Finding a solution to Sounder commuter parking needs to be a priority and a parking garage in downtown Sumner and Puyallup may not be the best long-term solution, said Puyallup Councilmember Rick Hansen.
“I think it has to be looked at now because you’re going to be faced with it down the road,” Hansen said.
Council members from Puyallup and Sumner who are against building downtown Sounder parking garages met on June 4 with council members from Bonney Lake, Orting and Edgewood to discuss how the Sounder affects their communities.
At the June 3 Puyallup City Council meeting, Puyallup Council members Hansen, Johns Knutsen and George Dill were questioned by Puyallup Mayor Don Malloy about having these meetings while they are in the minority against a parking garage at the downtown Puyallup Sounder Station.
At the council meeting, Malloy read several e-mails Sumner Councilmember Matt Richardson sent to Hansen, Knutsen and Dill, in addition to others, about the Sounder conversations. Malloy said he felt the e-mails suggested the trio from Puyallup may not be effectively illustrating that they are in the minority opinion.
It’s OK to meet and collect information, but it must be clear that the council is in support of Sound Transit’s proposal to build a garage in downtown, he said.
A proposition for voter consideration could be placed on the November ballot that funds and approves construction of parking garages in downtown Sumner and Puyallup.
Several times during the meeting on June 4 with councilmembers from the five cities, Knutsen stated the Puyallup City Council’s position is in support of the downtown parking garage.
Because the Sounder is a regional issue, the more parties involved and information available could lead to a better long-term solution, Hansen said.
The group proposed a commuter station or garage be considered at the Shaw Road extension and Pioneer Avenue location. It would service commuters and allow for future parking needs, Hansen said.
“The idea is to move the commuter traffic out of town,” Dill said.
And the project could be done in stages, Hansen said. Maybe a park and ride parking garage would make more sense to begin with and locating a station could occur later, Knutsen said.
“We’re throwing it up in the air for everybody,” he said.
The parties in attendance agreed looking at a regional commuter station should be considered.
Bonney Lake Councilmember Jim Rackley said his city right now is developing its downtown and figuring out how to maximize uses in that core.
“You don’t want to use your downtown property on parking,” he said.
It’s an issue that needs to be considered, Richardson said.
“Why does this have to be in the middle of our downtown grid?” he asked.
The success of the Sounder requires parking needs to be determined and with more runs going online as well as an increase in future ridership, having flexibility is very important, Hansen said.
“All we’re doing is generating ideas,” he said. “Our council has decided they want a garage and for that to change there has to be really good information out there.”
Earlier this year, the Puyallup council voted 4-3 in support of Sounder’s proposal of a downtown parking garage. Hansen, Knutsen and Dill were in dissent.
“I think it’s great that we have a downtown station,” Hansen said, “but I think there’s a way we can take advantage of that and deal with commuters.”
The key to long-term success is a combination of using satellite parking, bus transportation and viable parking solutions, Hansen said.
“To do that requires a strong partnership between the Sounder, Pierce Transit and all of the communities,” he said.
Ultimately how a commuter parking garage or future Sounder use is up to Sounder representatives to decide, Hansen said, and voters to approve.
But gathering more information and discussing other options through meetings with other city representatives could benefit all the communities involved, he said.
“The Sounder needs to hear the things and the dialogue we have,” Hansen said. “I think that’s where we can share a lot of this information for Sounder to listen to.”
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