Press release:

King County Councilmember and Sound Transit Vice Chair Julia Patterson today announced approval of a major agreement that green-lights expansion of light rail from the Sea-Tac Airport to South 200th Street in the City of SeaTac four years ahead of schedule. The agreement will also bring transportation upgrades to the surrounding community.

“This is a great day for the residents of South King County,” said Patterson. “Bringing light rail into the heart of SeaTac is going to provide critical connections to jobs, encourage economic development, and help the environment by getting people out of their cars.”

With Patterson presiding, the Sound Transit Board yesterday unanimously approved a development and transitway agreement between Sound Transit and the City of SeaTac that details the terms and conditions for development of the South Link light rail extension, which is now scheduled to open with University Link in 2016.

The $3.4 million agreement, which defines the development standards, permitting conditions, and certain mitigation measures that will govern review and construction of the South Link light rail extension project in city boundaries, includes construction of pedestrian and bicycle pathways, as well as street, signal and other station area improvements.

The improvements defined in the development agreement are:

New pedestrian and bicycle pathways along South 200th Street that will connect International Boulevard with the trailhead of the Des Moines Creek Trail. Pedestrian crossing signs and warning devices will be installed at the trailhead driveway on S. 200th Street.

Rebuilding 28th Avenue South from the south end of the station platform down to South 204th Street, including restructuring traffic control at the intersection of South 204th Street and 28th Avenue South. This will connect the South 204th Street pedestrian crossing at International Boulevard with a sidewalk/plaza abutting the easternmost edge of the station.

• Infill of missing segments of sidewalk along the south side of South 204th Street between 30th Avenue South and 32nd Place South, establishing a continuous pedestrian route from several multi-family residential developments.

Improvements on 28th Avenue South between South 200th Street and the intersection of 28th and 26th Avenues South.

Improvements on 28th Avenue South between South 200th Street and the south end of the station platform.

Improvements on South 200th Street from International Boulevard to 26th Avenue South.

Improvements will include paved car lanes, curb, gutter and sidewalk, storm drainage, and lighting, street trees and landscaping.

“We know some SeaTac, Des Moines, and Normandy Park residents will drive to the station,” said Patterson. “But it’s important that everyone has access to Link light rail, which includes having bicycle and pedestrian connections to the station. This agreement ensures that the neighborhoods that need these connections the most will have them. It also builds new bike lanes on roads where riders don’t feel safe today. Investing in these bike and pedestrian facilities is good for the safety and public health of our children, as well as the environment. They will help encourage people to ride Link light rail when it is built four years from now.”

In addition to the investments that will be made as part of the development agreement, Patterson also stated her commitment to building future bike and pedestrian facilities running east and west along South 200th Street between the City of Des Moines and the station area. Patterson hopes to seek grants and other funding sources in partnership with Sound Transit and the cities of SeaTac and Des Moines to fund additional bike and pedestrian pathways outside the station area and not covered by the development agreement.

“I want to ensure that residents of Des Moines and the western side of SeaTac can also bike and walk safety to Link light rail,” said Patterson. “Making this regional investment in bicycle infrastructure to connect Des Moines Memorial Drive with Des Moines Creek Trail and the station at South 200th Street may be in our future, and I’m glad we are getting started today.”

The Sound Transit South 200th Link project includes a 1.6-mile, elevated guideway and station with a planned opening in September, 2016—four years earlier than envisioned in the voter-approved Sound Transit 2 plan, and at the same time University Link service will begin.

The South 200th extension will run south from Sea-Tac Airport on an elevated guideway along 28th Avenue South to South 200th Street. The elevated station will include passenger platforms with covered waiting areas, a transfer area for local and RapidRide bus connections, dedicated areas for passenger pickup and drop off, and vanpool parking. Secured bicycle storage, street improvements to accommodate traffic circulation, bicycle and pedestrian access, landscaping and public art are also elements of the project.

A 700-stall park-and-ride garage and up to 400 interim spaces will provide parking for commuters using the South 200th station. The additional parking capacity will provide an alternative to parking at the Tukwila International Boulevard light rail station and accommodate parking south of the airport while the South 200th Station serves as an interim southern terminus.