User:RickyCourtney/sandbox/Kent station

Kent station is a transportation hub in the city of Kent, Washington, served by Sounder commuter rail trains, Sound Transit Express buses, and King County Metro buses.

The station was built in phases by Sound Transit around the BNSF Railway tracks in downtown Kent. Commuter rail trains first started running between the station and downtown Seattle on February 5, 2001, with service to Tacoma added on September 24, 2007. A 877 space park and ride structure opened in March 2002, followed by the transit center in 2005, which allowed more than a dozen bus routes to be shifted to the station.

The station is the focal point for Kent's effort to redevelop the city's historic downtown.

History
Kent station was built as part of Sound Move, a measure approved by voters in 1996, which authorized the creation of Sound Transit, tax collections for funding, and the first set of regional transit projects. The projects it funded included peak-period commuter rail between Lakewood and Seattle via the Green River valley, express bus service linking cities in the region and investments in transit facilities.

Sound Transit studied two potential locations for Kent station approximately 900 feet from each other, the north site would extend on either side of the BNSF railroad tracks between James and Smith streets and the south site would extend on either side of the BNSF railroad tracks between Gowe and Willis streets. While there was no clear consensus within the community on the best station location, the Kent City Council recommended that the south site be selected (concerned over the potential loss of business and tax base in the downtown area if the north site is selected), and Sound Transit staff recommended that the north site be selected. The Sound Transit board selected the north station site on June 11th, 1998, with a promise to the City of Kent to design a station that would both minimize the amount of property takes required by incorporating a parking structure, to be partially funded by the city.

A contract to design the station was awarded on November 5, 1998 to MBT Architecture of San Francisco.

The construction of the station was broken up into phases. Phase 1 included the station (platforms, canopies, and lighting), temporary and permanent parking lots, and improvements to Railroad Ave N to enhance access to the station. Construction of Phase 1 was approved on September 2, 1999 with a contract awarded to Gary Merlino Construction Company and a public groundbreaking celebration was held on October 20, 1999.

Construction was completed in early 2001, a grand opening celebration was held on February 3, 2001 and trains first started running between the station and downtown Seattle on February 5, 2001.

Phase 2 saw the construction of a five-level 871-stall parking garage, at a cost of just over $10 million. The City of Kent contributed $4 million and King County contributed $2.12 million towards construction costs. Construction of Phase 2 was approved on October 26, 2000 with a contract awarded to PCL Construction. Construction began in Feburary 2011 and PCL competed the garage four months ahead of schedule and it opened to the public on March 20, 2002.

The remainder of station construction was broken up into Phases 2a, 2b, and 2c, which included a pedestrian bridge to connect the two platforms, the transit center, and the parking garage (which was primarily financed by three federal grants totaling $2,045,600), a island platform for buses on the eastern portion of the site (partially funded by $300,000 contribution by King County Metro), a park-like public entry plaza on the southeast portion of the site, and improvements to surrounding roads to improve bus access to the transit center and improve access for private vehicles to the parking garage.

Between 1999 and 2001 the City of Kent purchased nearly 20 contiguous acres of property adjacent to the commuter rail station for $14 million. The majority of this property had been used by the Borden Chemical company since 1956 to manufacture plywood resins. The city worked with Borden to relocate its operations and in 2001, the facility was demolished and all the equipment was removed. As a result of the plywood resin manufacturing at this location, the soil and groundwater was contaminated with methanol, nitrate, ammonia, petroleum oil, lead, and formaldehyde. The Washington State Department of Ecology once listed the property as one of the worst hazardous waste sites in the state.

in the downtown core (adjacent to the Sounder commuter rail station and parking garage)

Second, the city purchased 19.9 contiguous acres of property in the downtown core (adjacent to the Sounder commuter rail station and parking garage) for $14 million. Purchase of the property enables the city to stimulate and control redevelopment of prime downtown property that was in industrial use. A majority of this property was in use by the Borden Chemical Plant that at one point had considered expansion as an option. The city partnered with Borden to identify relocation sites and to facilitate its transition off the property.

The area surrounding Kent station (bordered by

The property chosen was used for agriculture until 1956. Between 1956 and 2001 the Borden Chemical company used the site to manufacture plywood resins. In 2001, the facility was demolished and all the equipment was removed. As a result of the plywood resin manufacturing at this location, the soil and groundwater was contaminated with methanol, nitrate, ammonia, petroleum oil, lead, and formaldehyde. The Washington State Department of Ecology once listed the property as one of the worst hazardous waste sites in the state.

Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Kent Sounder commuter train station get underway on Wednesday, Oct. 20

http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/News-release-archive/Groundbreaking-ceremonies-for-the-Kent-Sounder-commuter-train-station-get-underway-on-Wednesday-Oct-20

Sounder commuter rail service to Kent and Puyallup begins on Feb. 5, community celebration of Kent Sounder Station opening on Feb. 3

history of the site chosen

Borden Chemical plant

the opening of station, parking garage, transit center

Prior to the construction of the Kent Station Garage, Kent/James St. Park and Ride was the primary location of peak period transit service in the City of Kent

transit oriented development, building of Kent station building of nearby apartments

Park & Ride lot A northeast corner Railroad Ave N & E James Street

Park & Ride lot B northeast corner 1st Ave N & E James Street

Kiss & Ride lot 1st Ave N & W Temperance St

Kent/James St. Park and Ride 719 spaces half mile walk accessible by multipule bus routes 150, 166, 180, 913

Sounder trains run during peak, mid-day weekdays

transit center 24 hours a day, every day

Transit Center
The Kent Station transit center is located to the east of the train station and is served by King County Metro and Sound Transit Express buses.

As of March 2016, the following routes stop at the Kent Station transit center:

Bay 1: Bay 2: Bay 3: Bay 4: Bay 5:
 * King County Metro 164 to Green River College
 * King County Metro 168 to Maple Valley via Timberlane
 * King County Metro 169 to Renton via Kent East Hill
 * King County Metro 153 to Renton
 * King County Metro 158 to Kent East Hill
 * King County Metro 159 to Timberlane
 * King County Metro 952 to Boeing Everett Factory
 * Sound Transit Express 566 to Overlake via Renton, Bellevue
 * Sound Transit Express 567 to Overlake via Bellevue
 * King County Metro 180 to Auburn
 * King County Metro 913 DART to North Kent/Riverview

Bay 7: Bay 8: Bay 9: W Temperance St & Ramsay Way: (located to the west of the train station)
 * King County Metro 166 to Burien via Highline College, Des Moines
 * King County Metro 150 to Downtown Seattle (transit tunnel) via Southcenter
 * King County Metro 158 to Downtown Seattle
 * King County Metro 159 to Downtown Seattle
 * King County Metro 180 to Burien via Seattle–Tacoma International Airport
 * King County Metro 183 to Federal Way
 * Sound Transit Express 566 to Auburn
 * King County Metro 952 to Auburn
 * King County Metro 914 DART Shopper Shuttle to Kent East Hill
 * King County Metro 916 DART Shopper Shuttle to Kent East Hill