Renaming will reduce confusion when Sound Transit opens U District station in 2021

Beginning today, the public has the opportunity to weigh in on six proposed new names for Sound Transit’s University Street Link Station. The renaming aims to stem passenger confusion with the light rail system’s two stops that serve the state’s flagship university, the currently operating University of Washington Station and the U District Station, opening in 2021.

Residents can provide input online or in-person on six options tied to the station’s location and nearby cultural amenities and landmarks. They are:

1. Seneca Street

2. Midtown

3. Downtown Arts District

4. Arts District

5. Symphony

6. Benaroya Hall

Sound Transit’s station naming policy requires that they "avoid similar names or words in existing facility names." However, University Street predates Sound Transit, having opened in 1990 to serve buses as part of the former Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel. Sound Transit began light rail service in four tunnel stations in 2009 and expanded the tunnel to serve Capitol Hill and the University of Washington in 2016. Sound Transit will assume control of the four downtown stations from King County Metro in January 2020. The new station name will be in place when light rail expands to the U District, Roosevelt and Northgate in 2021.

In-person input can be provided on the mezzanine of the University Street Station on the following dates and times:

• September 12, 3 p.m.–6 p.m.

• September 17, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

• September 26, 6 a.m.–10 a.m.

• September 28, 2 p.m.–6 p.m.

Online participation is also available at soundtransit.org/rename-usstation-survey.

After the agency gathers public input, staff will present the results to the Sound Transit Board. The Board will select the new name by January 2020.