(The Center Square) – The latest status report from Sound Transit raises some major concerns about whether passenger rail service will be ready to safely operate across the I-90 floating bridge by May 2026 as scheduled.
In a December 5th status report to the U.S. DOT, Sound Transit noted “cathodic protection system may not be given acceptance by WSDOT prior to revenue service.”
What is cathodic protection and why does that matter?
It is protection of a metal structure from corrosion under water by making it act as an electrical cathode and is required to protect the steel of the I-90 bridge itself.
In other words, the issue could impact the integrity of the I-90 floating bridge.
The Center Square reached out to John Niles, founder and president of Global Telematics, a Seattle-based policy research and consulting firm specializing in transportation issues, who raised concerns after reading the October status report.
“I think this is breaking news,” said Niles. “It’s like the only thing that came out of that report on public radio was them announcing the trains will be ready sometime before May. No, the big news is they’re saying they might not be able to certify for stray current protection. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, what is that about?
“What happens when you get that leakage is it corrodes…the thing that would corrode are the steel cables that hold the bridge in place or it might deteriorate the steel inside the concrete so it’s a very serious thing,” said Niles. “Sound Transit agrees, and WSDOT agrees you’ve got to have stray current protection or cathodic protection that works and that means you test it and you make sure it works and you certify it because you’ll shorten the lifespan of an interstate highway bridge.”
Sound Transit has set a goal to start service before the start of the World Cup next June. Testing is already underway, but paid service is supposed to begin in May 2026.
The cross-lake project is already running three years behind schedule. Revenue service was set to begin in 2023 before several setbacks delayed the launch.
The Center Square reached out to both Sound Transit and WSDOT about the corrosion concerns raised in WSDOT’s latest status report.
“The cathodic protection system and stray current system are in place and operating,” wrote Sound Transit spokeswoman Rachelle Cunningham wrote The Center Square. “Sound Transit and WSDOT will continue to monitor and fine-tune the systems as we move closer toward opening the Crosslake Connection,”
Stefanie Randolph, acting communications director for WSDOT, asked for more time to respond for this article and The Center Square agreed to postpone publication for one day.
On Thursday morning, Randolph emailed a short reply stating: “WSDOT is still responding to damage and closures from extreme weather over the past week and will not be able to provide more information by your deadline.”
The Center Square emailed several specific questions to WSDOT related to the corrosion concerns but received no response to those questions from the agency. Sound Transit also did not address any of the specific concerns raised by Niles.
Niles said he is convinced the issues raised are serious and could very well delay the planned opening in time for the World Cup.
“If I were Metro, I’d be planning for a bus alternative right now because I think they’re at risk based on what I’m hearing,” Niles said. “If they are not ready to go this is going to be a colossal civic embarrassment.”
