Projects

Sound Transit is building the most ambitious transit expansion in the country, enhancing mobility options and providing traffic congestion relief for growing South King County.

The southern expansion is anticipated to bring light rail to 30,000 riders per day, while laying the path for future extensions to Pierce County.

Supporting HDR, Burns developed advanced conceptual designs of all communications, train control and signals, traction power, and overhead catenary systems. Interdisciplinary collaboration streamlined preliminary designs, saving time and improving accuracy.

Simulations modeled operational characteristics of the eight-substation, 1,500-volt DC traction power supply system. Drawing upon decades of DC traction power experience, Burns forecast power demands for the Federal Way extension as well as future Sound Transit expansions, ensuring substation reliability without the need to overengineer the system.

The $3-billion project is expected to complete construction in 2024.

Burns provides design and construction solutions to help maintain, improve and expand the nation’s critical railroad and transit infrastructure. Learn more.

Images courtesy of Sound Transit.