FRA, Seattle officials open downtown multi-modal hub

Federal and city officials gathered in Seattle yesterday to mark the opening of a newly revitalized King Street Station, which provides multi-modal connections for Amtrak and Sound Transit trains, and other transportation services.

Associate Federal Railroad Administrator Kevin Thompson joined Mayor Mike McGinn and Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) to celebrate completion of the $55 million project, which received $32.9 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to rebuild the station into a downtown multi-modal hub, Federal Railroad Administration officials said in a press release.

The project created a "safer, more inviting and accessible" station for Amtrak Cascades, Coast Starlight and Empire Builder riders, as well as improved connections to commuter rail, light rail and bus lines operated by Sound Transit, King County Metro and other providers, they said.

Some of the project's funding came from an $814 million allocation through the USDOT's High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Program.

"King Street Station is a great example of how rail investment can provide jobs, greater economic development and greater mobility," Thompson said.