With the poor economy delaying or even canceling construction contracts, there is one SeaTac project that may be completed four years ahead of the original schedule.

Sound Transit is planning to open a new light rail station at South 200th Street and International Boulevard in 2016. Originally it was scheduled to open in 2020.

An important impetus to the accelerated schedule is tight parking at the Tukwila light rail station at South 154th Street and Tukwila International Boulevard, according to King County Councilwoman Julia Patterson.
Sound Transit agreed to build a parking garage at the Tukwila station if the parking lot proved inadequate.

The Tukwila station is the only Sound Transit station currently that has a park 'n ride lot.

Ron Lewis, project director for the 200th Street station project, said a parking garage at Tukwila could cost $30-$40 million.

A new station at 200th would alleviate some of the parking problems in Tukwila.

Lewis said off-street parking at the new 200th station was originally planned for about 600 stalls. However, parking capacity could reach up to 1,000 stalls, according to Lewis.

The planned southern terminus of the link light rail will be located west of International Boulevard between 28th and 24th Avenue South at South 200th Street.

The new-elevated station will feature a passenger drop-off area with north and south entrances to the station plus access to local rapid transit service.

The project will include 1.6 miles of elevated double-track guideway south from the Sea-Tac Airport/SeaTac City Center station.

Lewis said the project is currently in the design refinement stage. Designers will go to the Sound Transit board in the spring, and if the board gives them the go-ahead, the station could open as early as 2016.

Right-of-way acquisition would continue through 2012 with final design and construction slated from 2012 through the middle of 2015, according to the accelerated schedule. System testing would precede the formal opening.

Patterson, who represents the area, said she has high hopes for economic development around the new station.

"This is an extraordinary opportunity to develop a semi-blighted area, Patterson declared. "It's a wonderful amenity for the citizens of SeaTac and Des Moines."

With the 200th facility, SeaTac would be the only suburban city to have three Sound Transit light rail stations, counting the Tukwila station that is across the street from SeaTac's city limits, Patterson pointed out.

South King County residents are also fortunate that they received the county's first RapidRide bus services, according to Patterson. Proposed federal budget cuts may delay future RapidRide expansion, she noted.