Seattle Times: Airport light-rail station work on track

Airport light-rail station work on track
Sound Transit has fixed a scheduling problem and is on track to open its airport light-rail station by December 29, 2009, according to the federal government. The project had been lacking a detailed schedule for installing roof stations, steel beams, escalators, tracks and other features.

By Mike Lindblom

Seattle Times transportation reporter


Sound Transit has fixed a scheduling problem and remains on track to open its airport light-rail station as promised by Dec. 29, 2009, according to the federal government.

Earlier, a federal oversight report in June estimated that completion "will be delayed until the second quarter of 2010."

When that report was written, Sound Transit lacked a detailed schedule to install station roofs, steel beams, escalators, tracks and other features. The report further questioned whether communications systems would be ready on time, throughout the 16 miles of track from downtown Seattle.

But according to Ron Lewis, airport-area project manager for Sound Transit, a full schedule has since been received and approved from Mowat, the prime contractor.

"These deficiencies, which are required to be pointed out by our staff, have now been corrected by Sound Transit," said Federal Transit Administration spokesman Dave Longo, in an e-mail message today. "Having said that, there are never any guarantees that any project will be done on time; because unforeseen challenges could cause delays."

The station would be finished only two months before opening day, leaving little margin for error. .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008127163_weblightrail20m.html