{{short description|Commuter train station in Kent, Washington}} {{About|the commuter rail station|the light rail station|Kent Des Moines station}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{good article}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox station | name = Kent | style = Sound Transit | image = Kent Station (Washington) platforms and bus bays.jpg | caption = Train platforms and bus bays at Kent station | address = 301 Railroad Avenue North<br />Kent, Washington | country = United States | coordinates = {{coord|47|23|03|N|122|13|59|W|display=inline,title}} | line = BNSF Railway Seattle Subdivision | connections = King County Metro, Sound Transit Express | structure = At-grade | platform = 2 side platforms | tracks = 2 | parking = 996 parking spaces | bicycle = Bicycle lockers and racks | opened = February 5, 2001 | rebuilt = | accessible = Yes | code = | owned = Sound Transit | operator = | passengers = {{Sound Transit ridership|Kent weekday}} daily weekday boardings ({{Sound Transit ridership|year}}){{Sound Transit ridership|soundercitation}}<br />{{Sound Transit ridership|Kent annual}} total boardings ({{Sound Transit ridership|year}}){{Sound Transit ridership|soundercitation}} | services = {{Adjacent stations|system1=Sound Transit|header1=x15px|center|link=Sounder commuter rail|alt=Sounder |line1=South|left1=Auburn|right1=Tukwila }} |other_services_header = Former services |other_services_collapsible = yes |other_services = {{Adjacent stations|system1=Great Northern Railway|line1=Portland-Seattle|left1=Auburn|right1=Seattle|system2=Northern Pacific Railway|line2=Main Line|left2=Seattle|right2=Auburn|line3=Portland-Seattle|left3=Auburn|right3=Seattle|to-left2=Seattle}} | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 14 | mapframe-marker-color = #a0b4d4 | mapframe-marker = rail }}
'''Kent station''' is a train station in the city of Kent, Washington, United States, served by the S Line of the Sounder commuter rail network. It is located in downtown Kent and consists of two train platforms connected via a pedestrian overpass, a parking garage, and several bus bays. The station also has 996 parking stalls and is served by King County Metro and Sound Transit Express buses. Train service to Kent began in 2001 and the station's garage opened the following year. King County Metro began service from the bus bays in 2005, after a third phase of construction. Sound Transit plans to build a second parking garage in 2027 to accommodate additional demand at the station.
==Description==
Kent station is located in the northern part of downtown Kent, one block west of Central Avenue at the intersection of Smith Street and Railroad Avenue.<ref name="StationAccess">{{cite web |date=September 2012 |title=Sounder Stations Access Study |pages=12–20 |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/projects/sounder/StationAccess/Sounder_Stations_Access_Study_Report.pdf |publisher=Sound Transit |access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Stojnic |first=Niki |date=March 2018 |title=The Best Seattle Suburbs for a Quick Commute |url=https://www.seattlemag.com/home-and-garden/best-seattle-suburbs-quick-commute |work=Seattle Magazine |access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref> It is located adjacent to the Kent Station shopping center, which includes a movie theater and auxiliary campus for Green River College.<ref name="Times-2005Mall">{{cite news |last=Boyer |first=Tom |date=November 20, 2005 |title=A small-town renaissance for Kent |page=E1 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20051120/kentstation20/a-small-town-renaissance-for-kent |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref><ref name="KentSubarea">{{cite web |date=November 19, 2013 |title=Downtown Subarea Action Plan |page=2{{hyphen}}12 |url=https://www.kentwa.gov/home/showdocument?id=4854 |publisher=City of Kent |access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref> To the northwest is the city-run ShoWare Center arena and the county's Maleng Regional Justice Center.<ref name="MetroMap">{{cite map |date=March 2018 |title=Metro Transit System: Southwest Area |url=https://kingcounty.gov/~/media/depts/transportation/metro/maps/system/03102018/pdf/metro-system-map-sw |publisher=King County Metro |access-date=June 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515023848/https://kingcounty.gov/~/media/depts/transportation/metro/maps/system/03102018/pdf/metro-system-map-sw |archive-date=May 15, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="PSRC-James">{{cite web |date=January 2016 |title=Kent/James St. Park and Ride: Transit Access Assessment |url=https://www.psrc.org/sites/default/files/kent-jamessttransitaccesscasestudy20160125.pdf |publisher=Puget Sound Regional Council |access-date=June 9, 2018 |archive-date=March 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307185650/https://www.psrc.org/sites/default/files/kent-jamessttransitaccesscasestudy20160125.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The area around the station consists primarily of commercial and office spaces, with some multifamily residential buildings.<ref name="KentSubarea"/>{{rp|4–5}}
