Sound Transit approves cash for Cap Hill light rail station fighter jets

View from below of 'Together,' the artwork destined for Capitol Hill's light rail station when it opens in 2016.

Got two fighter jets you've been looking to get rid of? There's a new buyer on Capitol Hill and he's got the cash to make the deal. Sound Transit's finance committee approved $440,000 Thursday for the "purchase of material and fabrication of artwork" for the Capitol Hill light rail station, according to spokesperson Bruce Gray.

Motion M2009-64

Authorizing the chief executive officer to execute a contract amendment with Nonstop, Inc., to initiate the purchase of material and fabrication of artwork for the Link Capitol Hill Station in the amount of $440,000, with a 10% contingency of $44,000, totaling $484,000, for a new total authorized contract amount not to exceed $604,000.

The move gives artist Mike Ross's company Nonstop, Inc. the budget necessary to purchase . Ross modified his design and further abstracted the jets after an initial outcry received a great deal of attention.

Ross had said that he was having difficulty finding the jet parts he needed for his design last summer. But according to the attached report the Sound Transit finance committee reviewed prior to voting on the money, Ross has found the right jets: 

KEY FEATURES of PROPOSED ACTION

• Initiates fabrication from an approved design as part of a multi-phased contract for the “Together” sculptural artwork in the Capitol Hill light rail station within the University Link project.
• The artwork includes the use of two decommissioned military planes that are difficult to locate, and this amendment will allow the procurement of material that has been located.

Projections indicate that buying the material and fabricating the artwork now and then storing the completed work until installation will save funds over the extended duration of the project. Construction of the station is scheduled to be completed in 2015 and open for service in 2016.

As sexy as jet fighter art is, Sound Transit's light rail project on Capitol Hill has some much bigger issues to also be thinking about.

• Sound Transit launched its initial light rail link in the city.
• The tunnel contracts are being awarded. Traylor Frontier-Kemper was selected to excavate the University of Washington station and dig the tunnels between the UW site and Capitol Hill. The Capitol Hill to Downtown contract will be awarded in August according to the Sound Transit project site.
• The capping phases for the Capitol Hill station area along Broadway has begun where an empty 3 acres of asphalt will wait as the contractors prepare to begin construction. 
• Sound Transit is on the hook for litter and graffiti issues at the site until construction begins and the contractors take over. ST hotline to report issues: 888-298-2395
• In early 2010, the first phase of construction will include giant sound walls and round the clock work schedules.
• Meanwhile, a process to include community input in the Capitol Hill station's transit oriented development (TOD) continues. This one is also worthy of a much-needed CHS update. Coming soon.