Tukwila International Boulevard station

Coordinates: 47°27′51″N 122°17′17″W / 47.46417°N 122.28806°W / 47.46417; -122.28806
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the light rail station. For the Amtrak and commuter rail station, see Tukwila station.

Pictogram for Tukwila International Boulevard station Tukwila International Boulevard
Link light rail station
A tall and wide glass building with an angled roof, overlooking a parking lot full of cars.
The station and parking lot, viewed from Southcenter Boulevard in 2016
General information
Location15426 35th Avenue South
Tukwila, Washington
United States
Coordinates47°27′51″N 122°17′17″W / 47.46417°N 122.28806°W / 47.46417; -122.28806
Owned bySound Transit
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
ConnectionsKing County Metro (RapidRide)
Construction
Structure typeElevated
Parking600 spaces[1]
Bicycle facilitiesLockers and racks
AccessibleYes
History
OpenedJuly 18, 2009 (2009-07-18)
Passengers
2,332 daily weekday boardings (2023)[2]
816,407 total boardings (2023)[2]
Services
Preceding station Sound Transit Following station
Link
Rainier Beach
toward Northgate
 1 Line SeaTac/Airport
toward Angle Lake
Location
Map

Tukwila International Boulevard station is a light rail station in Tukwila, Washington, United States. It is located between SeaTac/Airport and Rainier Beach stations on the 1 Line from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport to Downtown Seattle. The station consists of two elevated side platforms enclosed within a structure northeast of the interchange of State Route 99 (International Boulevard) and State Route 518. As one of three park and rides along the line, it includes 600 parking spaces in two lots.

Tukwila International Boulevard station opened on July 18, 2009, on the first day of Central Link service (now part of the 1 Line). It was the line's terminus until SeaTac/Airport station opened in December 2009. Construction of the station was approved in 1996, but did not begin until 2005 due to routing disputes and planning issues. Trains serve the station twenty hours a day on most days; the

West Seattle
, and various locations in southern King County.

Location

Tukwila International Boulevard station is located on South 154th Street (Southcenter Boulevard) at the intersection of

rental car facility and parking lots.[5][6] The station is one mile (1.6 km) west of the Westfield Southcenter Mall, a major regional shopping center, and is connected to it via the RapidRide F Line.[7][8] To the north of the station area is Tukwila's commercial district, which includes businesses that specialize in goods and cuisine that draw from the city's ethnically-diverse population.[9][10]

The Tukwila International Boulevard station area consists primarily of

auto-oriented development leading to "poor pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure that impedes walkability".[5]

The area surrounding the station is split between the cities of SeaTac and Tukwila by International Boulevard, leading to two comprehensive plans for transit-oriented development near the station. SeaTac adopted a redevelopment proposal in 2006 for 42 acres (17 hectares) of land west of International Boulevard, with the goal of bringing an additional 2,600 people daily to the area by 2020 via mixed-use development.[12] The city of Tukwila adopted an urban renewal plan in 1998 and an updated comprehensive plan in 2015, both recommending improved commercial access and additional residential units around the station and on International Boulevard.[13] A Spokane-based developer plans to build 665 housing units on a site northwest of the station, including 385 affordable housing units; the development plan, however, displaces a number of immigrant-owned businesses at the SeaTac Market.[14][15]

History

An unfinished concrete structure on a series of columns. A mobile crane and other construction equipment can be seen below the structure.
The station under construction in April 2006

The earliest proposal for a light rail station near Tukwila came from the

at-grade light rail line on Pacific Highway (State Route 99; later International Boulevard), with stops at South 144th and 158th streets in Tukwila.[17] The proposal was opposed by the Tukwila City Council and rejected by voters,[18] and as a result, the RTA placed a smaller proposal on the following year's ballot.[19] The second proposal, called "Sound Move", selected a station near South 158th Street in Tukwila and was approved by voters in November 1996.[20][21]

The RTA, by then renamed to

public hearings in late 1997 to determine the routing of the line. Tukwila leaders preferred a route serving the Southcenter Mall that would add six to seven minutes of travel time and $150 million in project costs.[22][23] The Sound Transit Board chose an at-grade line on International Boulevard as their preferred routing in February 1999,[24] which the city argued would interfere with their near-term plans to revamp the street.[25] The board's preferred route, selected in November 1999, included an at-grade line on International Boulevard through Tukwila and an elevated station at South 154th Street with a park and ride facility.[26][27]

Several weeks before the November 1999 decision, Tukwila proposed an alternate alignment using

Central Link light rail project (now part of the 1 Line).[30] Budgetary problems with the project led to the shortening of the line in late 2001, terminating at the South 154th Street park and ride instead of Seattle–Tacoma International Airport.[31][32]

