Sound Transit breaks ground for new Eastgate Transit Access Ramp

March 29, 2005

Officials from Sound Transit and its partner agencies -- the Washington State Department of Transportation, King County Metro and the City of Bellevue -- marked the beginning of construction today for a new transit-only access ramp from Interstate-90 to King County Metro's expanded Eastgate Park-and-Ride. New flyer bus stops on the ramps will save travel time for selected routes and provide additional routing options for both Metro and Sound Transit service.

"This new access ramp, one of only two transit-only ramps in the Sound Transit network, will improve the speed and reliability of bus service to the bustling Eastgate Park-and-Ride," said Sound Transit Board Chair and Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg. "These buses currently have to exit the freeway and, during peak traffic hours, fight through several traffic signals to reach the Park-and-Ride."

"Buses will be able to use the access ramps to enter and exit the freeway without weaving through several lanes of traffic," explained Washington State Transportation Commissioner Ed Barnes. "The result is improved traffic flow for all vehicles on I-90 and more reliable schedules for transit."

Public art at the Eastgate access ramp features bronze salmon attached to the ramps near the flyer stop.

Full construction by the contractor, Mowat Construction, begins in April and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2006. Sound Transit's total budget for the project is $38.9.

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