Transportation

Commuter Rail Improvements, Sound Transit

This project was a major milestone for Washington State’s regional transit authority Sound Transit and the future of transportation in the Pacific Northwest. DEA was the prime consultant for this 6,900-foot-long rail project – Sound Transit’s final commuter rail segment to connect Tacoma and Seattle.

DEA was retained to provide civil engineering, surveying, right-of-way, and traffic planning services during the course of this three phase commuter rail project. There were several significant challenges, including 50,000 cubic yards of fill on soft soils, two bridges over major arterial streets, relocation of a city street, 5,000 feet of new track, rehabilitation of 1,600 feet of timber trestle, a train layover facility, and relocation/ protection of major utilities.

Final design and construction were completed on an aggressive schedule requiring innovation and teamwork.