September 2011
- Sound Transit and the community celebrated the grand opening (Flickr) of the new freeway station on Thursday, March 17. See photos of buses using the new station (Flickr).
- Get the latest closure schedule on our construction update report.
- Community Transit opened the Mountlake Terrace Transit Center on Feb. 23, 2009 at the site of the old Mountlake Terrace Park & Ride. The transit center project is separate from Sound Transit and WSDOT's freeway station project. For details, please visit Community Transit's Web site.
Overview
WSDOT and Sound Transit will build a bus station in the median of I-5 at 236th Street SW in Mountlake Terrace. The station will have bus-only ramp connections to the I-5 HOV lanes. An overhead, covered pedestrian bridge will connect the station to the Mountlake Terrace Park and Ride. We will also bring the 236th Street bridge up to current earthquake-resistance standards.
Why is WSDOT
working with Sound Transit to build a freeway station on I-5 in Mountlake Terrace?
Sound Transit buses do not currently serve the Mountlake Terrace Park and Ride because they would have to merge across three lanes of traffic from the I-5 HOV lanes to the 220th Street SW exit and then onto city streets to access the lot. This circuitous route would cause service delays, increase bus operating costs, and increase the potential for collisions on I-5 from buses weaving between the HOV lanes and on and off-ramps.
The End Result
The freeway station in the I-5 median will provide buses with direct access to the I-5 HOV lanes without having to merge across freeway lanes or travel on city streets. Mountlake Terrace transit riders will also notice a faster, smoother commute.
Project Benefits
Fast and reliable transit service. Buses will be able to load and unload riders without merging across the freeway and driving through city streets to reach the park and ride.
Safety. Providing bus access in the median eliminates the risk of collisions from buses weaving between the HOV lanes and on- and off-ramps. We are also increasing the earthquake resistance of the 236th Street bridge.
Freeway efficiency. Transit facilities such as this help move more people in fewer vehicles.
What is the project timeline?
- 2002-2006 - We performed preliminary engineering and environmental studies
- 2007-2008 - We designed the project
- January 2009 - We advertised the project for competitive bids
- March 17, 2009 - We awarded the contract for this project to Midmountain Contractors, Inc.
- May 11, 2009 - We began construction
- March 17, 2011 - Sound Transit held a ribbon-cutting event
- March 20, 2011 - The new station opened for service
- Spring 2011 - We will complete this project
Financial Information
This project is funded through the following fund sources:
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Chad Brown
WSDOT Project Engineer
425.225.8725
brownca@wsdot.wa.gov
Meghan Pembroke
WSDOT Communications
206.440.4704
pembrom@wsdot.wa.gov
Roger Iwata
Sound Transit Community Outreach
206.689.4904
roger.iwata@soundtransit.org
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