Puyallup Sounder station construction contract authorized below original cost estimates

The Sound Transit Board's Finance Committee has authorized a contract for construction of the Puyallup Sounder commuter rail station with Lugo Construction Inc. of Fife, the apparent lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the project. The bid amount for the project was $3.36 million, or nearly $900,000 below the original engineering estimate of $4.24 million.

Lugo Construction was among 14 firms bidding for the Puyallup project, Sound Transit's first construction contract to be bid under Sound Transit's new project labor agreement, which was agreed upon by contractors and organized labor.

Major components of the Puyallup station project include an open-air depot-like structure, two 600-foot platforms with canopies and wheelchair access, parking lots, shelters, ticket vending machines, landscaping, lighting, passenger safety and security and transfer areas for access to Pierce Transit and Sound Transit buses. The station is projected to handle up to 400 daily boardings by 2010. Construction is expected to begin this spring.

Sound Transit is planning to begin limited rush hour service with its bi-level Sounder commuter trains in September between Tacoma and Seattle. By the end of 2001, service will be extended to cover an 82 mile route between Everett and Lakewood.

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Sound Transit plans, builds and operates regional transit systems and services to improve mobility for Central Puget Sound.