The station consists of two side platforms that run between 1st Avenue to the west and Railroad Avenue to the east.<ref name="ST-Art">{{cite web |title=Kent Station — Public Art |url=http://soundtransit.org/Projects-Home/STart-Public-Art-Program/Public-Art-Projects/Kent-Station.xml |publisher=Sound Transit |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612223825/http://soundtransit.org/Projects-Home/STart-Public-Art-Program/Public-Art-Projects/Kent-Station.xml |archive-date=June 12, 2010 |access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref> The east platform includes a transit center with several bus bays arranged on a center island.<ref name="StationAccess"/><ref name="MetroBays">{{cite web |title=Kent Station Boarding locations |url=https://kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/metro/schedules-maps/maps/boarding/kent-station.aspx |publisher=King County Metro |access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref> To the southeast is a small plaza that leads to Burlington Green, a park along the railroad tracks between Smith and Meeker streets.<ref name="ST-2002PR">{{cite press release |date=March 18, 2002 |title=Sound Transit will open Kent Station Garage ahead of schedule |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/News-release-archive/Sound-Transit-will-open-Kent-Station-Garage-ahead-of-schedule |publisher=Sound Transit |access-date=September 18, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Burlington Green |url=https://www.kentwa.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/274/318 |publisher=City of Kent |access-date=June 9, 2018 |archive-date=December 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161212084333/http://www.kentwa.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/274/318 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Kent station has a total of 996 parking spaces, divided between a parking garage and two small surface lots.<ref name="WSDOT-PR">{{cite web |date=March 2017 |title=Puget Sound Park and Ride Inventory, Fall 2016 |url=https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2017/03/30/PugetSoundParknRide_Fall2016.pdf |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |access-date=June 9, 2018 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144931/https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2017/03/30/PugetSoundParknRide_Fall2016.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The five-story parking garage, located southwest along Smith Street, holds 877 vehicles and includes a pedestrian overpass connecting it to both of the platforms.<ref name="StationAccess"/> An auxiliary park and ride lot on James Street holds an additional 713 vehicles.<ref name="PSRC-James"/><ref name="WSDOT-PR"/> The garage and plaza also house ''Cornucopia'' by Lydia Aldredge, a public art installation commissioned by Sound Transit and the city government that consists of several sculptures referencing Kent's agricultural history.<ref name="ST-Art"/> These pieces include glass tile mosaics resembling a river, a "garden of measurement" with weather station tools, several trellises, and a clock shaped like a train whistle.<ref name="ST-Art"/><ref>{{cite web |year=2016 |title=Guide to art: Sounder commuter rail |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/2016-sounder-guide-to-art.pdf |publisher=Sound Transit |access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref>
==History==
===Predecessors and planning=== [[File:Kent (Washington) Northern Pacific depot.jpg|thumb|left|The historic Northern Pacific Railway depot, located two blocks south of the modern Kent station]]
Kent's first staffed train station was opened in October 1889 as part of the Puget Sound Shore Railroad, a subsidiary of the Northern Pacific Railway.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 5, 1889 |title=Brevities |page=6 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19654785/kent_and_slaughter_depots/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref> The town was originally called Titusville but renamed itself after the English county of Kent, reflecting a shared dependence on the hops industry, after receiving the train station.