A pedestrian overpass across Pacific Highway South on the West Hill in Kent could be part of Sound Transit’s light rail project depending on the station location and route the agency chooses for the tracks.
Kent city officials discussed potential zoning requirements at a recent City Council’s Economic and Community Development meeting. Sound Transit has yet to pick a route for the tracks but is looking at alignments along Pacific Highway South as well as Interstate 5 as it plans to extend light rail from the Angle Lake Station in SeaTac to Kent by 2023 with plans to eventually go to Federal Way.
If a station is built at South 236th Lane on the east side of Pacific Highway South, city leaders want the agency to have to consider a pedestrian overpass at 236th because the nearest intersection with a traffic signal is at South 240th Street.
Councilman Dennis Higgins asked Charlene Anderson, city planning manager, if the proposed zoning code would include a provision for a pedestrian overpass. Anderson told him it would because there are more than 30,000 vehicle trips daily along the road.
“Our consultant (also) suggested that would be necessary,” Anderson said. “We would work with Sound Transit for really making a statement for the South 236th Lane road improvement and maybe if the overpass couldn’t be accomplished immediately, at least contributing to it should it be needed in the future. With the way the code is written, we would have some flexibility to work with the council.”
Higgins replied with a question.
“So Sound Transit when they come in for permits, they would get to that section (of the code) and at least be forced to negotiate with us on that, right?”
“Yes,” Anderson said.
That affirmative answer sounded good to Higgins.
“They can’t simply precede to build an at-grade crossing without some sort of agreement from the city,” Higgins said. “I like that requirement. I don’t know if we will be successful to get that funded fully but I want to have that leverage and discussion.”
Sound Transit plans to release a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) by the end of March that shows the impact of the alternative routes under consideration. The agency will have a public hearing on the EIS at a date to be determined in April. The Sound Transit Board is expected to pick a preferred alternative by the end of June that will then be analyzed in a final EIS.
The agency plans to extend light rail from South 200th Street in SeaTac to South 240th Street in Kent. Eventually, if funding is available, the track would go to South 272nd Street in Federal Way and then the Federal Way Transit Center at South 320th Street.
The route options include elevated or at-surface tracks along Pacific Highway South; elevated along 30th Avenue South; along the west side of I-5; a mix of the west side of I-5 and the freeway median; a hybrid along Pacific Highway with track placed on the west side, east side and possibly down the median.
Sound Transit is looking at as many as eight potential locations for the Kent-Des Moines station. The alternatives include on the Highline College campus; on the west side, east side or in the middle of Pacific Highway South; on 30th Avenue South; as well as along I-5.
Kent officials prefer a Pacific Highway location in an effort to boost economic development in what’s known as the Midway area.
Anderson said Kent looked at the city of SeaTac zoning code for ideas about zoning for light rail in Kent.
“We took a lot of their code and customized it to what might happen with light rail in Midway,” Anderson said. “The purpose of it is to set standards for design, for having this place being a community focal point, for ensuring connections whether it’d be bicycle, auto, and that it does have a pedestrian orientation to the station and that where appropriate there are buffers.”
The code also defines weather protection, open space, landscaping, lighting, architectural features for elevated structures so they are not just boxes but have some interest to them as well as whether a parking structure would be required.
Sound Transit officials are scheduled to brief the City Council about the draft EIS at an April 7 council workshop.
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