MUKILTEO — An $11 million project to add a second platform at Mukilteo’s Sounder station is now about half complete, with the new platform expected to open early next year.
Work on adding the south platform began in January. It’s part of project that dates back to 1996, when voters approved a ballot measure to pay for Sound Transit’s transportation projects including express bus service, commuter rail and light rail services.
Mukilteo’s north platform was opened in 2008. “Now we’re going back to finish our promise and complete the entire station,” said Kimberly Reason, a spokeswoman for Sound Transit.
“We weren’t able to complete the entire station in 2008 when we launched service,” she said. The agency had long negotiations with BNSF Railway to buy service time on the tracks. So Mukilteo opened with one platform, Reason said.
“When the south platform is fully functional and opens in early 2015, all Sounder stations will use two tracks and two platforms,” she said.
In addition to the platform, the project involves a two-tower structure for a pedestrian bridge that will connect the north and south platforms.
Currently 280 people board the train at Mukilteo Station each day, part of the 1,100 passengers traveling between Seattle’s King Street Station and Edmonds, Mukilteo and Everett.
No new parking will be added at the station when construction is complete. It now has spots for 63 cars. Sound’s plan didn’t include money for additional parking, Reason said. The agency will need money from other agencies to do that, she said.
More parking is anticipated in the area as part of the move of the Mukilteo ferry terminal.
Mukilteo Lane, which parallels the train tracks for most of its length, will remain closed until the end of this year or early next year as construction on the platform project continues, Reason said.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.
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