will operate with special hours:

Saturday - 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. 
Sunday - 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. 

Trains will depart each station about every 7-1/2 minutes throughout the
day. Sound Transit has made provisions for a high volume of riders on the
opening weekend; lines are expected. The number of riders picked up at each
station will be limited to a predetermined number to preserve capacity for
passengers to board at other stations. Each launch weekend train will carry
about 350 riders, including standees.             

All riders must deboard upon reaching one of the line's termini (Westlake
for northbound trains and Tukwila for southbound trains). Upon reaching a
terminus, riders can wait in line again to return via light rail, or choose
the potentially quicker option of bypassing the light rail line and
returning via free shuttle buses. Special shuttle buses will run along the
route opening weekend and stop at every station. All rides are ADA
accessible. 

What services will be available at stations? 
Each station will feature a welcome portal staffed by Sound Transit to
provide information about wait times and answer questions about opening
weekend and regular service. Portable restrooms will be provided at each
station, along with family-friendly acoustic entertainment at all stations.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase from nearby local
restaurants and stores. There will be a food vendor at Tukwila International
Boulevard Station. 

PLEASE NOTE: Free connector buses from Tukwila to Sea-Tac International
Airport will be available from July 20 through the opening of direct light
rail service to the airport in December 2009. However, the connector buses
will not be in service on the opening weekend. 

Getting to the stations 
There is no parking at Link stations in Seattle, and parking at Tukwila will
be extremely limited. Riders are encouraged to bus, walk or ride their
bicycle to a station. Bicyclists are encouraged to leave their bikes at
special staffed "bike corrals" that will be available on opening weekend.
For a list of transit centers and bus routes that can connect you with
downtown Seattle on July 18 and 19, visit
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTUyNDA1M
iZtZXNzYWdlaWQ9UFJELUJVTC01MjQwNTImZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjE1NTE0M
Dc0JmVtYWlsaWQ9bGF3bm1vd2VyODRAaG90bWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPWxhd25tb3dlcjg0QGhvd
G1haWwuY29tJmV4dHJhPSYmJg==&&&100&&&http://www.soundtransit.org/Projects-and
-Plans/Project-Updates/Traveling-Downtown-July18-19.xml> us online.   For
detailed maps and much more information on opening weekend and regular
service see: www.soundtransit.org/linklaunch
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTUyNDA1M
iZtZXNzYWdlaWQ9UFJELUJVTC01MjQwNTImZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjE1NTE0M
Dc0JmVtYWlsaWQ9bGF3bm1vd2VyODRAaG90bWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPWxhd25tb3dlcjg0QGhvd
G1haWwuY29tJmV4dHJhPSYmJg==&&&101&&&http://www.soundtransit.org/linklaunch>

Discover Link neighborhoods 
Step off the train and enjoy the neighborhoods along the light rail
alignment. Try
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTUyNDA1M
iZtZXNzYWdlaWQ9UFJELUJVTC01MjQwNTImZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjE1NTE0M
Dc0JmVtYWlsaWQ9bGF3bm1vd2VyODRAaG90bWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPWxhd25tb3dlcjg0QGhvd
G1haWwuY29tJmV4dHJhPSYmJg==&&&102&&&http://www.soundtransit.org/Riding-Sound
-Transit/Puget-Destinations/Link-Neighborhoods.xml> our interactive map to
learn more >>>  

Follow us on Twitter 
For up-to-the-second information during opening weekend events follow Sound
Transit on Twitter at @ST_TravelLight
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTUyNDA1M
iZtZXNzYWdlaWQ9UFJELUJVTC01MjQwNTImZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjE1NTE0M
Dc0JmVtYWlsaWQ9bGF3bm1vd2VyODRAaG90bWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPWxhd25tb3dlcjg0QGhvd
G1haWwuY29tJmV4dHJhPSYmJg==&&&103&&&http://twitter.com/ST_TravelLight>
We'll tweet all day about which stations have the shortest lines, what's
happening at the stations and behind-the-scenes updates.  

On July 20, 2009, Sound Transit's Link Light Rail trains will begin paid
passenger service between downtown Seattle and Tukwila. 

You are subscribed to Link Project Updates for Sound Transit. You can view
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Dc0JmVtYWlsaWQ9bGF3bm1vd2VyODRAaG90bWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPWxhd25tb3dlcjg0QGhvd
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Transit. 

P.S. If you have any questions or problems e-mail
<mailto:support at govdelivery.com> support at govdelivery.com for assistance. 

GovDelivery, Inc. sending on behalf of Sound Transit . 401 South Jackson St
 Seattle WA 98104 . 206-398-5000 

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