Sound Transit dedicates new Canyon Park Freeway Station in Bothell on time, on budget

May 28, 2007

Sound Transit and its partners dedicated the new Canyon Park freeway station at I-405’s Bothell-Everett Highway interchange today. The project, which opens to bus service June 8 on time and on budget, will shave up to ten minutes off transit commutes on the I-405 corridor.

The new freeway station and pedestrian bridge, along with upgrades to the southbound on-ramp to Interstate 405 from northbound SR 527, improves transit access and minimize delays for buses normally traveling through congested local intersections. Buses will no longer have to pass through four traffic signals and weave among cars, freeway overpasses and side streets to serve the Canyon Park Park-and-Ride. A new pedestrian bridge over I-405 now connects the park-and-ride to the new freeway station.

“These Sound Transit enhancements will make an immediate difference for I-405 commuters,” said Sound Transit Vice-Chair and Snohomish Executive Aaron Reardon. “The improvements will save time and provide another key commuting option to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system we’re putting in place today.”

This project, combined with new HOV and transit direct access ramps in Bellevue and Totem Lake create a system of direct access points to and from I-405 for HOV and transit commuters. The ramps save time by eliminating the need for HOV and transit users to weave across several lanes of traffic to get into and out of the HOV lanes on I-405.

Sound Transit primarily funded the project with $10.7 million. The U.S. Department of Transportation, and community partners including Community Transit, the City of Bothell and the Washington State Department of Transportation also contributed funds. WSDOT also managed the project construction.

“We’re glad to see this project come together on time and on budget,” said Bothell Mayor Mark Lamb. “The growth we’ve seen in this area over the past few years calls out for more transit options like the one we’re dedicating today.”

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Sound Transit’s regional network of express buses, commuter rail, light rail and transit facilities connects communities in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.