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(rshsdepot) King Street Station - Seattle, WA

PLANS FOR RESTORATION OF KING STREET STATION ARE APPARENTLY ON HOLD

(links to photos & background information below story)

Copyright 2001 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
THE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER...12/20/2001

Plans for the restoration of King Street Station and redevelopment of the
immediate area as a public transportation center appear to be on hold, at
least temporarily, while the state, Amtrak and the Burlington Northern Santa
Fe Railroad figure out how to make room for more trains.

This became apparent yesterday when DJ Mitchell, BNSF's assistant vice
president for passenger services, met with the state Transportation
Commission in Olympia.

He recommended revisiting the issue of adding more track for additional
freight trains, Amtrak intercity passenger trains and Sound Transit commuter
trains.

Work was expected to begin this winter on a temporary passenger waiting room
just south of the 95-year-old King Street Station, to be used while
restoration of the old depot was under way. First, however, the railroad
must donate the station, with its 245-foot Venetian-style clock tower,
before the $ 42 million public-private project can move forward.

The problem, according to Mitchell and John Okamoto, assistant state
secretary of transportation, is that space is limited for adding track
either east or west of the existing station.

Also, the depot is on the National Historic Register, limiting redevelopment
options.

Mitchell said "it may take a short period of time to figure it out ... we
want to move quickly." Meeting on the track issues are expected to continue
next month.

Okamoto agreed that "a timeout" was necessary. "All the parties - the
railroad, Amtrak and ourselves - recognized that it doesn't make sense to
move forward" at this time, he said.

The station has been scheduled to reopen in 2003 as a train-bus hub.

BACKGROUND INFO:
http://www.gngoat.org/king_st__station.htm

PHOTOS:
http://www.gngoat.org/kss2.jpg
http://www.gngoat.org/kss1.jpg
http://www.gngoat.org/kss3.jpg
http://www.gngoat.org/kss4.jpg
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/amtrak/images/seattle_station.jpg
http://www.swensonsayfaget.com/img/union.gif
http://www.seattlemap.com/rail/amtrak.jpg

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