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fox |first1=Emily |last2=Gruener |first2=Posey |date=April 30, 2017 |title=How beer gave the City of Kent its name |url=https://kuow.org/post/how-beer-gave-city-kent-its-name |publisher=KUOW |access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref> Days after Kent's depot was opened, two would-be robbers were injured by the station agent using an iron poker.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 7, 1889 |title=Bold Robbers at Work |page=5 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20661879/kent_station_robbery/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref> The depot was replaced in 1893 by a larger brick building, which was renovated extensively in 1927 and served passenger trains until the 1950s.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 5, 2001 |title=Commuter train adds new stops |page=B3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> It was used by the Burlington Northern Railroad (later BNSF Railway) as a maintenance shed and still stands two blocks south of the Sounder platforms.<ref name="PI-1998">{{cite news |last=Foster |first=George |date=June 12, 1998 |title=Businesses favor downtown site |page=B5 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> The city government proposed re-using the depot as a railroad museum or a downtown transit center in the 1980s, but neither were pursued.<ref name="Times-1986">{{cite news |last=Schulz |first=Blaine |date=October 29, 1986 |title=A new life for Kent depot? |page=H1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Aweeka |first=Charles |date=January 7, 1988 |title=Kent mayor would move park-ride lot |page=B3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>
In the late 1980s, officials in King County proposed a modern commuter rail system running {{convert|22|mi|km}} between King Street Station in Downtown Seattle and Auburn, including a single stop in Kent.<ref>{{cite news |last=Aweeka |first=Charles |date=November 30, 1987 |title=Kent mayor suggests patience on rail plan |page=B3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The city government produced a shortlist of three sites for the commuter rail station: at James Street in downtown, near a Boeing facility {{convert|2|mi|km}} north of downtown, or the disused Burlington Northern depot. Although the Burlington Northern depot was favored by the mayor,<ref>{{cite news |last=Aweeka |first=Charles |date=July 15, 1987 |title=Mayors want a fair share in Metro rail plan |page=H1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Metro Transit selected the downtown Kent site at James Street for inclusion in the 1993 regional transit plan, intended to serve as a framework for a future ballot measure.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lane |first=Bob |date=April 14, 1988 |title=Group bidding to revive commuter railroad plan |page=B2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |date=March 1993 |title=Regional Transit System Plan: Final Environmental Impact Statement |chapter=Alternatives |pages=33–34 |chapter-url=https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/projects/seis/220alternatives.pdf |publisher=Regional Transit Project |oclc=27723634 |via=Sound Transit |access-date=June 9, 2018 |archive-date=October 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001015857/http://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/projects/seis/220alternatives.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Marla |last2=Schaefer |first2=David |date=May 30, 1993 |title=Transit plan paves costly road to future |page=B1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The city government began preparing for a major redevelopment of areas around the future station in hopes of revitalizing the downtown area.<ref>{{cite news |last=Levoy |first=Jill |date=January 7, 1992 |title=Back to the future for old rail towns |page=B1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Levoy |first=Jill |date=September 28, 1992 |title=Group hopes to revitalize Kent's downtown |page=B3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>
Ahead of a scheduled ballot measure to fund a regional transit system, including the Seattle–Tacoma commuter rail line, Kent was selected as a stop for a demonstration commuter rail service in February 1995.<ref>{{cite news |last=Foster |first=Heath |date=February 20, 1995 |title=Demonstration rail service to Seattle to begin run this week |page=A1 |work=The News Tribune}}</ref> The temporary station, located between Meeker and Smith streets in downtown Kent,<ref>{{cite news |date=February 21, 1995 |title=Try the train to Seattle. |page=B6 |work=The News Tribune}}</ref> was served by daily trains to Tacoma and Seattle during peak periods and event trains for baseball and basketball games.