CDM Smith supports Sound Transit with station access upgrades | CDM Smith

Sound Transit train at station with passengers boarding.

Strengthening access to Seattle’s rail stations

To help growing suburbs meet rising ridership demand, Sound Transit evaluated access upgrades to improve how people reach two key regional commuter rail stations.

Strengthening access to Seattle’s rail stations

To help growing suburbs meet rising ridership demand, Sound Transit evaluated access upgrades to improve how people reach two key regional commuter rail stations.

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Strengthening access to Seattle’s rail stations

Client

Sound Transit

Location

Kent and Auburn, Washington

Connect with an expert

Tim Sorenson, PE

Transit & Urban Mobility Practice Leader

Sound Transit advances access solutions for growing commuter demand

As ridership surged on Sound Transit’s Sounder commuter rail, station challenges made it difficult for new riders to reach transit. To address these barriers, Sound Transit engaged CDM Smith to evaluate alternatives for parking, pedestrian, bicycle, and transit improvements and advance the preferred concepts toward implementation.

Evaluating station access options

The team assessed access limitations and transit improvements so first-mile barriers could be eliminated.

Screening sites for key constraints

Potential parking garage sites were screened for any environmental sensitivities or historical significance.

Client

Sound Transit

Location

Kent and Auburn, Washington

Practices

Transit & Urban Mobility Transportation Planning

Markets

Transit Agencies

Priorities

Complete Corridors

Connect with an expert

Tim Sorenson, PE

Transit & Urban Mobility Practice Leader

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Front-loading actionable insights

Teams highlighted design risks early to help fast-track decision making and avoid issues seen in earlier studies.

Engaging stakeholders and riders

Regular coordination with cities, transit agencies, and community groups ensured alternatives were informed by regional input.

Through workshops, public outreach, and coordination across agencies, the project shaped a preferred package of improvements that supports transit growth in the area. CDM Smith’s planning and early risk screening positioned Sound Transit to advance environmental clearance and preliminary engineering. “We tried to front-load the planning process with as much actionable information as we could,” said Tim Sorenson, transit & urban mobility expert.

Curious to learn more?

Connect with an expert to find out how we delivered this project.

Tim Sorenson, PE

Transit & Urban Mobility Practice Leader

Tim has spent more than 30 years creating sustainable, community-focused transportation solutions integrating mobility, infrastructure, and the environment.