Seattle’s Monorail closes through April for station remodel, construction
Apr 5, 2021, 12:05 PM | Updated: Apr 12, 2021, 9:42 am
The blue train and the MoPOP. (Photo courtesy of SeattleMonorail/Twitter)
(Photo courtesy of SeattleMonorail/Twitter)
Improvements to Seattle’s Monorail began last week, ahead of a month-long closure that starts Monday, April 12.
Seattle Monorail Services marked the start of construction on April 5 for the $6.6 million privately funded improvements to “help shape the future of the Seattle icon and strengthen its connection to the regional transit network.”
It's #MonorailMonday & it's a BIG day for us! 🥳 Today marks the groundbreaking & start of construction of $6.6 million of privately funded improvements, shaping the future of Monorail and strengthening our connection with regional transit! More info: https://t.co/ov1RMokyZ0
🚝❤️ pic.twitter.com/DU4Xh6Cxk8— Seattle Monorail (@SeattleMonorail) April 5, 2021
The improvements are part of an investment from Climate Pledge Arena and the Seattle Kraken, as all fans traveling to Kraken games will have free transit access, including on the Monorail. The team is encouraging fans to use it as a means for transit to and from games at the new Seattle Center arena.
“We respect the history of the Monorail and want to remind people of its original intent. I couldn’t be prouder to align with a company that shares our values and ambitions,” NHL Seattle CEO Tod Leiweke said in a news release in 2020. “By offering embedded public transit we are making the right decision for our fans and for the city.”
Will riders use Monorail after $7 million investment from NHL Seattle?
NHL Seattle hopes to have the Monorail act as a transit hub for fans across the region, billing it as a connection for riders coming from Northgate when light rail service begins in the area in 2021, as well as Bellevue, Redmond, Federal Way, and Lynnwood by 2024.
Expected to be completed in fall 2021, the Monorail construction that began Monday includes modernizations that will double capacity, provide better access, and improve the connection to Link light rail. There will also be a new fare system and ticketing machines at both stations where passengers will be able to scan their ORCA card or ticket for entry.
There will be no Monorail service from April 12-30, but otherwise it will be open and operating through construction.
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