<ref>{{cite news |last=Shukovsky |first=Paul |date=February 22, 1995 |title=Traffic takes a back seat |page=B1 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=March 11, 1995 |title=Final free rail excursions planned for today |page=B2 |work=The News Tribune}}</ref> The March 1995 ballot measure was rejected by voters, but a modified plan was approved in November 1996, including funds for a commuter rail system managed by Sound Transit.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schaefer |first=David |date=November 7, 1996 |title=Transit plan can trace surprise success to suburbs |page=B1 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19961107/2358432/transit-plan-can-trace-surprise-success-to-suburbs |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=June 9, 2018 |archive-date=January 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105235304/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19961107&slug=2358432 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Sound Transit's environmental assessment for the Seattle–Tacoma commuter rail project identified two potential sites for the station in downtown Kent, approximately {{convert|900|ft|m}} apart: a northern site between James and Smith streets, and a southern site between Gowe and Willis streets adjacent to the historic depot.<ref name="ST-1998">{{cite web |date=June 11, 1998 |title=Sound Transit Motion No. M98-43 |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/about/board/motions/1998/motion20no20m98-43.pdf |publisher=Sound Transit |access-date=September 18, 2016 |archive-date=May 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511132939/https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/about/board/motions/1998/motion20no20m98-43.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The debate over the station's location took months to settle, with Sound Transit and the mayor favoring the northern site because of its proximity to two major arterial streets serving the city's suburban neighborhood and the Kent city council recommending the southern site to promote downtown commerce and avoid property acquisition.<ref>{{cite news |last=Foster |first=George |date=June 11, 1998 |title=Decision to end feud: Where to put rail station |page=B3 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> In June 1998, the Sound Transit board selected the northern site with a promise to design the station in a way that would minimize the amount of property to be acquired, replacing a surface parking lot with a parking garage that would be partially funded using $4 million in city-issued bonds.<ref name="PI-1998"/><ref name="ST-1998"/>
[[File:Sounder train at Kent Station.jpg|thumb|right|A northbound Sounder train towards Seattle King Street at Kent station]]
The budget for Kent station was originally set at $12 million, but was increased to $25 million in July 1999 to accommodate the proposed 680-stall parking garage.<ref>{{cite news |last=Clements |first=Barbara |date=June 18, 1999 |title=Sound Transit plans bigger Kent garage |page=B1 |work=The News Tribune}}</ref> The station and garage site was occupied by a feed mill and hardware store, which were relocated after settling a condemnation lawsuit with Sound Transit for $1.85 million the following month.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 12, 1999 |title=Sound Transit, owners agree on land prices |page=B2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Gary Merlino Construction was awarded a $3.66 million contract to construct the station,<ref>{{cite web |date=September 2, 1999 |title=Sound Transit Motion No. M99-59 |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/about/board/motions/1999/motion20no20m99-59.pdf |publisher=Sound Transit |access-date=August 25, 2016 |archive-date=May 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511131043/https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/about/board/motions/1999/motion20no20m99-59.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> leaving the garage and bus station to be completed in later project phases.<ref name="ST-200239">{{cite web |date=April 4, 2002 |title=Sound Transit Motion No. M2002-39 |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/html/board/motions/html/motionm2002-39.htm |publisher=Sound Transit |access-date=September 18, 2016 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142229/https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/html/board/motions/html/motionm2002-39.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Groundbreaking on Kent station was celebrated on October 20, 1999.<ref>{{cite press release |date=October 11, 1999 |title=Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Kent Sounder commuter train station get underway on Wednesday, Oct. 20 |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/News-release-archive/Groundbreaking-ceremonies-for-the-Kent-Sounder-commuter-train-station-get-underway-on-Wednesday-Oct-20 |publisher=Sound Transit |access-date=September 18, 2016}}</ref>
