Parking relief on the horizon for Edmonds Sounder commuters

The Edmonds Station parking lot fills up early, and later commuters have a difficult time finding a parking stall.

Story and photo by Larry Vogel

While there’s no official announcement yet, it appears that Edmonds Sounder train commuters are in for some much-needed expansion of full-day parking stalls adjacent to the Edmonds rail station.

“We’re actively working on some very attractive options,” said Stephen Clifton, Director of Economic Development for the City of Edmonds. “Negotiations are ongoing, and while nothing is certain at this point, we hope to have some good news within the next few weeks.”

Sound Transit’s Kimberly Reason noted that the agency has been aware of the tight parking situation at Edmonds, and has already taken several measures to provide relief.

“About a year ago, Sound Transit began addressing parking at Edmonds Station by restriping and monitoring the lot to ensure parking was being used by transit riders,” she said. “Our monitoring shows Edmonds Station parking currently at 97-percent capacity.”

High gasoline prices and clogged freeways have made all modes of mass transit more attractive to commuters. Sound Transit’s ridership report (available online here) indicates north corridor Sounder ridership up 14 percent over the same period last year. With these trends expected to continue, Sound Transit is focusing on more than just additional vehicle parking to accommodate anticipated increases in ridership.

“This year, the Sound Transit Board began taking a closer look at the impact of parking availability on ridership and working with communities to find the best solutions for their individual situations,” Reason said. “The agency’s ongoing Sounder Station Access and Demand Study is looking at the different ways – feeder bus, driving, walking, biking and being dropped off – commuters can access our facilities. Our goal is to work with individual jurisdictions to identify the best balance between driving, busing, walking, and car and vanpooling that fits the community.”

 

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