AUBURN, Wash. — Portions of two streets in downtown Auburn are now shut down to make way for a project aimed at helping commuters. The closure will last two years.
Sound Transit is building a new parking garage near City Hall, about two blocks from the Auburn Sound Transit Station, that will add 535 parking spots for transit riders.
The road and sidewalk of 1st Street Northwest between A Street Northwest and B Street Northwest is now closed. Also, B Street Northwest between north of West Main Street and 1st Street Northwest will be closed as well.
The roads and sidewalks closed on Sept. 3, 2024, and will not reopen until November 2026.
Sound Transit said there are 633 parking spaces at Auburn Station available during construction. The site of the new garage is being built partially on an old surface lot, resulting in the loss of about 100 spots.
Business owners near the closure say they don’t mind the construction because a lack of parking impacts their businesses.
“Some people that I have had in my store that say, ‘Finally, I got a parking spot!’” said Heather Feller, the owner of Emerald City Fashion.
Feller said any extra parking is a good thing, which is why she said despite a road near her business being closed for the next two years, she's relieved more parking is on the way.
“As long as there’s security, it would be really nice to have that as well,” said Feller. “People will be more secure at parking their vehicles there.”
Sound Transit's new garage is for people who use Sounder Trains, Sound Transit Express and King County Metro Buses.
"I wouldn't have to take a third bus if that was possible. So, I like the idea,” said transit rider Andrea Seals.
Seals said more parking will make her commute easier.
“It's pretty packed,” said Seals. “That's usually why I will have to ditch my car and take an extra bus to get down here.”
While Seals hopes for an easier parking situation, business owners like Feller hope an updated transit station will attract more people to downtown Auburn.
“I'm hoping that there's just going to be a lot more, to where all these businesses can thrive better,” said Feller.
The street closure will last until November 2026 and the project is scheduled to be completed in 2027.
This project is funded by the Sound Transit 2 ballot measure passed by voters 16 years ago.