In June 2002, the Tukwila City Council rejected a memorandum of agreement with Sound Transit that would have expedited processing of light rail permits issued by the city.[33] Although the city council supported the Tukwila Freeway Route in 2001, the lack of service to Southcenter drove the rejection despite lobbying from elected officials in other cities.[34] Despite fears that Tukwila's decision would jeopardize federal funding for the project, Sound Transit was granted its application for a $500 million commitment from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) later that month.[35] The city council approved expedited permitting in 2004 after requesting Sound Transit increase the parking capacity at the future South 154th Street station and park and ride to 600 stalls, at an additional cost of $5 million.[36][37]

A train station with bare platforms and a tiered roof. A train is seen coming towards the camera on the opposite platform.
Platform view of the station, with an arriving northbound train

The station was officially named Tukwila International Boulevard in January 2005,

airport parking lot operated by Ajax,[41] began the following month.[42] By late November, the first elevated guideway segment was completed and column erection at the station was near completion.[43][44] The mezzanine and the main structural elements of the station were completed between late 2005 and early 2007.[45] The station and segment through Tukwila were declared substantially complete by PCL Construction in March 2008 and all major work at the station was finished by late June.[46]

The station and its 600-space park and ride opened on July 18, 2009, the first day of Central Link service, and served as the line's interim southern terminus.[47] The following week, a shuttle bus service to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport began operating from the station every ten to fifteen minutes to the airport's main terminal.[48] The shuttle service was discontinued when SeaTac/Airport station opened on December 19, 2009, replacing Tukwila as the new southern terminus of the line.[49] The station's bus loop was repaved in 2019 at a cost of $1.35 million after extensive damage to the asphalt was found.[50]

Station layout

Platform level Side platform, doors will open on the right
Northbound ← 1 Line toward Northgate (Rainier Beach)
Southbound → 1 Line toward Angle Lake (SeaTac/Airport) →
Side platform, doors will open on the right
Mezzanine level Ticket vending machines
Street level Entrance/Exit, bus bays,
kiss and ride, park and ride

The station consists of two

airport control tower.[3][53] Below the platform and mezzanine levels is a bus station and passenger drop-off area.[3]

The station also includes a 600-stall

University Link Extension in 2016 worsened the parking issue, leaving the lot filled by 6:40 a.m. Sound Transit began a permit parking trial in September 2016 that reserves spaces for registered carpool vehicles for a monthly fee of $5, in an effort to alleviate the parking problems at the station.[57] A second park and ride opened at Angle Lake station in September 2016, which was expected to relieve the Tukwila lot, but demand remained the same while Angle Lake's lot filled with new commuters.[58] Sound Transit also offers a bicycle parking station with eight secured spots,[59] as well as racks for temporary use.[60]

Art

The station is represented on maps and signage by a pictogram of a canoe, inspired by the city's history as a transportation hub at the intersection of three rivers. It was created by Christian French as part of the Stellar Connections series. Its points represent nearby destinations, including Tukwila City Hall, Fort Dent Park, Foster High School and several community parks.[61][62]

The station houses four

pop-art image".[65] Savinar also created A Molecule of the Region on the southbound entry, featuring memories and sayings about Tukwila from residents arranged in a ball-and-stick molecular model, and Voices of Tukwila, with more quotes from residents etched into tiles on the platform.[63]

At ground level is Soundings by Wiegman, an

ambient noise, was inspired by the Chinook Jargon name for Tukwila, k'ap'uxac (translated to "place of hazelnuts").[63][65]

Services

Tukwila International Boulevard station is part of the 1 Line, which runs from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport to the Rainier Valley, Downtown Seattle, the University of Washington campus, and Northgate. It is the second northbound 1 Line station from Angle Lake and sixteenth southbound station from Northgate, situated between SeaTac/Airport and Rainier Beach stations. 1 Line trains serve Tukwila International Boulevard station twenty hours a day on weekdays and Saturdays, from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., and eighteen hours on Sundays, from 6:00 a.m. to midnight. During regular weekday service, trains operate roughly every eight minutes during rush hour and ten minutes at midday. Trains have longer headways at off-peak times—fifteen minutes in the early morning and twenty minutes at night on weekdays, and every ten to fifteen minutes during weekends. The station is approximately three minutes from SeaTac/Airport station and 35 minutes from Westlake station in Downtown Seattle.[66] In 2019, an average of 2,888 passengers boarded Link trains at Tukwila International Boulevard station on weekdays.[2]

The station is also served by several

West Seattle, White Center and Southcenter.[70]

Sound Transit's

Stride S1 Line is scheduled to open in 2028 and connect Tukwila International Boulevard to Burien in the west and Bellevue Transit Center in the north via Interstate 405.[71][72]

