Three remaining Sounder stations planned to open on Feb. 5, 2001

The full complement of seven Sounder stations between Tacoma and Seattle will be complete on Feb. 5, 2001 when the three remaining Sounder stations in Puyallup, Kent and Tukwila are all planned to open together.

Originally, these Sounder stations were planned to open on a staggered schedule with Kent opening in November, Puyallup in February and Tukwila about a year from now. However, the coordinated approach to open all three stations together was chosen because adjusting the Sounder service schedules for each new station opening could have been disruptive and confusing to riders, and Feb 3. is when new schedules and service changes for ST Express, King County Metro and Pierce Transit bus systems take place, allowing for coordinating schedules and connections with Sounder service and stations.

Sound Transit is working with each of the three cities to open all stations with full platforms, ample parking and start-of-the-art ticket vending machines. While the Kent station opens a few months behind schedule, Puyallup and Tukwila open ahead of schedule. The cities of Tukwila, Renton and the Boeing Company are working hard with Sound Transit to accelerate building a temporary platform for the Tukwila station, allowing Sounder service to arrive eight to nine months early. Sound Transit is also discussing with Amtrak and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway some slight changes to the evening train schedule to meet customer requests and attract more riders.

Voter-approved in 1996, Sound Transit is on track to implement a three-county regional transit system plan known as Sound Move. Sound Move is a seamless blend of three transportation systems: Sounder commuter rail, running 82 miles from Everett to Tacoma/Lakewood; Link light rail, a 21-mile system connecting the cities of Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac and a 1.6 mile system in Tacoma; and Regional Express, featuring 18 new ST Express limited stop, long-haul bus routes and numerous improvements to transit centers, park-and-ride lots and HOV lanes throughout the region.

Sounder's customer information line is 1-888-889-6368; for TTY hearing impaired users please call 1-888-713-6030 and the Sounder Web site is www.sounder.org. For general Sound Transit information please visit the Sound Transit Web site at www.soundtransit.org/, or call or write for more information at Sound Transit, Union Station, 401 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104, 206-398-5000 or toll free 1-800-201-4900.

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