What Are The Construction Impacts?

The UW must ensure that its mission of teaching, research and service is not compromised during construction or on a permanent basis as a result of stations being on campus.

Existing Buildings and Parking

There are many existing buildings and parking areas located within or adjacent to potential staging areas and construction truck routes Sound Transit may need to use during the construction period. It is imperative to the University that teaching, research and service continue without disruption during the construction period. Some examples of potentially affected buildings include: sensitive exhibits at the Burke Museum and Henry Art Gallery, parking displacement in N1 parking area, access to buildings along 15th Ave and near Pacific Street.

Planned Buildings

The University has many construction projects planned on campus, some of which would be affected by light rail construction. The construction of new buildings requires large amounts of land for staging, as well as for contractor parking. The Sound Transit construction project would also require a significant amount of construction staging areas.

Environmental Impacts

Noise	Classrooms, labs and offices need to be protected from the equipment and vehicles at the construction sites. Sound Transit has applied for a noise variance from the City, allowing them to work six days a week, 24 hours a day. The University will require that noise not unduly interrupt regular UW operations.
Dust	Construction vehicles and the amount of dirt being dug up and moved will create significant amounts of dust in the air. Sensitive research can be adversely affected when dust particles are drawn in through air intakes and settle on equipment in research labs. Dust can also be an indoor quality problem for patients, students and employees.
Fumes	Fumes from construction vehicles and diesel-operated construction equipment that are drawn in through air intakes can be dangerous to people inside, especially patients in the medical facilities.
Vibration	Vibration from construction equipment and heavy trucks can disturb sensitive research. (Please see the Vibration display for information about vibration caused by the operation of the trains.) Delicate museum displays and artifacts, as well as underground utilities, can also be affected by prolonged vibration.

Fiber Optic Cables

The UW provides internet access to the campus community, the regional hospital network, as well as a five-state region, including Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Fiber optic cables are located underground at various locations on campus. Additionally, providers such as US West have cables located underground on and near campus. Disruptions of these cables would need to be avoided because of the potential for significant disruption to the many thousands of people who rely on them.

Utilities

Campus buildings are served by direct buried utilities and utilities housed inside the utility tunnel system. Excavation projects often damage those utilities, affecting the buildings they serve. Consequently the UW would work with Sound Transit on approval of a workplan that involves any utility shutdowns. Sound Transit and their contractors must work closely with UW personnel throughout the construciton project in order to protect campus utilities and the buildings they serve.

Information on this site may not reflect Sound Transit's most current planning. It is posted here as courtesy information only. For the most current information, please visit Sound Transit's web site at www.soundtransit.org.