Sound Transit opens transit-only Direct Access ramp to Ash Way Park-and-Ride

Sound Transit officials joined with their partners from the Washington State Department of Transportation, Snohomish County, Community Transit and the City of Kenmore to celebrate the opening of the transit only Direct Access ramps from I-5 to the Ash Way Park-and-Ride lot.

"Sound Transit is making good on its commitment to deliver results for Snohomish County and the entire region," said Sound Transit Vice-Chair and Everett City Councilman Mark Olson. "This project is another example of Sound Transit fulfilling its mission to build a transportation system with express buses, commuter rail, light rail, and capital projects to connect communities and people."

"One-hundred-eighty Community Transit and Sound Transit Express buses will use this ramp each day for service between Everett, Lynnwood, Seattle and other areas to the south," said Sound Transit Boardmember and Edmonds City Council President Richard Marin. "Transit users will see an average of 12 minutes cut from their daily round trip."

"We are seeing average freeway speeds on I-5 creeping along at 21 miles per hour during morning-peak traffic and 10 miles per hour in the PM peak rush hours," said Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon.  "That means millions of dollars in lost revenue for our businesses and less quality time spent together for our families.  This project will help get us moving."

Sound Transit's capital, operations and maintenance budget for Snohomish County between 1997 and 2009 is $663 million (in year-of-expenditure dollars). This is especially important to note as the agency prepares "Sound Transit 2," the next phase of projects and services to extend the transit system created in 1996 by Sound Move.

Sound Transit's capital, operations and maintenance budget for Snohomish County between 1997 and 2009 is $663 million (in year-of-expenditure dollars). This is especially important to note as the agency prepares "Sound Transit 2," the next phase of projects and services to extend the transit system created in 1996 by Sound Move.

# # #

Sound Transit plans, builds and operates regional transit systems and services to improve mobility for Central Puget Sound.