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Home My WebLink AboutCOW 2025-01-12 Item 4G - Support - Letter to Sound Transit Board Regarding Boeing Access Rd Light Rail StationCity of Tukwila Thomas McLeod, Mayor Marty Wine, City Administrator AGENDA BILL ITEM NO. 4.G. Agenda Item Letter to Sound Transit Board, Boeing Access Road Light Rail Station Sponsor Brandon Miles, Director of Strategic Initiatives & Govt Affairs Mayor's Office Legislative History January 12, 2026 Committee of the Whole Recommended Motion ❑x Discussion Only MOVE TO N/A ❑ Action Requested EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Approve a letter from the City Council to the Sound Transit Board regarding the City's support for the Boeing Infill Light Rail Station. DISCUSSION On January 8, 2026, the Sound Transit System Expansion Committee authorized the Sound Transit CEO to execute a contract amendment with Kimley-Horn & Associates for project development services for the South Graham Street and Boeing Access Road infill stations. The contract amendment allows both stations to move forward into Phase 3, preliminary engineering, which is expected to take approximately 12 months to complete. In a previous action, the Sound Transit Board selected a preferred location for the Boeing Access Road light rail station at S. 112th Street and East Marginal Way S. Advancing the project at this time keeps it on schedule for a December 2031 opening. Sound Transit will ultimately need to allocate construction funding to build the station. However, Sound Transit is currently facing an estimated $20 billion funding shortfall to deliver the capital projects approved by voters under the Sound Transit 3 ballot initiative. These cost pressures are driven in part by major capital investments, including light rail extensions to West Seattle and Ballard and the construction of a new downtown Seattle transit tunnel. While eliminating one or both of the infill stations would have little impact on addressing Sound Transit's overall capital shortfall, the stations could become subject to elimination as cost pressures continue to mount. The City has expressed a desire to collaborate with Sound Transit to identify opportunities to control or reduce costs associated with the light rail station while continuing to advance the project. Given the recent action by the Sound Transit committee, this is an appropriate time to reaffirm the City's support for the project. A draft letter for Council discussion and consideration is attached. FINANCIAL IMPACT N/A ATTACHMENTS Draft letter to Sound Transit Board 81 City of Tukwila City Council DRAFT January 13, 2026 Sent by email to emailtheboard(@soundtranst_org Sound Transit Board 401 South Jackson Street Seattle, WA 98104 Dear Sound Transit Board: We are writing to express the City of Tukwila's continued and strong support for the Boeing Access Road in -fill light rail station proposed for north Tukwila. This fast-growing area —encompassing Tukwila neighborhoods including Allentown, Duwamish, and Ryan Hill; Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood; unincorporated Skyway; and the City of Renton —is in urgent need of expanded and reliable transit options. We also appreciate the work Sound Transit has undertaken to reach the current design milestone and we support the recent action by the System Expansion Committee to move to the next phase of design. While we understand that additional work is needed to address systemwide affordability challenges associated with capital delivery, we believe it is critical to continue advancing design and conceptual engineering. Doing so ensures momentum is not lost as broader affordability solutions are developed. We also want to ensure the Board fully understands the history of this project, the characteristics of the surrounding community, and the breadth of public support for locating a station at this site. About the Project The Boeing Access Road Station would bridge a 5.5-mile gap on the Link 1 Line between the Rainier Beach and Tukwila International Boulevard stations. The proposed station would connect the North Tukwila Manufacturing/Industrial Center to ten regional growth centers and one additional Manufacturing/Industrial Center. As part of the 2021 Sound Transit realignment, this project was categorized as a "Tier 1" project, with construction scheduled for completion in 2031. A light rail station at this location was included in Sound Transit's original 1996 Sound Move Regional Plan. Although the Boeing Access Road Station and the Graham Street Station were deferred due to financial constraints, they were never formally eliminated. Voters again approved construction of both stations as part of the Sound Transit 3 package in 2016. Following extensive 620o Southcenter Boulevard • Tukwila, Washington • 98188 - Tel: 2o6-433-1800 • www.tukwilawa.gov 82 public engagement during the 2021 realignment process, Sound Transit reaffirmed the Boeing Access Road Station's 2031 completion date. Area Information The area surrounding Boeing Access Road is one of the most diverse communities in King County: approximately 67% of residents are people of color; 40% are foreign -born; over 47% speak a language other than English at home; 23% have limited English proficiency; and 28% of households are classified as low income. These figures significantly exceed regional averages. While Tukwila is served by light rail, Sounder commuter rail, and a major King County Metro bus facility, many neighborhoods —particularly in north Tukwila —remain transit -dependent and underserved. Tukwila residents experience average commute times of just under 30 minutes, with more than 65% driving alone to work. A substantial portion of residents are employed in essential, lower -wage service sectors, including education, health and social services, manufacturing, and retail. Major employers in the area include King County International Airport/Boeing Field, the Museum of Flight, Raisbeck Aviation High School, Boeing, Protogis, King County Metro, and BECU. The Boeing Access Road area is an economic engine for the Puget Sound region, supporting more than 11,500 jobs today and projected to grow to nearly 25,000 jobs by 2035. These are living -wage jobs with relatively low barriers to entry, making transit access especially critical. Beyond employment, the station would serve multiple residential neighborhoods both within and outside Tukwila. Since the Sound Transit 3 vote, several significant public investments have been made near the proposed station site, including Duwamish Gardens Park, King County's Chinook Wind shoreline restoration project, the City of Tukwita's combined Public Works Operations Facility, and the Duwamish Hill Preserve, a public -private partnership. The nearby Green River Regional Trail also provides non -motorized connectivity from Seattle to Auburn. North Tukwila Access Initiative The City of Tukwila is actively implementing and planning several Large-scale transportation access projects in north Tukwila. By 2029, the City will replace the nearly 100-year-old 42nd Avenue Bridge serving the Allentown neighborhood. The City HAS also completED the Allentown Reroute Environmental Impact Statement to construct new access to the BNSF Intermodal Yard, separating freight truck traffic from passenger vehicles and improving safety. Additional planned investments include sidewalks and other non -motorized improvements to enhance overall mobility. The proposed Boeing Access Road light rail station is a critical component of this coordinated transportation strategy. Community Support In 2015, a broad coalition of community leaders, nonprofit organizations, and businesses advocated for retaining funding for the Boeing Access Road Station in the Sound Transit 3 package. That coalition reconvened in 2021 when the station faced potential delay or elimination during realignment. More recently, Sound Transit's community engagement efforts —summarized 83 in the October 2024 Boeing Auoeaa Rood Station Engagement Summary Report —again demonstrated strong community support for the station and for improved regional connectivity. Conclusion and Next Steps VOL8rS have approved two S8p@r8t8 funding p@Ck@g8S that included this StGtiOD. VVhii8 we recognize the Ch8ii8ng8S @SSOCi8t8d with constructing in-fiK 3L@dOnS--p@rtiCU|8rk/ elevated stations —the City of Tukwila remains committed to working coLLaborativeLy with Sound Transit to make the Boeing Access Road Station 3reality. If you have any questions, please contact Brandon Miles, Director of Government Relations and Strategic Initiatives, at Brandon. Miles@TukwiLaWA.gov. ArnlenPopyon Verna Seat KateKnuKer Dennis Martinez Council President Counciirnernber Counciirnennber Counoiirnennber Hannah Hedrick Joe Torres Carnaoho Jane Ho Counoibnennber Counoibnernber Counoibnernber 84