Earth Tech said Friday that it has been awarded part of a $38.9 million contract for initial design of a new light rail link being built by the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority.

The project, which will be called the University Link, will stretch 3.15 miles from downtown Seattle to the University of Washington campus. Construction is set to begin in late 2008.

Long Beach-based Earth Tech joins San Francisco-based engineering consultant firm Jacobs Associates and Kansas city-based engineering firm HNTB Corp. in the project. The joint venture is called the Northlink Transit Partners.

Earth Tech is involved in the design phase of the project, which is expected to take at least two years, and will provide initial design for the two rail stations located in the Capitol Hill area of Seattle and at the University of Washington’s Husky Stadium as well ventilation, mechanical and electrical systems. The high-tech rail system is scheduled to open for service in 2016.

Earth Tech is a division of Bermuda-based Tyco International Ltd.