Sound Transit selects parking, bike, pedestrian improvements for Puyallup Sounder station

Improvements include approximately 669 new parking spaces, a pedestrian bridge, bike access routes and storage, and traffic mitigation

The Sound Transit Board of Directors today approved a new parking garage, more surface parking, a pedestrian bridge, and pedestrian and bike paths at the Puyallup Sounder Station to improve transit rider access to the station.

“We’re making it easier for commuters to walk, bike and drive to the Puyallup Sounder station,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and King County Executive Dow Constantine. “Our investments will help us keep up with the growing demand for mass transit in our region.”

“It’s sad that heavy congestion in the South Sound is now considered a ‘normal commute’ on all the traffic reports,” said Sound Transit Boardmember and Sumner Mayor Dave Enslow. “Our ability to provide more parking and access to our stations is a win for commuters and their families, and our ability to get more cars off the clogged highways is a win for the entire region.”

Access improvements for the $60.2 million project include 669 new parking spaces. An estimated 503 of these will come from a new garage near the station. An additional 166 spaces will come from surface parking along the north side of 3rd Avenue Northwest. The new garage and lot will supplement an existing 292-stall surface spaces at the station and 219 leased surface spaces at the Red Lot on 131 West Main Street.

A pedestrian bridge from the new garage over 5th Street Northwest to the Sounder Station platform, sidewalk and pedestrian lighting, improved pedestrian and bicycle connections, and bike storage were also approved.

In the 2008 Sound Transit 2 ballot measure, voters approved funding for improving commuter access to Sounder train stations. In August 2014, following work with the city, business owners, and members of the community, the Board identified the preferred alternative to advance through environmental analysis for the Puyallup station.   Next steps for the project will include the Board considering actions to authorize property purchase and the start of final design.

More information on Sounder station improvements can be found at soundtransit.org/puyallupimprovements.