===Opening and expansion===
Kent station was dedicated by Sound Transit and local officials on February 3, 2001, and service began two days later on February 5.<ref>{{cite press release |date=January 26, 2001 |title=Sounder commuter rail service to Kent and Puyallup begins on Feb. 5, community celebration of Kent Sounder Station opening on Feb. 3 |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/News-release-archive/Rail-service-to-Kent-and-Puyallup |publisher=Sound Transit |access-date=September 18, 2016}}</ref><ref name="TNT-2001">{{cite news |last=Kawada |first=Eijiro |date=February 6, 2001 |title=Puyallup, Kent gain Sounder service |page=B1 |work=The News Tribune}}</ref> 200 people rode trains from Kent on the opening day, which also marked the beginning of service from Puyallup station.<ref name="TNT-2001"/> The second phase of construction, including the $10 million parking garage,<ref name="PI-2001">{{cite news |last=McGann |first=Chris |date=February 6, 2001 |title=All aboard – this time in Kent |page=A1 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> pedestrian bridge, and bus bays, began in 2000 and was completed three months ahead of schedule in March 2002.<ref name="ST-2002PR"/><ref name="ST-200239"/> King County Metro opened a new transit center at Kent station's completed bus bays in June 2005, replacing a park and ride northwest of downtown on James Street.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 2005 |title=Bus Service Improvements Start Saturday, June 4, 2005 |url=http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/sc/rideralert/ra-062005.html |publisher=King County Metro |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617210933/http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/sc/rideralert/ra-062005.html |archive-date=June 17, 2010 |access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref> The city government opened the Kent Station shopping center and mixed-use development in late 2005, using $16 million to cleanup {{convert|20|acre}} of a former resin chemical plant adjacent to the commuter rail station.<ref name="Times-2005Mall"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Torgelson |first=Nathan |date=September 26, 2002 |title=All aboard for Kent's rebirth |url=http://www.djc.com/news/re/11137649.html |work=Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce |access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref>
The parking garage and surface lots at Kent station are used by 51 percent of the station's 1,900 daily riders and reach capacity early in the morning.<ref name="KR-Aug17">{{cite news |last=Hunter |first=Steve |date=August 24, 2017 |title=Costs skyrocket for Kent's Sound Transit Sounder parking garage |url=https://www.kentreporter.com/news/costs-skyrocket-for-kents-sound-transit-sounder-parking-garage/ |work=Kent Reporter |access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref> The Sound Transit 2 plan, approved by voters in 2008, allocated $35 million for a second parking garage at Kent station, but planning was suspended in 2010 due to a decline in sales tax revenue. The project was revived in 2016 and expanded to also include pedestrian and bicycle improvements in the vicinity of the station.<ref>{{cite press release |date=January 28, 2016 |title=Sound Transit restores funding for Auburn, Kent Sounder station access projects |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/sound-transit-restores-funding-auburn-kent-sounder |publisher=Sound Transit |access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref> A shortlist of four sites for the 450-stall parking garage was drafted by Sound Transit and the city government in March 2017, including a proposal for Kaibara Park that was withdrawn after it was discovered that the property was owned by BNSF Railway and leased to the city.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hunter |first=Steve |date=April 20, 2017 |title=City of Kent says drop park as transit parking garage site |url=https://www.kentreporter.com/news/city-of-kent-says-drop-park-as-transit-parking-garage-site/ |work=Kent Reporter |access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref> The remaining three sites were located to the north of the station along James Street at its railroad crossing.<ref name="KR-Aug17"/>
