Following up on the board’s decision identifying a University Link alignment without First Hill as the locally preferred segment to submit for a federal grant, Phillips and Pelz joined the board today in directing staff to continue looking for ways to serve First Hill. Phillips specifically suggesting that staff consider the feasibility of a rail spur connecting First Hill to the Central Link rail spine.

“First Hill is a dense urban neighborhood and important regional employment center,” said Phillips. “It must be effectively linked to our regional transportation system, but the risk and expense of a deep mined station at First Hill would have jeopardized the entire system. It’s too early to know whether the rail spur proposal is feasible, but it could prove to be a lower risk, more affordable way to connect to First Hill. I support looking at it along with the other proposals put forth by my colleagues.”

“Sound Transit should identify a workable, low – tech, affordable strategy for serving First Hill,” said Councilmember Pelz. “I believe Councilmember Phillips’ proposal to build a tunnel to a cut and cover station at First Hill is intriguing, and should be studied by Sound Transit.”

The First Hill Station as originally proposed was particularly risky because a combination of grade requirements and poor soil conditions under First Hill would have required the station to be located at a depth of 215 feet. Soil stabilization methods such as jet grouting that are currently being used to mitigate risks and control potential cost and schedule delays at the Beacon Hill station are largely untested at the depth required for the First Hill station.

“With the First Hill decision, the board decided that this was not a time to gamble with the taxpayers’ money,” said Phillips. “We have to learn from the mistakes this agency and others have experienced and be sure of our commitments. The project was so risky that we couldn’t say with confidence it would get built on time and on budget—in that case, we had an obligation not to commit to the project.”

If feasible, a rail spur connecting First Hill to University Link could alleviate the need for a deep mined station and allow a shallower, cut and cover station at First Hill. Link passengers coming from or destined for First Hill would transfer at the Capitol Hill station. Sound transit staff will study the feasibility, benefit and cost of this concept along with other alternatives to serving First Hill and report back to the board this fall. The board is not scheduled to make a final decision on the North Link alignment until December, which allows the First Hill decision to be revisited after the additional analysis has been completed.

“First Hill is a destination too important to abandon. It’s time to get creative and figure out better mobility options for employees, students and residents accessing First Hill,” said Phillips.