HomeMy WebLinkAboutContract 1
221/2005 10:48 FAX 206 398 5215 KLA 14002
CAG-05-210
April 19, 2005
TO: John W.Ladenburg,Chair,Sound Transit Board
Mayor Kathy Keolker-Wheeler,City of Renton
Mayor Steve Mullet,City of Tukwila
FROM: Joni Earl,Chief Executive Officer,Sound Transit
Jay Covington,City Administrator,City of Renton
Rhonda Berry,City Administrator,City of Tukwila
SUBJECT: Joint HOV and Transit Action Plan between the Cities of Renton&Tukwila and
Sound Transit
The purpose of this letter is to state the intent of the Cities of Renton and Tukwila,and Sound Transit to
jointly pursue a recommended implementation plan for certain transit and HOV improvements within the
Cities of Renton and Tukwila,subject to review and actions by the Councils and Sound Transit Board.
In September of 2002,the City of Renton and Sound Transit with participation and input from the City of
Tukwila reached formal agreement on a number of critical issues regarding the development of Sound
Move projects in the Renton area. These included Sound Transit and the City of Renton working together
to consider other area HOV improvements that provided transit benefits consistent with Sound Move, in
the event that the N 8th Street Direct Access project became infeasible or if a funding surplus was
identified. The September 2002 agreement also called for Sound Transit to extend the usage of the
interim"Longacres Station"(the Tukwila Commuter Rail Station)for up to 10 years,and to put the final
design of the permanent station on hold.
Over the last year,several key accomplishments have occurred,which allow the Cities of Renton,
Tukwila,and Sound Transit to jointly implement new actions. The City of Tukwila has advanced the
Tukwila Urban Center Plan which provides guidance regarding the final design of the Tukwila Station.
The City of Renton has completed a significant portion of the Rainier Avenue Corridor Study that
identifies how transit could better circulate through the City. The City of Renton has also advanced the
design of the proposed Strander Boulevard project to 30%engineering and reached a tentative agreement
with Union Pacific Railroad(UPR)for relocation of the UPR tracks adjacent to the Burlington Northern
Tracks between Longacres Way and Strander Boulevard. These accomplishments bring clarity to the
Strander Boulevard project,and allow the Tukwila Station design efforts to be reactivated with more
certainty of compatibility with theefforts of the two cities.Also, Sound Transit has worked with
Washington State Department of Transportation(WSDOT)to develop Cost Estimate Validation Process
(CEVP)cost estimates for the N 8th Street Direct Access project which estimate a potential surplus of
$19 million within the Sound Transit project budget.
With these recent accomplishments,and consistent with the implementation of 2002 Settlement
Agreement,the Cities of Renton and Tukwila,and Sound Transit now recommend a joint action plan to
develop HOV,transit and commuter rail projects within these jurisdictions as described in the attachment
to this letter. The key elements of this plan are:
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April 19,2005
Page Two
N Sth HOV Direct Access and I-405 North Renton Widening:
The City of Renton, Sound Transit,and WSDOT will continue to advance these projects as the
recommended high capacity transit access to north Renton assuming construction in the 2008-2010
timeframe. The$19 million from the N 8th Direct Access project is currently estimated as surplus and can
be considered for other HOV improvements within the Renton area that provide transit benefits. If
assumptions about scope and schedule contained in the current project estimates change requiring
additional project funding for the Direct Access project,the East King County Program Reserve will be
considered as a potential funding source.
Tukwila Commuter Rail Station:
Sound Transit will reactivate the design process and will work jointly with the City of Tukwila to develop
a permanent station. Based on current cost estimates indicating a need for significant supplemental
funding,the construction of the permanent Tukwila Station will be a Phase 2 Sound Transit project.
Sound Transit will build elements of the permanent station which do not conflict with potential track
relocations or with the interim station using funding within the existing budget.
Rainier Avenue/Hardie Avenue:
Sound Transit and the City of Renton will jointly plan and construct transit improvements on Rainier
Avenue and Hardie Avenue in the downtown area. Sound Transit contribution to these projects will be up
to $15 million.
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Strander Boulevard:
Sound Transit will contribute up to $2.7 million based on a share of frontage improvements to the
Strander Boulevard project to support the design and construction of this important east-west corridor.
Sound Transit will contribute up to$1.3 million for design and construction of transit queue jumpers on
Strander Boulevard at intersections with Lind Avenue,Oaksdale Avenue,and Boeing Access.
While it is the intent of the three agencies to implement the attached Action Plan, it is recognized that
formal actions may be required by the Councils and that reallocation of funds from the N 8th Street Direct
Access project will require approval by a super majority vote of the Sound Transit Board. The Cities of
Tukwila,Renton and Sound Transit commit to work cooperatively to develop and implement the Action
Plan,including interaction with sub regional planning groups and to support WSDOT in efforts to secure
funding for the 1-405 North Renton Project.
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April 19, 2005
Page Three
The undersigned concur with the provisions of this letter.
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Joni Earl
Chief Executive Officer, Sound Transit
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Jay Covington, City Administrator, City of Renton
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Rhonda Berry, City Administrator,City of Tukwila
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