SEATTLE — Amtrak has awarded a construction contract for upgrades to its King Street Yard in Seattle, meant to prepare the facility for arrival of next-generation Amtrak Airo equipment for the Amtrak Cascades route as well as improving maintenance for long-distance trains that use the facilities.
PCL Construction Services will lead design and construction on the project, slated for completion in 2027. Work will be completed in the existing footprint of the yard, located south of Seattle’s Stadium District. The project will include a new two-bay maintenance and inspection facility and a new service and cleaning bay.
In addition to Cascades trains, the facility handles Amtrak’s Coast Starlight and Empire Builder, as well as Sound Transit’s Sounder commuter trains.
“We look forward to breaking ground soon on this important project that will modernize maintenance and upgrade the overall experience,” Laura Mason, Amtrak executive vice president, capital delivery, said in a press release.
There was a study by the city of Seattle over 20-years ago looking at the possible closure of Holgate Street. It was a very controversial study and as I recall the city was opposed to closing Holgate Street due to traffic and circulation issues (and its proximity to the two stadiums down in SODO). Realistically, and looking at the long-term (+ this new maintenance facility) it probably makes sense that the Holgate Street crossing should be removed/Holgate Street S/B closed.
A Holgate Street grade-separation MIGHT be possible, but it would be a very expensive undertaking and a very challenging design and engineering effort (that likely would deem a Holgate Street grade-separation infeasible).
I think the city (SDOT) is starting another study of the Holgate Street grade-crossing and is trying to assess it in the context of the larger transportation subarea in SODO (1st Avenue S., 4th Avenue S., etc.). I think the study budget is around $2M or so and they did receive federal grant funding for it.
Not sure of the status of this study (it was just getting underway earlier this year) and it likely will be another inconclusive Seattle boondooggle…
Holgate Street will never be the same.
South Holgate Street needs a major repaving and infrastructure upgrade, possibly a bridge over the tracks like on South Lander Street. The traffic and roadway are a mess the way it is now.