Sound Transit Link Light Rail is a rapid transit project in the Greater Seattle region, originally approved by a ballot measure in November 1996. Two lines are currently operating as of 2009: Tacoma Link, which uses 3 vehicles built by Škoda, and Central Link, which uses 35 vehicles built by Kinki Sharyo. The University Link extension, extending Central Link northward from downtown Seattle to the University of Washington, began preliminary construction work in late 2008 with service slated to start in 2016. In addition, voters approved a November 2008 ballot measure to extend Link light rail north via Northgate to Lynnwood (with planning and property acquisition to support later extension to Everett), south to Redondo Heights Park & Ride in Federal Way (with route planning to support later extension to Tacoma and extensions of Tacoma Link to the east and west), and east via Mercer Island and Bellevue to Microsoft's main campus in Redmond (with route planning and right-of-way acquisition to support later extension to downtown Redmond).
The Pioneer Square Station is a Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel station located in Pioneer Square, served by Sound Transit Central Link light rail trains, Sound Transit buses and King County Metro buses. It is completely underground, with entrances in the former Public Safety and Lyon buildings and next to Prefontaine Place on 3rd Avenue. 3,300 daily Link light rail boardings are predicted for the year 2020.
Originally constructed as a bus-only station by Metro and opened in 1990 for use by dual-mode buses/trolleybuses, it was rebuilt in 2005-2007 by Sound Transit for eventual use by light rail trains. Light rail service at this station started on July 18, 2009, with the opening of the Link system.
There are entrances to the underground station at 3rd & James and 3rd & Cherry. There is also an accessible entrance along 3rd between Cherry and James.