SEATTLE — Sound Transit is planning massive upgrades for the four downtown Seattle light rail stations. Aging elevators and escalators are set to be replaced after years of issues and headaches for riders.
Elevators and escalators in the downtown Seattle light rail stations have had a lot of ups and downs operating properly over the years.
"Not a month goes by where I don't see the escalators partially shut down,” said Bethany Carter, who rides through the downtown Seattle light rail stations for work every week. "The elevators break down a lot, almost something I constantly hear before the trains arrive."
Sound Transit officials said improvements are on the way.
"We're taking out basically the guts of the system and replacing it entirely. That is a big project," said John Gallagher, a spokesperson with Sound Transit.
The project is set to be complete by 2033, nearly a decade away. Sound Transit will be installing 58 new elevators and escalators in the four stations: Chinatown-International District, Pioneer Square, Westlake and Symphony stations. A much-needed upgrade, considering these machines are more than 35 years old, well past their retirement age.
"These new ones that we're instituting will have those improvements in place, which will actually improve reliability and also sort of flag us when there are outages much more quickly," said Gallagher.
Officials said during construction none of the stations will have major closures. It plans on replacing one elevator or escalator section at a time.
"It's critically important that the handicap facilities on airports and subways and bus lines work," said Karl Foley. He said he’s been dependent on a wheelchair since 2017. He uses the downtown light rail at least five times a week. He said he hasn't run into too many issues with the elevators. But like other riders, he’s thrilled for what's to come.
"These kinds of upgrades take time," said Foley.
“We're always going to be waiting for improvement. There's always going to be something to improve," said Carter.
The start of the first round of improvements will be made at the Chinatown-International District Station. Construction is expected to begin by late December of this year and is expected to be complete by May 2026 before the FIFA World Cup.
Sound Transit plans on replacing elevators and escalators at downtown Seattle light rail stations
Sound Transit plans to install 58 new elevators and escalators in the Chinatown-International District, Pioneer Square, Westlake and Symphony stations.