CHS Pics | A weekend of new light rail in Seattle from Capitol Hill Station to the U District, Roosevelt, and Northgate

Members of the Transit Riders Union take their first ride to U District, Roosevelt, and Northgate.

CHS stopped through Capitol Hill Station — and beyond — this weekend as Seattle celebrated three new light rail stations and 4.3 more miles of light rail to explore with the opening of the $1.9 billion Northgate Link. Below are images from the celebratory rides as groups like the Transit Riders Union enjoyed the fruits of their advocacy and people were able to head to work or play in a whole new way in the city.

It was a novelty the area had better get used to. Sound Transit will open 25 new stations over just the next three years as part of the completion of new lines outside the city:

Tacoma Hilltop in ’22
Eastside (Overlake) in ’23
Downtown Redmond in ’24
Federal Way in ’24
Shoreline/Montlake Terrace/Lynnwood in ’24

The opening of the new stations in 2023 will include Judkins Park Station — and its Hendrix inspired design — as part of the 10-stop East Link. The Central District station, tucked into I-90 between Rainier Ave and 23rd Ave, will be the first stop on the line that will connect Bellevue, Redmond, and Seattle across the I-90 bridge.

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U District Station

There will be more to come. Sound Transit’s “realignment plan” has adjusted schedules for new Seattle light rail for West Seattle in 2032 and Ballard in 2039.

The first trains on the new line rolled out on time at 4:51 AM Saturday, Sound Transit says.

Roosevelt Station

It wasn’t a totally smooth debut. Riders encountered a busted escalator, and confusing status board messages — but they’re used to those. A cell service outage in the system’s tunnels due to maintenance, meanwhile, cut down on social media posting while trains were in motion.

“THANK YOU to everyone who came out today to celebrate the opening of your new stations at Northgate, Roosevelt and U District,” Sound Transit said in a statement on the weekend celebrations. “The neighborhood events showed the amazing connections already in place and we look forward to giving more people more ways to explore.”

The agency says special installations at each of the new stations will remain up through the end of October.

Riders will also experience a new approach to “fare enforcement” on the trains as Sound Transit’s fare ambassador pilot program continues in an effort to address equity issues by focusing on information and assistance over security and fines.

U District

Roosevelt Station

University District

Roosevelt Station

Broken Escalator at Roosevelt Station

Restrooms at Northgate Station

Northgate

Northgate looking north

Travel time from the current line’s north to its south terminus is currently estimated at 53 minutes. A one-way trip from end to end costs $3.50 for riders 19 to 64, all youth fares are $1.50, and all seniors ride for $1.

While still not at pre-pandemic service levels, Sound Transit has been ramping up frequency at Capitol Hill Station and across the line. Peak hours currently are targeted for eight-minute service on weekdays, and every ten minutes on weekends and weekday off-peak hours. Late night service is currently every 15 minutes. At Capitol Hill Station, the system runs between 4:51 AM and 12:39 AM every day.

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