A site on the south side of James Street and east of Railroad Avenue was chosen by Sound Transit in November 2017 as the preferred site for the garage, following a recommendation from the city government.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hunter |first=Steve |date=February 28, 2020 |title=Sounder parking garage project moving forward in Kent |url=https://www.kentreporter.com/news/sounder-parking-garage-project-moving-forward-in-kent/ |work=Kent Reporter |access-date=February 2, 2021}}</ref> The parking garage was originally scheduled to open in 2023, but was later postponed to 2027 due to longer planning times and funding issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name="KR-Garage2023">{{cite news |last=Hunter |first=Steve |date=January 27, 2023 |title=Sound Transit postpones Kent Sounder parking garage opening to 2027 |url=https://www.kentreporter.com/news/sound-transit-postpones-kent-sounder-parking-garage-opening-to-2027/ |work=Kent Reporter |access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref> The project originally had a budget of $35 million, but increased to $65 million after corrections based on similar garage projects at other Sounder stations as well as rising costs for real estate and contractors.<ref name="KR-Aug17"/> The increase in costs, which reached $100,000 per parking stall, was criticized by the local Sierra Club, but defended by officials in Kent as a preventive measure against "hide-and-ride" parking by commuters in local neighborhoods.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=September 17, 2017 |title=$100,000 per space? Costs soar for Sound Transit's Kent park-and-ride garage |page=A1 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/100000-per-parking-space-costs-soar-for-sound-transits-kent-park-and-ride-garage/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref> The proposed garage's construction would also require the realignment of Railroad Avenue, which the city government claimed would jeopardize the planned expansion of bus service to the station.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hunter |first=Steve |date=September 21, 2018 |title=Kent, Sound Transit dispute bus plan at new Sounder garage |url=https://www.kentreporter.com/news/kent-sound-transit-dispute-bus-plan-at-new-sounder-garage/ |work=Kent Reporter |access-date=September 21, 2018}}</ref> Demolition of three buildings on the garage site began in August 2024. Construction of the 400-stall garage and a new bus layover facility with electric chargers began in October 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gamache |first=Shawna |date=October 1, 2024 |title=Construction underway on $63M parking garage at Kent Station |url=https://www.djc.com/news/co/12166133.html |work=Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce |url-access=subscription |accessdate=October 1, 2024}}</ref>
==Services==
Kent station is served by 13 daily round-trips on the Sounder S Line, which travel north to King Street Station in Downtown Seattle and south to Tacoma Dome Station or Lakewood station on weekdays.<ref name="Sounder">{{cite news |date=August 24, 2017 |title=Sounder south gets better than ever with new trips starting 9/25 |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/blog/platform/sounder-south-gets-better-ever-new-trips-starting-925 |publisher=Sound Transit |access-date=May 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142820/https://www.soundtransit.org/blog/platform/sounder-south-gets-better-ever-new-trips-starting-925 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Sounder trains travel from Kent to Seattle in approximately 27 minutes and to Tacoma in 35 minutes.<ref name="Sounder"/> The station is also a major transit hub for King County Metro and Sound Transit Express, with nine bus bays served by several routes.<ref name="StationAccess"/><ref name="MetroBays"/> Sound Transit Express routes 566 and 567 travel from the station to Auburn station, Renton, Downtown Bellevue, and Overlake Transit Center during peak periods. King County Metro operates all-day service from the station to eastern Kent, Tukwila, Downtown Seattle, Renton, Auburn, Maple Valley, Federal Way, SeaTac, Burien. The agency also has peak-only service to Downtown Seattle via Interstate 5 and the Boeing Everett Factory.<ref name="StationAccess"/><ref name="MetroMap"/> In additional to traditional bus service, Metro provides dial-a-ride service to eastern Kent and areas northwest of downtown Kent.<ref name="MetroMap"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Kent (Sounder station)}} *[https://www.soundtransit.org/ride-with-us/stops-stations/kent-station Sound Transit Rider Guide] *[https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/kent-station-parking-access-improvements Kent Station Access Improvements Project]
{{Sound Transit railway stations|South=y|state=collapsed}}
Category:2001 establishments in Washington (state) Category:Buildings and structures in Kent, Washington Category:Railway stations in King County, Washington Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 2001 Category:Sounder commuter rail stations Category:Transit centers in the United States