Sound Transit Parking a Headache for Puyallup

Commuters try to do the right thing, by parking their car and taking the train to jobs in Seattle. But the cars left behind - especially in Puyallup - take up parking spaces that the city's Main Street Association say are vital to downtown growth and commerce. The city wants to end Sound Transit's lease on several of the spaces, and give them back to use for downtown activities. But this will cause strain for those who are driving into town to take the train. It's a neverending quagmire. The issue repeats itself in Sumner and Auburn too, where hundreds of people leave their cars and hit the rails.

Since parking is static, the first thought for many is a parking garage for the downtown area to handle the cars. Problem is, Puyallup doesn't want them. Hopefully the city and Sound Transit can come to some understanding because that would be quite an impasse if parking garages aren't an option to handle the ever-increasing commuters. With gas prices the way they are, parking will become even more of an issue as the year goes on.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/353103.html

Down at The Pencil Yard

Steve Carter shot this photo at the new Light Rail yard next to Alaskan Way in Seattle. I call it The Pencil Yard because of the tall dangerous looking poles that pepper the property. This shot was taken at night, which gives is an otherwordly lighting perspective.

Look for more of Steve's great pictures HERE.

Sound Transit's New Mukilteo Station Underway

http://www.soundtransit.org/x1889.xml

Ground has broken and the big machines have been called in. The long-awaited Mukilteo stop for Sound Transit is under construction and headed for a successful future. Considering its proximity to the ferry dock for the Clinton run, and all the traffic that comes off Whidbey Island in the morning, this stop has the potential for being one of the busiest and most convenient for island commuters.

Sound Transit Wants Feedback

Sound Transit will be looking for public feedback in June and July, on what plans they should use for the future of light rail in the region. Topics include potential expansion and funding.

High on my list would be the opportunity for passenger rail on the Eastside using the soon-to-be-former Woodinville Subdivision.

Tacoma approves Sounder route over Pacific Avenue

Last week Sound Transit got approval to build over Pacific Avenue to connect with South Tacoma. It's a mere distance of 1.2 miles, but will bring rail service back to South Tacoma by 2012. Some people are concerned that Pacific Avenue will suffer from being lowered; guess we'll have to see how this plays out.

If you don't know what this project will look like, here's a handy map courtesy of Google.