September 21, 2017

Tacoma Trestle Track & Signal Project andAmtrak Station Relocation to Freighthouse SquareCitizen Oversight Panel

Freigthouse Square Vicinity Map

Amtrak Station Relocation to Freighthouse Square

• Amtrak relocating its station operations in Tacoma to FHS as part of WSDOT’s Point Defiance Bypass project.

• WSDOT purchased rights to operate and construct new station next to ST’s Tacoma Dome Station.

• Amtrak and Sounder will both operate at FHS/Tacoma Dome Station in December 2017.

Tacoma Trestle - Background & History

• ST2 Transportation Plano 2008 voter-approved project to replace the 100-yr old wooden single-track trestle with

a new double-track concrete structure.

• Tacoma Trestle historyo City of Tacoma (Tacoma Rail) formerly owned railroad right of way o Tacoma Rail freight trains operate on the trestleo Railroad ROW and trestle formerly operated by the Milwaukee Railroad

Third Parties & StakeholdersFederal & State Regulatory Agencies• Federal Transit Administration• Federal Railroad Administration

Sound Transit• Sounder Commuter Rail Operations Team• Tacoma Link Operations Team• Tacoma Link Expansion Project Team• Pt. Defiance By-Pass Project Team

Railroads• BNSF Railway• WSDOT – Sponsor of Amtrak Cascades• Amtrak

• Puyallup Tribe• Nisqually Tribe

City of Tacoma• Tacoma Rail • Tacoma Power• Public Works Department • Community Development Department• Historic Preservation Office

Community• Tacoma Dome Business District• Adjacent property owners• Local business owners

Utilities• Private Utility Companies

Project Overview

SCOPE• Replace the existing single track trestle with a new bridge to accommodate two tracks

• Construct crossover track at East ‘L’ Street

• Modify railroad signals

• Civil and utility work

• Betterment scope items to design and construct on WSDOT’s behalf:• Extended platform to accommodate Amtrak’s Coast Starlight train

• New south platform

• Crossover track between East ‘C’ and ‘D’ Streets

Project Overview

TIMELINE and BUDGET• The schedule calls for completion of design and construction by December 2017

AUG 2013 – NOV 2014 Design Phase

DEC 2015 Start of Construction

o DEC 2017 Start of service

• ST was awarded a $10M USDOT TIGER Grant to help advance the construction completion date from 2023 to 2017.

• The project is projected to be completed on time and within budget a baselined.

Tacoma Trestle – Before & After

Rail Activation

As owner of the new track and signal improvements from Tacoma to Nisqually, Sound Transit must test, commission, and certify that the improvements are safe before beginning revenue service.

Coordination is ongoing with external parties:• WSDOT• Tacoma Rail• Amtrak• Emergency Responders (Pierce County, Lakewood, Tacoma)• BNSF

Next Steps

Two additional Sounder trips starting September 25• South Platform preparations• Safety Certification

Start of Amtrak Revenue Service in December 2017• South Platform to be shared with

Amtrak Cascades trains• 13 roundtrip Sounder trains • 6 roundtrip Amtrak Cascades trains• 1 roundtrip Amtrak Coast Starlight