The South Sound/Seattle Crossover (via light rail!)

Light rail is finally arriving to Seattle, literally changing how we will get around town and making public transit greener!

This is a Friday luncheon that can get some of us familiar with the new central link light rail line that opens mid-July (from Tukwila into downtown Seattle)…now South Sounders, Seattleites, Eastsiders, and anyone else can rendezvous in the city with that much more ease and convenience...and of course for those of you who are transit junkies, this event is an ABSOLUTE MUST!

We'll ride the entire length of the light rail line from Tukwila into Westlake Center, which takes approximately 34 minutes (see below for more details on meeting up to take the light rail).

For lunch, we'll meet at NOON at P.F. Chang's located on the ground level of the Westlake Center (Pine & 4th in downtown Seattle).

Directions & some light rail specifics...

Seattleites, it's assumed that you know where you're going (see address & map)...but anyone is welcome to join us in Tukwila to ride the rails into the city!

South Sounders...plan on meeting at 11:00AM at the Tukwila International Blvd Station (NE corner of Hwy 99 and Hwy 518 ~ essentially the east extension of I-405 you take to get to Sea-Tac Airport)...the hard address is 15426 35th Ave S...it's that elevated monstrosity you've probably noticed on the north end of the highway just before making the dip & turn to take the final stretch of road into the airport.

Park at one of the 600 free stalls provided at the station, then meet the group on the platform boarding the light rail train going north into Seattle. Trains leave every 10 minutes, so try to be there right at 11:00 so we can catch a train between 11:10-11:15 (I'm expecting to ride the line a few days before the event to get more specifics, and will update you on anything pertinent to light rail station specifics, etc)…so that being said, I'll be riding the train into the city with you.

The light rail fare is $2.50 each direction, so bring correct change or a credit card to get a ticket from one of the machines…but if you want to be ahead of the ball and REALLY chic, get the new FREE ORCA CARD...visit orcacard.com for details...and see the P.S. at the bottom of this post.

Lunch specifics...

We'll have a table reserved for us at NOON at P.F. Chang's, located on the ground level of Westlake Center…with lunch entrees priced from $10-15. Rail riders will probably arrive a few minutes early to start getting the table ready.

Lunch is planned from 12:00-1:15ish…and from there everyone will be left to their own reconnaissance, including rail riders, as it's assumed you'll know the drill and hopefully can figure out how to get back to Tukwila (if not, I'm taking the rail back too).

This new and exciting event should open up some networking opportunities that weren't previously available to folks...so bring your business cards!

One more time...rail riders, meet at 11:00AM at: Tukwila International Station, 15426 35th Ave S, Tukwila.

Lunch is at NOON at P.F. Chang's at the ground level of Westlake Center (Pine & 4th in downtown Seattle).

See ya at lunch, or in Tukwila for some "killer green rail surfin'!"

~Paul

P.S.~

The ORCA card (meaning "One Regional Card for All," an interagency project that's been in the works for over a decade) is free of charge for the time being (there's a grace period right now since it's still new; it will be $5 eventually, not sure when that happens) and good on any transit in the Puget Sound region…visit orcacard.com for more details. You put a designated about of $$ down on it in advance of using it for a fare, and it can also accommodate the monthly transit passes.

I highly recommend getting it even if you don't ride transit that often ~ as it's a handy option to reach for in your wallet in a pinch when you need it, and you simply scan it when you board ~ good on all local & regional buses, Sounder trains, light rail (both Tacoma and Central links), Seattle streetcars, and ferries.