Seattle Center Monorail Station Reconfiguration

Project Description: As a centerpiece of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the monorail is beloved by many and is a place of great significance in the history of Seattle. The Seattle Center Monorail Station Reconfiguration will deliver a fully accessible station consistent with Title II of the ADA as incorporated by Appendix A of 49 CFR 37. Improvements will also increase system capacity, implement upgrades for fire and life safety, provide necessary repairs to extend the useful life of the facility, and enhance the overall passenger experience.

Engineer's Estimate: $15,500,000 (MACC)

Project Location: The Seattle Center Monorail station is the northern terminus of the one-mile-long elevated guideway connecting the Seattle Center campus to downtown Seattle. The station is bordered by vacated Right-of-Ways – Nob Hill Avenue to the west, and Thomas Street to the south. The main entrance to the station is on Thomas Street, which connects to such landmarks and cultural institutions as the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) to the east, the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass to the south, and the Armory food and event hall to the west.

The monorail currently operates one train during regular hours, and both trains during periods of high demand, i.e. large events such as professional sports, concerts, and festivals. It is anticipated that this mode can remain in place as much as possible during construction. While during normal (one-train) operations, the inactive car can be parked outside the station, phasing/sequencing and methods of construction will need to be closely coordinated with the Seattle Center calendar of events in order to minimize monorail service interruptions and ensure safety to passengers at all times.

Repairs and maintenance to the cars take place at the lower floor of Seattle Center station, from where the train propulsion system can be accessed. Due to the elevated guideway of the monorail, the maintenance floor is open to the station above, which is a safety concern during construction. Accordingly, the work sequence will need to be closely coordinated with monorail operations and maintenance needs.