Kent light rail station proposed for east of Pacific Highway

When light rail comes to Kent’s West Hill in eight years or so, Sound Transit proposes to build an elevated station near 30th Avenue South on the east side of Pacific Highway South.

Sound Transit staff, along with key stakeholders, including representatives from the cities of Kent and Des Moines, recommended on Oct. 22 to the agency’s Board of Directors that 30th Avenue South should be the preferred location rather than a station on the west side of Pacific Highway closer to Highline College. The station would be just south of Kent-Des Moines Road.

“We’re very excited about the opportunity here,” said Ben Wolters, city of Kent economic and community development director, to the board. “This is game changing….We are going to create a new community in an area in need of investment.”

The board directed staff in July to work with stakeholders about a best location for a station in Kent. The board picked a west side of Interstate 5 alignment in July as the preferred route for a 7.6-mile extension of light rail from SeaTac to Federal Way rather than down Highway 99, also known as Pacific Highway South.

Sound Transit plans to expand light rail from the Angle Lake Station at South 200th in SeaTac, which opens in 2016, to Kent/Des Moines, just north of South 240th Street, by 2023 and then the full stretch to Federal Way near South 320th Street when more funding is secured for the more than $1 billion project. Construction is expected to begin in 2019 on the SeaTac to Kent extension.

Sound Transit staff will prepare a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the preferred route with a final board decision to be made late next year.

Wolters told the board a station along 30th Avenue gives the best opportunity for Kent and Des Moines to implement their Envision Midway plan, an agreement between the two cities about zoning regulations and design guidelines to bring transit-oriented development to the area between South 216th Street and South 272nd Street.

Kent will allow building heights from 55 to 200 feet, which is about 16 stories tall. City officials want to encourage developers to build up rather than the construction of more strip malls.

Highline College officials and students preferred a station on the west side of Pacific Highway, right next to the campus. With a station to be built on the east side, they want guarantees of safe pedestrian access between the station and the college, which is in Des Moines.

Part of the plan is for a new street, South 236th Lane, to be built to connect the light rail station and college campus. Sound Transit also will build a parking structure to handle 500 vehicles next to the light rail station.

King County Councilman Dave Upthegrove, whose district includes Kent’s West Hill and who serves on the Sound Transit board, said he wants all of the recommendations from stakeholders implemented, including making sure South 236th Lane is built and pedestrians have safe access to the college.

Cathal Ridge, light rail development manager, said cooperation between the agency, the cities of Kent and Des Moines, Highline College and the state Department of Transportation will help accomplish the recommendations, including a safe crossing for pedestrians.

“The goal is to work with the stakeholders to realize those,” Ridge said.

Upthegrove added he already knows what he wants to name the station, currently referred to as Kent/Des Moines.

“I’m going to call it Highline College Station,” he said.

Stakeholders in the Kent/Des Moines area presented the board with the following recommendations:

• Provide a connection from the station to Highline College along the future South 236th Lane. The group envisioned a boulevard that would include pedestrian walkways, lighting, landscaping, weather protection and other treatments.

• Implement treatments at the future South 236th Lane crossing of SR 99 to enhance pedestrian safety and convenience.

• Facilitate transit-oriented development along South 236th Lane in the near term to help activate the connection between the station and the college and enhance safety and security.

• Maintain existing King County Metro bus stops on the south side of campus.

• Improve pedestrian access from adjacent neighborhoods to the station area.

• Facilitate housing development in the Midway area that can accommodate a mix of incomes.

• Consider naming the station “Highline Station” or “Highline College Station.” The group recognizes that adoption of a station name would be a board decision and subject to broader public input during final design.

• Continue to engage Highline students and other stakeholders in ongoing planning efforts.