Seattle - Everett Sounder Service and Corridor Improvements

Sound Transit and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway reached an agreement in late 2003 to provide Sounder commuter rail service along the 35 mile segment between Everett and Seattle serving stations in Everett, Mukilteo, Edmonds and Seattle.

The agreement allows Sound Transit to run four trains (four in the a.m., four in the p.m.) between Seattle and Everett. Week-day commuter passenger service began in December 2003 with a single train to Everett and Edmonds and a special event service for weekend sports and community events. Today Sound Transit operates three week-day commuter trains a day as well as weekend special service on the route. The fourth Sounder train is scheduled to be in service by December 2008.

In conjunction with the increased Sounder service, BNSF is solely responsible for designing and constructing major track and signal improvements at several points along the corridor. The work BNSF has undertaken went through an extensive public comment process that led to state and federal final design approvals in 2001.

Recently BNSF completed surface grading, retaining wall and drainage improvements at several points along the corridor, and this work continues at additional locations. Near the future Mukilteo Station, the tracks were realigned and other work was completed allowing Sound Transit to break ground for station construction. Work will begin soon to add a second set of tracks near Golden Gardens Park, in Blue Ridge near Ballard, and in the Mukilteo area.

Sound Transit is responsible for securing the necessary permits for BNSF to do its track and signal improvement work. Sound Transit is also responsible for implementing the related environmental mitigation associated with the BNSF track and signal improvements, construction of the three commuter rail stations and the associated layover tracks planned for the corridor segment.

This site is designed to keep the public informed about this work which is crucial to maintaining both freight and passenger train reliability.

Updated 12/2007