university link is a extension of the central link light rail line (now part of the red line) which opened on march 19, 2016. construction on the line began on march 6, 2009, and completed in early 2016. the line is underground for its entire route and connects downtown seattle to the university of washington via capitol hill. the cost of the extension was about $1.9 billion with half of the funding coming from a grant from the federal transit administration.