Sound Transit breaks ground on Puyallup station parking and access project

Sound Transit, last week, began construction of the Puyallup station parking and access project, which includes a new five-level garage and adds surface parking.

According to a press release, in addition to approximately 610 new parking spaces, the project, scheduled to open in 2022, will also construct a pedestrian bridge crossing Fifth Street Northwest, install a new traffic signal at the intersection of Seventh Street Northwest and West Stewart Avenue, as well as new sidewalks, curb ramps and street lighting.

An online open house is currently underway where the public can learn about construction impacts, building designs and improvements to local intersections around Puyallup station. The open house will be available through Dec.3 at www.puyallupstation.org.

“This new garage will add needed parking for Puyallup Sounder station riders and improved bike and pedestrian access as well,”  University Place Councilmember and Sound Transit Board Chair Kent Keel said. “Prior to COVID-19, our Puyallup Sounder station was one of the busiest in our system, and as our economy recovers, ridership will rebound. This project will go a long way to enabling more people to take advantage of congestion-free commutes.”

Pierce County Executive and Sound Transit Boardmember Bruce Dammeier said in the press release, voters approved the project as part of the Sound Transit 2 ballot measure in 2008.

“Sounder trains offer dependable, traffic-free commutes between Pierce County, South King County and Seattle,” Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff said. “We’re pleased to get busy building this project that has been a long time in the making. It will not only help people move around our region but provide jobs that support our economic recovery.”

The overall project budget is $79.1 million, according to the release, and the construction budget is $46 million under a design/build contract that was awarded to Hensel Phelps. When the project is complete the station will have approximately 1,260 dedicated parking spaces.

More information on the Puyallup station parking and access project is available at www.soundtransit.org/puyallup-access-improvements.