Star Lake Park-and-Ride in Kent to close March 21 for light rail construction

Published 1:49 pm Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Sound Transit will permanently close the Star Lake Park-and-Ride lot on Saturday, March 21, in Kent and redirect commuters to the Redondo Heights Park-and-Ride in Federal Way to make way for the construction of a new Link light rail station and garage on the site.

Star Lake Park-and-Ride lot, South 272nd Street just west of Interstate 5, is the future location of the South 272nd Street Station. Sound Transit representatives will be at the Star Lake lot, beginning in late February, providing information about the closure and route changes. The park and ride users will have the opportunity to engage with staff, ask questions and sign up to receive further updates.

Redondo Heights Park-and-Ride is at 27454 Pacific Highway S., in Federal Way.

When the Federal Way Link Extension from Angle Lake in SeaTac to Federal Way opens in 2024, the South 272nd Street station area will feature a new parking garage with 1,100 spaces, replacing the existing surface lot.

Sound Transit will rebuild a portion of South 272nd Street to improve station access for vehicles and buses, and add new sidewalks and landscaping to portions of 26th and 28th avenues, according to a Sound Transit project update email. The agency also will build a pedestrian/bicycle path to the station plaza and connections to the existing freeway bus stop.

The route will go from the Angle Lake Station in SeaTac to I-5 and along the west side of the freeway until heading west toward Pacific Highway South in Kent, then back along I-5 to get to the Federal Way Transit Center. About 60 percent of the line will be at-grade and about 40 percent on an elevated guideway.

Structure demolition

Over the next few months people may see signs of early demolition work for the Federal Way Link Extension. Sound Transit will soon begin removing structures in order to level the ground and prepare for construction.

The majority of this work will take place from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Sound Transit’s Community Outreach team will contact nearby property owners in advance of the work.

Community commitment

Major construction can be disruptive to neighborhood businesses and residents. Sound Transit is committed to being a good neighbor during construction projects. The agency plans to update the community with any changes to work site or schedule as well as to temporary closures or redirection of roads, parking or any other public facilities.

Contractors follow standard requirements when in residential areas. They will:

• Maintain a safe and secure worksite.

• Keep the site and the immediately surrounding area clean.

• Maintain access to nearby homes and businesses.

• Minimize noise and lighting impacts.

• Minimize parking impacts from construction equipment and employee vehicles.