Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Kent Sounder commuter train station get underway on Wednesday, Oct. 20

October 11, 1999

Spirited melodies from the Scenic Hill steel drum band and the Kentridge High School Vocal Ensemble will highlight the Kent Sounder train station groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 20. The celebration will be from 10:30 - 11 a.m. at the site of the future Sounder station in downtown Kent,on the west side of Railroad Ave. between W. James and W. Smith Streets. Officials from the City of Kent and Sound Transit invite everyone to attend to enjoy the festivities and refreshments.

The Kent Sounder train station will feature a landmark clock tower with design elements that illustrate the community's architectural history. The design of each Sounder station has been developed with the active involvement of residents and city officials to reflect the character of their individual community.

The Kent Sounder train station will be one of 14 stations along the 82-mile Sounder train system using existing Burlington Northern/Santa Fe railway serving the cities of Lakewood, Tacoma, Puyallup, Auburn, Sumner, Tukwila, Seattle, Edmonds, Mukilteo and Everett. The 40-mile line between Tacoma and Seattle is scheduled to offer demonstration runs by the end of this year with commuter service to begin in fall 2000. In 2001, Sounder commuter rail will extend service north to Everett and south to Lakewood.

Sounder is just one part of Sound Move, the regional transit plan approved by voters in 1996 which also includes the development a 21-mile Link light rail between SeaTac and Northgate; a 1.6-mile downtown Tacoma Link light rail line; and the Regional Express program which includes at least 18 new limited-stop ST Express bus routes and numerous improvements to transit centers, park-and-ride lots and HOV lanes throughout the region.

For up-to-date information on Sound Transit please visit our Web site at www.soundtransit.org/. You may also write or call for more information: 1100 Second Ave., Suite 500, Seattle WA 98101 (206) 398-5000, 1-800-201-4900, TTY/TDD: (206) 398-5086.

# # #

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