The first indication of Sound Transit concern over Northgate Link trains exceeding UW limits was the following "Risk Management" issue in their July 2020 Agency Progress Report":
Operation of the Light Rail system may exceed thresholds for noise and vibration or EMI as required by the U of W and are delayed to provide further mitigation for these impacts.
The concern was the result of a "Master Implementation Agreement" (MIA) between Sound Transit and UW regarding operation of light rail in a tunnel under the campus. Nearly eight years ago a post on this blog, "ST HighRisk/No Reward Northgate Extension" included the following regarding the need to meet MIA requirements for any light rail tunnel under the campus
Protects research and instruction by defining level of vibration and magnetic field (MF) thresholds which ST shall not exceed without advance approval by the University includes a monitoring program to assure real time compliance as well as liquidation damages if any threshold is exceeded by ST.
The result was the following stipulation in the MIA:
In no event shall Sound Transit commence Revenue Service on University properties if (Vibration and MF) Thresholds are exceeded.
The risks resulting in the following agreement in the MIA.
ST and UW agree up a lump sum payment of $20,000,000 by ST to the University as consideration for the terms, conditions and easements contemplated in the MIA.
Testing to determine compliance with MIA was included in Sound Transit's March 10th, January 2021, Agency Progress Report, "Key Project Activities"
Pre-Certification Vibration testing between University of Washington Station and U District Stations completed with K1 cars, Siemens Car testing planned 2/1/21
However, as recently as the June 11th release, the April report included the following "Risk Management"issue:
If there is a problem during vibration certification testing & analysis, acceptance by the UW may be delayed, thereby delaying RSD.
However, it wasn't included as a Risk Management" issue in the July 8th, May report. Instead the July 8th Sound Transit Board System Expansion Committee meeting Agenda included the following as a Business Item, "For recommendation to the board":
Motion No. M2021-42: Authorizing the chief executive officer to (1) execute an amendment to the Light Rail Transit System Operations and Maintenance Agreement for Vibration and Magnetic Fields on University of Washington Transportation Easement During Revenue Service with the University of Washington and (2) execute any necessary amendments to other agreements with the University of Washington to be consistent with the new terms of the Operations and Maintenance Agreement for the Northgate Link Extension.
It reads more like what a CEO like Peter Rogoff would have written rather than a Board of Directors. Charts presented during the meeting showed Northgate Link train vibration levels had exceeded UW limits. That the UW was willing to increase some threshold levels. Comments indicated both UW and Sound Transit were working to "resolve" the issue. The System Expansion Committee unanimously approved the motion.
However giving CEO Rogoff the authority clearly abdicates the Board's responsibility to the public. The fact the Northgate Link debut remains as scheduled indicates an agreement has been reached. Does it involve some limitation on Northgate Link operation or more funds to compensate UW? (His predictions for 41,000 to 49,000 Northgate Link daily riders by 2022 are delusional)
The public surely deserves to know what's in the agreement yet the Seattle Times Traffic Lab ignores the issue.
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