References

  1. ^ a b "Rider Guide: Tukwila International Boulevard Station". Sound Transit. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Link Ridership". Sound Transit. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Lindblom, Mike (July 11, 2009). "The end of the light-line line, for now: Tukwila's "Taj Mahal" station". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  4. ^ Ryan, John (February 1, 2017). "Police shut down light rail to keep protesters from Sea-Tac airport". KUOW. Archived from the original on March 15, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Growing Transit Communities Oversight Committee (October 2013). "Tukwila International Blvd: Light Rail/Bus Rapid Transit/Bus" (PDF). Puget Sound Regional Council. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  6. ^ "Consolidated Rental Car Facility". Port of Seattle. Archived from the original on January 7, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  7. ^ "Westfield Southcenter: Getting Here". Westfield Southcenter. Archived from the original on January 7, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  8. ^ "RapidRide F Line". King County Metro. Archived from the original on January 19, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  9. ^ Sipe, Tyler; Wasson, Lindsey (December 12, 2016). "Transit Tourism: Explore Seattle by Link light rail". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on December 16, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  10. ^ McGehee, Cate (December 7, 2016). "A World of Commerce Awaits in Tukwila". Seattle Weekly. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  11. ^ Zak, Annie (October 9, 2015). "King County just bought 286 apartments near public transit to keep them affordable". Puget Sound Business Journal. Archived from the original on January 3, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  12. ^ South 154th Street Station Area Action Plan (Report). City of SeaTac. December 2006. p. 13. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  13. ^ Tukwila Planning Commission (June 2015). "Chapter 8: Tukwila International Boulevard District". City of Tukwila Comprehensive Land Use Plan (PDF) (Report). City of Tukwila. p. 8-5. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  14. ^ Fowler, Lilly (February 21, 2019). "'It's not fair': City evicts immigrant shop owner from SeaTac Market". Crosscut.com. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  15. ^ Shapiro, Nina (December 26, 2018). "Gentrification battle moves to SeaTac as immigrant-owned businesses face displacement". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  16. Puget Sound Council of Governments. 1986. p. 2-2. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on November 7, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  17. ^ "The Regional Transit System Proposal" (PDF). Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority. February 1995. pp. 3–4. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 30, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  18. ^ Lobos, Ignacio; Davila, Florangela (February 22, 1995). "Bill, suit may threaten transit plan". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  19. ^ Schaefer, David (January 11, 1996). "RTA ready to unveil new plan: rapid transit proposal's cost, scope downsized". The Seattle Times. p. A1. Archived from the original on January 5, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  20. ^ "Sound Move: Launching a Rapid Transit System for the Puget Sound Region" (PDF). Sound Transit. May 31, 1996. p. 22. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  21. ^ Schaefer, David (November 6, 1996). "Voters back transit plan on fourth try". The Seattle Times. p. A1. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  22. ^ Schaefer, David (December 10, 1997). "Residents debate light-rail route: under or out of our neighborhood, some say". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Archived from the original on August 14, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  23. ^ Schaefer, David (May 4, 1998). "It's time to pick routes for new light-rail system; hearings set on options". The Seattle Times. p. A1.
  24. ^ Schaefer, David (February 26, 1999). "Rail route creates hard feelings: northern cities, Rainier Valley, Tukwila feel slighted". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  25. ^ Harris, Cheryl; Stiles, Marc (May 20, 1998). "Rail moves SeaTac, Tukwila to action: they fear proposal to park train route on Hwy. 99". The Seattle Times. p. B3. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  26. ^ "Sound Transit Board achieves historic milestone by selecting route for central Link light rail" (Press release). Seattle, Washington: Sound Transit. November 18, 1999. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  27. ^ a b Willis, Ragan (November 16, 1999). "Thursday's rail route vote won't end the campaigns". Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. Archived from the original on January 7, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  28. ^ Fryer, Alex (November 1, 1999). "Tukwila seeks another route: officials say alternative wouldn't cut through city". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  29. ^ "Sound Transit Motion No. M2000-44" (PDF). Sound Transit. May 25, 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  30. ^ "Sound Transit Motion No. M2001-02" (PDF). Sound Transit. February 8, 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  31. ^ Kelleher, Susan (September 13, 2001). "Sound Transit says it can build 14-mile line; light rail stops short of airport". The Seattle Times. p. B4. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  32. ^ Pryne, Eric (November 30, 2001). "Sound Transit adopts 14-mile route; light-rail construction could start in summer". The Seattle Times. p. A1. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  33. ^ Pryne, Eric (June 19, 2002). "Q&A: What Tukwila vote means to Sound Transit". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  34. ^ Foster, George (June 17, 2002). "A blow to Sound Transit". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  35. ^ Pryne, Eric (June 29, 2002). "Sound Transit's hopes revived; Tukwila's approval 'not required'". The Seattle Times. p. A1. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  36. ^ Hadley, Jane (September 20, 2004). "Tukwila gives green light to 14-mile light rail line". