Sound Transit shares latest NE 130th St Station designs

Rendering of the station viewed from NE 130th Street over I-5 (courtesy of Sound Transit)

Sound Transit recently started its virtual open house for the NE 130th St infill station, where you can see the latest designs. As part of this open house, there is a survey where you can provide feedback on the proposed designs. In addition to the blue and green station-wide color scheme options, you can weigh in on the available plaza-level seating and bollard options. In addition to the station design, Sound Transit has provided an update the status of the project.

Timeline for construction and opening of Lynnwood Link and the NE 130th Street Infill Station (Sound Transit)

Though part of the Link Light Rail spine in the area of the Lynnwood Link Extension, the NE 130th Street Station itself was funded as part of Sound Transit 3, well after Lynnwood Link planning was underway. NE 130th Street is one of three infill stations funded by Sound Transit 3, which were planned to all open in 2031. However, since Lynnwood Link construction had not yet begun when Sound Transit 3 passed in 2016, there was a unique opportunity to fully or partially build NE 130th Street Station as part of Lynnwood Link itself, rather than disrupt Link service and start on the station after Lynnwood Link has opened.

Since previewing options for an accelerated NE 130th Street Station in January, Sound Transit is moving forward with preliminary engineering to determine whether the station can be constructed along with Lynnwood Link and open before the original 2031 opening date. Should Sound Transit decide to move forward with early construction of the station, it would likely open sometime in between 2025 and 2031. Though the timeline suggests that the station is unlikely to open with Lynnwood Link in 2024, pre-construction of the platforms and foundation of the station (which would be the same foundation as the guideway itself if build together) would allow Sound Transit to build the remainder of the station with little (or possibly even without) disruption of Link service on Lynnwood Link. Though Lynnwood Link is not affected by the project schedule realignment due to reduced revenue forecasts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NE 130th was part of the list of projects not under construction that could be affected by realignment. Despite this, Sound Transit's latest update shows that opening NE 130th Station early is still on the table, and that the opening of the station is currently not expected to be delayed beyond 2031.

Station features of the future NE 130th Street Station (Sound Transit)

Sound Transit has also shared updated design renderings of the station, detailing station features. The station will be constructed on the north side of NE 130th Street (regrettably not straddling either side of NE 130th), tightly fitted in between Interstate 5 and 5th Ave NE. Bus stops for potential bus service along NE 130th Street and Roosevelt Way NE will be placed at NE 130th and 5th Ave NE, close to the station but requiring a street crossing to reach either stop. The station will have two side platforms, with a pair of stairs, elevators, and escalators on both the north and south side of the station.

If you want to provide feedback on the latest designs, please check out the online open house between now and October 28th.