Sound Transit touts construction progress on Northgate Link extension

Sound Transit late last week announced the Northgate Link extension has reached the 70 percent completion stage.

Pegged to start service in 2021, the 4.3-mile light-rail extension will transport riders between Northgate and downtown Seattle in about 14 minutes, Sound Transit officials said in a press release. The project is a major component of the agency's commitment to complete a 116-mile regional light-rail system by 2041 — the largest rail service expansion in the nation, they said.

Northgate Link construction progress shows track installation is near the 50 percent completion mark. In terms of station construction, Northgate is about 70 percent complete; Roosevelt, 70 percent finished; and University District, about 50 percent done.

Sound Transit is simultaneously working to extend light rail north, south, east and west. The Northgate Link extension will be followed in 2023 by the opening of service to Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond's Overlake community. Additional extensions to Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, Kent/Des Moines, Federal Way and downtown Redmond are planned in 2024, Sound Transit officials said.

Other light-rail extensions are scheduled to reach West Seattle, Fife and Tacoma in 2030; Ballard in 2035; Paine Field and Everett in 2036; and South Kirkland and Issaquah in 2041.

Sound Transit also is working on additional infrastructure investments, including expansions to Sounder South service, agency officials said.