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  37. ^ Pryne, Eric (July 16, 2004). "Sound Transit yields on Tukwila parking". The Seattle Times. p. B3. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  38. ^ "Sound Transit Motion No. M2005-09" (PDF). Sound Transit. January 13, 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  39. ^ Hubbard, Ian (July 16, 2009). "The long bridge to Tukwila". Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. Archived from the original on August 14, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  40. ^ Pryne, Eric (February 16, 2005). "Sound Transit budget on track; Contract bid is below estimate". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Archived from the original on September 5, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  41. ^ Gilmore, Susan (September 1, 2002). "Light rail's south end falls short—even for neighbors". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  42. ^ "Central Link light rail: Tukwila segment". Washington's Top Public Projects of 2005. Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. Archived from the original on December 6, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  43. ^ "Sound Transit completes first elevated light rail span in Tukwila" (Press release). Sound Transit. November 30, 2005. Archived from the original on January 7, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  44. ^ "Link Light Rail Construction Update: Tukwila Segment". Sound Transit. November 28, 2005. Archived from the original (DOC) on February 9, 2006. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  45. ^ "Initial Segment—Tukilwa". Link Light Rail Monthly Progress Report (Report). Sound Transit. December 2006. p. 27.
  46. ^ "Initial Segment—Tukwila". Link Light Rail Monthly Progress Report (Report). Sound Transit. June 2008. p. 27.
  47. ^ "Link light rail launches new era of mobility for central Puget Sound" (Press release). Seattle, Washington: Sound Transit. July 18, 2009. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  48. ^ "Chapter 2: 2009 Service Analysis" (PDF). 2010 Service Implementation Plan (Report). Sound Transit. December 10, 2009. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 15, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  49. ^ Lindblom, Mike (December 19, 2009). "Sound Transit opens new light-rail link with Sea-Tac Airport". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  50. ^ "Sound Transit Resolution No. R2019-17" (PDF). Sound Transit. July 25, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  51. ^ Hewitt, David M. (July 16, 2009). "Two stations bound by proximity play dramatically different roles". Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. Archived from the original on January 7, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  52. ^ Lindblom, Mike (July 23, 2007). "Tukwila Station takes wing". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  53. ^ "Tukwila Station". Hewitt Architects. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  54. ^ Lindblom, Mike (January 12, 2010). "Seattle to allow all-day parking lots near light-rail stations, after all". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  55. ^ Lindblom, Mike (November 1, 2013). "62 new parking spaces open near Tukwila light-rail station". The Seattle Times. p. B3. Archived from the original on October 11, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  56. ^ "Link light rail alert: The overflow parking facility at SeaTac Center has closed". Sound Transit. March 18, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  57. ^ Lynn, Adam (September 13, 2016). "Carpoolers will get edge for Sound Transit parking—for a price". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  58. ^ Lindblom, Mike (January 14, 2017). "Transit riders flock to new Angle Lake light-rail station; parking spaces nearly full". The Seattle Times. p. B4. Archived from the original on October 4, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  59. ^ "Bike parking at transit facilities". King County Metro. Archived from the original on July 5, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  60. ^ "Bicycles: Parking List". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on August 12, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  61. ^ "Stellar Connections". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  62. ^ "Stellar Connections: The story of the pictograms at Link light rail stations" (PDF). Sound Transit. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 8, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  63. ^ a b c "Guide to art on Link light rail" (PDF). Sound Transit. April 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  64. ^ "STart Public Art Program". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  65. ^ a b Upchurch, Michael (July 12, 2009). "Sound Transit light rail's public art makes a big splash". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on January 5, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  66. ^ "Link 1 Line (Northgate — Angle Lake) schedule" (PDF). Sound Transit. October 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 2, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  67. ^ "Metro Schedule and Route Revisions, September 2009". King County Metro. September 9, 2009. Archived from the original on September 3, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  68. ^ "Park & Ride and Transit Center Information". King County Metro. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  69. ^ Gutierrez, Scott (September 29, 2010). "RapidRide promises better bus service". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on March 15, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  70. ^ Metro Transit System: Central Area (PDF) (Map). King County Metro. September 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 20, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  71. ^ "Stride bus rapid transit online open house". Sound Transit. February 2023. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  72. ^ "Sound Transit sets baseline budget, schedule for Stride Bus Rapid Transit" (Press release). Sound Transit. July 27, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tukwila International Boulevard (Link station).
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tukwila_International_Boulevard_station&oldid=1206700814"