Connect 2020 not done yet
SounderBruce / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)Work to complete the construction joining new light rail to the Eastside into the existing system, known as Connect 2020, will require additional time to complete due to issues identified over the weekend. On Monday morning Link light rail will continue to operate every 15 minutes and on one track in the downtown tunnel stations.
While completing final systems testing for the project, insufficient electrical resistance readings were discovered over a segment of newly installed track. The site of the problem has now been identified, and Sound Transit is working with its contractor to solve it.
Once repairs are complete, there will be another yet-to-be-determined closure of downtown Seattle stations in order to re-test and certify the new tracks.
As the Connect 2020 whiner-in-chief, I think this isn't great, and a divergence from ST's usual pattern of underpromising. But assuming that the contractor can wrap this up in the next few weeks, the Covid-19 trouble has made this a time with the least possible impact on people trying to get around. It wasn't good luck, but it was good timing. On other hand, on March 21st route 255 riders are going to get dumped off at a Link station that may be running infrequently, or not at all.
With volumes way down, banning bikes to reduce crowding is a rule that could stand to go away.