Downtown - Further Studies

At the Midtown station in the Downtown segment, the Board directed staff to explore opportunities to reduce station depths, improve passenger access, and refine the station entrance. As a potential cost savings measure, staff will also be looking at potential station entrance refinements at Midtown and Denny stations (shifting entrances into public right of way) and Westlake (consolidating station entrances).

The Board also directed staff to explore connecting Westlake/5th Avenue station to Denny/Terry station to South Lake Union/Harrison station and explore opportunities to provide station access from both sides of Denny Street to the Denny/Terry station.

Near Seattle Center, staff explored connecting South Lake Union/Harrison station to Seattle Center/Mercer station to either north tunnel portal locations. Staff also explored shifting the Seattle Center Republican station west.

•  South Lake Union: Mix and Match
•  Seattle Center: Mix and Match
•  Seattle Center: Republican West 
  
  

We have also studied additional refinements to station entrances in the Downtown segment. This work will continue in future phases. More information is available below. Please stay tuned for future opportunities to engage.

1.  Denny Station: Entrance on both sides of Denny
2.  Station Entrance Refinements
   1.  Midtown Station (DT-1): Columbia Street right-of-way
   2.  Midtown Station (DT-1): 4th Avenue right-of-way
   3.  Denny Station (DT-1): Lenora Street right-of-way
   4.  Denny Station (DT-1): 8th Avenue right-of-way
   5.  Westlake Station (DT-1): Entrance Consolidation

South Lake Union Mix-and-Match

Compared to 5^th Avenue / Harrison Alternative (DT-1)

The South Lake Union: Mix-and-Match connects Westlake/5th Avenue Station (DT-1) to Denny/Terry Station (DT-2) to South Lake Union/Harrison Station (DT-1). This concept explores alignment variation to address agency concerns with streetcar service disruption during construction.

Findings: 

• Avoids temporary shutdown of streetcar
• High-risk long-haul fiber relocation with minimum 1-year overall project delay
• Cost delta compared to realigned financial plan: + $200 million

Seattle Center: Mix-and-Match 

Compared to Preferred 5^th Avenue / Harrison Alternative (DT-1)

The Seattle Center: Mix-and-Match connects South Lake Union/Harrison Station (DT-1) to Seattle Center/Mercer Station (DT-2) to either north tunnel portal location. This concept explores options to avoid construction effects near Seattle Center.

Findings: 

• Connection to Republican Portal not practical due to operational issues
• Avoids construction effects near NW Rooms
• Noise and vibration effects to Seattle Opera, KING FM, McCaw Hall can be mitigated
• Partial closure of Mercer Street with traffic effects
• 15 additional residential and 24 additional business displacements
• Cost delta compared to realigned financial plan: + $210 million

Seattle Center: Republican West 

Compared to Preferred 5^th Avenue / Harrison Alternative (DT-1)      

Seattle Center: Republican West shifts the Seattle Center Republican Station west. The concept explores options to avoid construction near Seattle Center.

Findings: 

• Temporary closure of Republican Street with minimal traffic effects
• Extended cut-and-cover construction on Republican Street
• Avoids construction effects near NW Rooms
• Noise and vibration effects to Uptown Cinema can be mitigated
• 8 additional business displacements
• Cost delta compared to realigned financial plan: + $60 million

Denny Station: Entrance on both sides of Denny

Compared to Preferred 5^th Avenue / Harrison Alternative (DT-1)

The entrance on both sides of Denny explores opportunities to provide station access from both sides of Denny Street and improve passenger access.

Findings:

• Avoid temporary shutdown of streetcar
• Shortens walk to streetcar and bus on Westlake Ave
• Permanently narrows Terry Ave, with minimal traffic effects
• Reduces property acquisition and relocation
• Cost delta compared to realigned financial plan: +190 million (with SLU Mix and Match)

Midtown Station (DT-1): Columbia St right-of-way

Compared to Preferred 5^th Avenue / Harrison Alternative (DT-1)

Midtown Station: Columbia Street right-of-way explores shifting station entrance into public right-of-way to reduce costs and schedule risk and improve passenger experience.

Findings:

• Reduces risk of modifying existing building
• Permanently narrows Columbia St with minimal traffic effects
• Adds escalator access, improves passenger experience (when connected to shallower CID station)
• Cost delta compared to realigned financial plan: + $30 million

Midtown Station (DT-1): 4th Avenue right-of-way

Compared to Preferred 5^th Avenue / Harrison Alternative (DT-1)

Midtown Station: 4th Avenue right-of-way explores shifting station entrance into public right-of-way to reduce costs and schedule risk.

Findings

• Temporarily narrows 4^th Ave to one lane during construction with substantial traffic and transit effects
• Permanently narrows 4^th Ave to two lanes with minor traffic effects
• Cost delta compared to realigned financial plan: - $20 million

Denny Station (DT-1): Lenora Street right-of-way

Compared to Preferred 5th Avenue / Harrison Alternative (DT-1)

Denny Station: Lenora Street right-of-way explores shifting station entrance into public right-of-way to reduce costs.

Findings

• Reduces development risk
• Permanently closes Lenora St with minimal traffic effects
• Cost delta compared to realigned financial plan: - $20 million

Denny Station (DT-1): 8th Avenue right-of-way

Compared to Preferred 5^th Avenue / Harrison Alternative (DT-1)

Denny Station: 8th Avenue right-of-way explores shifting station entrance into public right-of-way to reduce costs.

Findings

• Reduces development risk
• Permanently narrows 8^th Ave with minimal traffic effects
• Cost delta compared to realigned financial plan: - $60 million

Westlake Station (DT-1): Entrance Consolidation

Compared to Preferred 5^th Avenue / Harrison Alternative (DT-1)

Westlake Station: Entrance consolidation explores shifting station entrance into public right of way to reduce costs and improve passenger experience.  

Findings

• Eliminates 4^th Avenue roadway closure
• 4 fewer business displacements
• Adds redundancy with vertical circulation
• Provides opportunity for integrated joint development
• Cost delta compared to realigned financial plan: - $50 million