Sound Transit board adds Northeast 44th station to BRT plan

A new graphic shows a freeway station with direct access and surface parking as part of this fall's transit package.

The Sound Transit board on Thursday made a series of changes to the ST3 package headed to voters this fall, including moving up several completion dates and adding an additional Renton station to the Bus Rapid Transit project.

Renton officials were planning to attend Thursday’s meeting to request three amendments to the plan, including a return to the “capital intensive” Bus Rapid Transit project originally proposed that would include additional Renton stations, an increase in number of parking spaces from 700 to 2,000 at the proposed South Renton Transit Center and a study to determine the feasibility of light rail in Renton.

According to a press release sent out by Sound Transit following the meeting, “Changes would expand early projects slated for completion within the first eight years, including improvements to Bus Rapid Transit on I-405 between Lynnwood and Burien with added facilities in Kirkland and Renton.”

A second release detailing some of the changes notes a “freeway station, direct access ramps and surface parking in Renton at Northeast 44th Street.”

This story is still developing.