Community Transit

More Construction at New Transit Center

Community Transit begins a two-month improvement project in the upper lot this spring. Contractors will repair and replace pavement, improve drainage and upgrade underground utilities and light poles.

During construction, the entire surface lot of the transit center will be fenced off. All cars will need to be parked in the transit center’s five-level parking garage. See the latest Rider Alert on this project here.

This resurfacing project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, part of the 2009 stimulus package granted by the federal government specifically for capital projects only. Less than 10 percent of the project cost comes from local funds.

The Mountlake Terrace Transit Center parking garage has room for 660 vehicles, plenty of space to accommodate those who currently use the surface parking lot as well as those who already use the garage. When all the work is complete, the transit center will have room for nearly900 vehicles.

The transit center was built for ridership growth; some of that will come in 2011 when Sound Transit opens its Mountlake Terrace I-5 flyer stop, which is under construction in the freeway median west of the transit center. A pedestrian bridge will connect the parking garage with the flyer stop when it opens next year.

By providing a safe, sheltered crossing over the interstate for bus riders, the freeway station will be a key connection for those traveling between Snohomish and King counties. It will also speed the journey for thousands of commuters passing through on their way to destinations north and south. Buses will start using the freeway station in summer 2011. Learn more about the Sound Transit project.

The transit center features “green” construction, including recycled building materials and solar panels. An underground stream has been daylighted as part of the project. No trees in Veterans Memorial Park were removed for the transit center.

The parking garage and transit center construction project wascompleted on time and within budget. Transit projects such as these create jobs during the construction phase, then help people maintain jobs by providing affordable transportation options.