It’s like a KISS concert on Broadway. CHS has learned of a few updates on Sound Transit’s construction of the Capitol Hill light rail station involving noise and lasers.

First, Sound Transit has submitted its application for a noise law variance that will allow its construction crews to work round-the-clock to build the Capitol Hill light rail station and tunnels between downtown and the University District. We wrote about the agency’s need for the variance here. “We submitted the noise variance application for Capitol Hill on October 29th,” ST spokesperson Bruce Gray told CHS. “Next step will be the [city] scheduling a public meeting/hearing about it. No word on when that will be.”

The City Council recently overhauled Seattle’s noise variance process for large projects so this Sound Transit application will be one of the first reviewed under the new framework. We’ll keep you posted on the hearing process.

Gray reminds that the construction the variance will be requested for isn’t scheduled to begin in our area until the beginning of 2011.

In the meantime, the lot at John and Broadway continues to host the laser art installation provided by Sound Transit’s art program. According to program coordinator Barbara Luecke, the installation will probably be able to stay in place through January 1st but will then need to make way so construction crews can begin work in the lot. Now all we need is a big silver ball and Dick Clark. Happy New Year.