By Theresa Goffredo
Herald Writer
EVERETT — Though the new multimillion dollar transit center with its European flair might be spiffy, Everett Station is getting about $400,000 more spendy.
Not a problem though. The project still remains under budget because of a contingency fund of more than $2 million the city set aside to cover the unexpected, city officials say.
The 64,000-square-foot, four-story station under construction at Pacific Avenue and 35th Street is set to open in January.
The station will serve as a transportation hub for the Puget Sound region, serving many functions, such as the northern terminal for Sound Transit’s commuter rail, a passenger station for Amtrak and a crossroads for rail, bus, taxi and airport shuttles. The station also will include a commuter park-and-ride lot.
The building’s European flair is highlighted with a copper-tiled roof, decorative brick walkways, historic murals and well-placed shrubbery.
The city’s contract price for just the construction of the building was originally $24.7 million. But with changes in construction, the price has risen to $26.2 million.
The most recent change in work order was approved last week by the Everett City Council. That additional $408,000 will pay to readjust the building’s heating and ventilation system.
Normally those mechanical systems rest on tops of buildings. But at Everett Station, the system will be shielded from view to give a "more architecturally appealing" look, Everett’s executive administrator Paul Kaftanski said.
And though the construction changes have added money to the station project, there’s still money left in the city’s $2.4 million contingency fund — about $1.1 million. And that’s good for projects of this enormity, Kaftanski said.
"I feel pretty good that we’re three-quarters of the way done and a little less than half of the contingency remains," Kaftanski said. "And there will be another change order, and I feel pretty good because I think we’re going to be within that contingency."
That $26 million price tag for Everett Station doesn’t include the cost of buying the 10-acre chunk of land upon which the station rests or the cost of clearing the site. When those factors are added in, the total cost of the project is $44 million.
You can call Herald Writer Theresa Goffredo at 425-339-3097
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