A look behind the curtains at the construction area in the International District/Chinatown Station as a train passes.

It is often noisy, dusty work.

We have installed sound-dampening blankets and are monitoring noise levels on the platform and in the surrounding areas and also use water during the sawing and chipping activities to help keep the dust down. The water is collected and treated before disposal.

Workers behind the sound-dampening curtains and fencing in International District/Chinatown Station.

Making way for new rails at International District/Chinatown Station.

In with the new

Crews have been at work for the past few months installing new rail and switches for directing trains from one track to the other just south of the station and this work is now continuing into the main station area.

New tracks where trains from Bellevue will arrive at International District/Chinatown Station in Seattle. Trips from Judkins Park to Overlake will take 24 minutes.

Crews continue with rail installation at International District/Chinatown Station. Trips from UW to Mercer Island will take 20 minutes.

Looking back at one of the switch areas where trains from the Eastside will connect with the existing line. Trips from Capitol Hill to downtown Bellevue will take 27 minutes.

Link operations so far

For the first time in Link’s service history, riders must transfer between trains across a new center platform at Pioneer Square if they want to continue north or south of the station.

That’s because both north and southbound trains are running on the same tracks into and out of the station.

The transfers are going well for the most part but trips are taking longer than initially anticipated.

Since trains need to meet at Pioneer Square at the same time to make the transfer, a slower trip anywhere on the line means that all trips have to slow down.

On Wednesday, we moved to a 13-15 minute schedule on Link, an adjustment from the 12-minute schedules we had initially planned for.

We have experienced some delays from mechanical issues.

With trains already operating on a reduced schedule, these small delays have bigger impacts.

But for the most part, trains are keeping to the new schedules although there may be variations in trip times depending on the time of day.

The goal is to maintain consistent headways (the time between train departures and arrivals) throughout the day at all stations.

Peak hour crowds – how to help

All we need is just a little patience, and good transit manners to make it through Connect 2020.

Just like a workday under normal conditions, the busiest times on Link continue to be between about 4:30 – 5:45 p.m.

This is when many riders are heading south from Westlake, making the transfer across the center platform at Pioneer Square very busy.

We encourage riders to flex their schedules if at all possible to ride outside the peak afternoon hours.

Stick around town for happy hour, stop at the gym or come in a little later and go home a little later.

But we know that doesn’t work for everyone.

Here’s a few tips to help us all ride happier on busy trains:

Take off your backpack; it makes more room for everyone

Spread out on the trains; move to the ends and center areas so others can squeeze in the doors

No bags or luggage on seats; but you already knew that

In the field to help

Sound Transit customer service ambassadors have staffed every Link station the first week of Connect 2020.

Sound Transit Ambassadors are boarding trains as they arrive at Pioneer Square to tell riders that they need to transfer across the platform to the other train if they want to continue in the direction they're headed.

Ambassador teams have also been deployed to every station this first week of Connect 2020. Most of the ambassadors are Sound Transit employees taking time away from their regular jobs to help in the field.

More than 600 employees have worked more than 4,000 hours in the field to help riders navigate the service changes.

As riders become accustomed to the changes, we'll reduce ambassador staffing but you will still see them in key locations downtown. Staff will remain on the center platform at Pioneer Square Station for the duration of Connect 2020 work.

Short-term pain for long-term gain

We appreciate that this is a challenging time for Link commuters – we ride the same trains to and from work and are also not looking forward to the near-term forecast of colder temperatures and snow.

But we’re doing this work right now because it’s historically the lowest ridership time of the year and we also need to get it done before the extension to Northgate opens NEXT YEAR.

So thank you again for sticking with us and keeping your eyes on the prize – more trains to more places – 22 new stations over the next five years!

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