Overview
Sound Transit is building a new parking garage located at 1st and A Streets NW. This facility will add over 600 new parking stalls near the station.
The project design has changed since our community outreach in 2018-2022. Some notable elements include:
- Six stories with 675 proposed parking stalls.
- Charging stations for electric vehicles.
- Single full-access driveway on A Street NW.
- An enhanced brick façade with glass and metal stairs and elevator towers.
- Integrated glass artwork on the SE stair tower and elevator tower.
- City street, sidewalk, lighting, and storm drain improvements.
Walking, rolling, bicycling
We will also build pedestrian improvements at the intersection of 1st St NW and A St NW, such as curb extensions, rapid flashing beacons, crosswalks, and ADA curb ramps. We are working with King County Metro to improve bus stops in the area. In 2022, we added 32 smart bicycle lockers (reservable by the hour) at Auburn Station.
Design
You shared your perspectives, and we listened
In 2022, Auburn community members and passengers commented on the visual design of the garage. Preferences included:
- Building with a visually prominent stair tower.
- Transparency and light.
- Warm, subtle nighttime lighting.
Read more in the Visual Design Outreach Summary, and the Vision Statement on pages 8-9. We responded with the following design features:
- Layers of metal mesh, aluminum louvers, and glass screening provide depth in the façade while still being transparent.
- A lantern-like effect of the stair tower creates a landmark experience.
- Uniform lighting to enhance safety and a cohesive architectural expression.
In this section, you’ll see artist renderings of the garage designs from several angles. Some details could change when we complete the final design.
Artwork
Artist Samuel Obrovac will create an integrated artwork for the new garage. He is a member of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and a talented Southern Coast Salish artist and carver. Obrovac merges the history and teachings of his people with his technique and experience, creating Salish art that reflects a diverse perspective for the 21st Century.
Construction
Stay ahead of construction
Sound Transit is building a new additional garage near Auburn Station, that will allow more people to conveniently access regional transit and enjoy traffic-free travel. Construction on the garage will begin soon, and we expect it to open in early 2027.
- Parking at the Auburn station garage at A St SW and 2nd St SW will remain available throughout all project phases.
- There will be temporary road and sidewalk closures between 1st St NW and B St NW until project completion, along with possible additional closures. We will inform businesses, residents, and road users in the area.
- Expect noise, vibration, and altered street patterns during construction. Subscribe for updates at soundtransit.org/subscribe.
Meet the contractor
In August 2023, the Sound Transit Board of Directors awarded the Kent Station Garage Design-Build contract to Absher Construction and WJA Design Collaborative. The two companies have collaborated for 25 years on projects for military, federal, and state organizations. Absher constructed the Northgate Station and Garage and is nearing completion of the Kent-Des Moines, Star Lake, and Federal Way stations and garages.
Jared Blakeman
Project ManagerJared Blakeman joined Absher as an intern in 2014 on the Tukwila Sounder Station project. Over time, he advanced to become a successful project manager, gaining experience in design, preconstruction, and construction. Blakeman has managed multi-discipline project teams on design-build projects and has extensive knowledge and experience in managing subcontractors and self-perform scope on projects.
Of late, Blakeman was actively involved with the Sound Transit F200 Federal Way Link Extension project. This extension includes three separate garages and stations and multiple support buildings across a 7.8-mile stretch in Federal Way.
Greg Nespor, AIA
Design ManagerGreg Nespor is WJA Design Collaborative's architectural lead, possessing over 38 years of experience. He is well-versed in all phases of design and design management. Nespor emphasizes integrated design to maintain seamless coordination between disciplines.
The architect has completed 11 design-build projects with Absher Construction. Nespor is actively involved in every project stage, from contract negotiations to closeout. He has parking garage experience, which includes the ten-story, 912-stall structure at Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, WA.
John Rausch
SuperintendentJohn Rausch brings 20 years of experience in the construction industry, during which he has contributed to various projects, including parking structures, infrastructure, and residential developments. He has successfully managed multi-discipline project teams on design-build initiatives, demonstrating extensive knowledge in overseeing subcontractors and self-performed work.
Recently, Rausch worked on the Sound Transit F200 Federal Way Link Extension project. This significant undertaking involves the construction of three distinct garages and stations, along with several support buildings, all spread across a 7.8-mile corridor in Federal Way.
Transit and jobs
Building transit infrastructure helps support our region’s economy. This project will create about 140,000 hours of craft labor work. We expect to hire about 125 craft workers during construction. Sound Transit partners with many local organizations that run construction job training programs to develop the future workforce. To learn more, visit the apprenticeship program webpage here.
Schedule
Our commitment
Sound Transit’s Community Engagement team represents the agency in the community, and the community’s interests within Sound Transit. During construction, we will keep you informed of construction and project progress.
We’re your point of contact for Sound Transit.
As part of our good neighbor commitments, we’ll:
- Provide advanced notification of work.
- Maintain business and residential access.
- Maintain a clean work site.
- Minimize noise, dust, and debris.
- Provide wayfinding signage.
- Maintain a 24-hour construction hotline: 1-888-298-2395.
Questions? Contact the Community Engagement team: auburngarage@soundtransit.org or (206) 689-4877
24-hour construction hotline: 1-888-298-2395
Frequently Asked Questions
In March 2024, the Sound Transit Board adopted a new parking management policy, including daily paid parking. We expect to begin daily paid parking in early 2025, starting with Link light rail parking facilities.
Implementation at the Auburn Sounder Station depends on the facility meeting eligibility criteria identified in the Board’s adopted policy. It would not begin before the new garage opens.
Learn more about the board resolution and the engagement on paid parking here.
Sound Transit implements industry best practices to ensure our facilities are safe. Tactics include:
- Placing security cameras outside garages.
- Landscaping that preserves open sight lines.
- Lighting on the garage exterior and surrounding areas for a visible and well-lit area for pedestrians and others.
- 24-hour lighting inside all areas of the garage.
- Ensuring visibility for stairwells and elevator shafts, by using glass or other transparent materials.
- Having security staff monitor garages and encourage customers to report any suspicious activity.
This garage was promised to voters in the ST2 ballot measure in 2008, to address growing ridership on Sounder and regional bus service. While transit ridership declined during the pandemic, we expect it to continue to rebound over the coming years, and this new garage will be needed when it opens in 2027.
Sounder primarily operates on tracks owned by BNSF Railroad, which freight transport heavily uses. We do provide special event trains for select events, like some Seahawks, Sounders FC, and Mariners games. In addition, we are updating the Sounder South Strategic Plan, which may consider service midday, evenings, and/or weekends.