Sound Transit’s newest Link light rail station opens Wednesday, adding a new stop between Northgate and Shoreline South.
Sound Transit’s newest Link light rail station has opened, adding a new stop between Northgate and Shoreline South and bringing rail service closer to north Seattle neighborhoods.
Pinehurst Station welcomed its first passengers on Northeast 130th Street on Wednesday.
The 1 and 2 Line trains will serve the station every four to six minutes during peak hours, and 2,600 to 4,200 daily boardings are expected.
It takes 15 minutes from Pinehurst to Westlake in downtown Seattle, and just under an hour to get to Sea-Tac Airport.
Pinehurst is the agency’s first infill station. Unlike stations built as part of a new rail extension, an infill station is added to an existing rail corridor, which means there's no parking there.
The station is meant to serve businesses, residents, schools, and public facilities around the area.
It was approved by voters as part of the ST3 ballot measure in 2016 and was originally expected to open in 2031, but opened five years earlier than planned.
In February 2020, the Sound Transit Board advanced the project into final design. At that time, the cost was estimated at $144 million. The board later approved additional funding and contract changes in 2022 to speed up the project.
That allowed construction to begin before the Lynnwood Link extension opened, which Sound Transit said made the work faster and less disruptive.
Sound Transit did not say what the final cost of the station was, but the Puget Sound Business Journal put price near $240 million.
With the early opening of Pinehurst, KOMO News asked if there is any significant update on other ST3 projects.
"The lessons we learned from this guide us into the future. You know, all progress is good progress. We feel good about the work that we're able to do here and the direction that we're on," said Henry Bedon with Sound Transit.
Sound Transit will mark Pinehurst Station’s opening with a community celebration from 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday.
The event will include live music, local organizations, food, an interactive activity with station artist Romson Bustillo, and giveaways.
