Editorial: Time to consider building a garage between Sumner and Puyallup

Years ago, Puyallup and Sumner were given the option of building Sounder stations in their downtown communities or at a spot in between the two towns. Each city choose the downtown concept.

In retrospect, we probably made the wrong decision. Stations in both cities have clogged downtown traffic, made parking a nightmare and haven’t added much new business, if any, for local merchants.

Several Puyallup and Sumner council members would like to see that mistake rectified. While the Puyallup City Council voted against pursing the possibility of building an additional Sounder station off Shaw Road, Puyallup council members Rick Hansen, George Dill and John Knutsen have met for several unofficial chats with Sumner city council members about the future of Sounder.

Their idea: If a new station isn’t possible at the moment, why not put in a garage?

It has all the benefits of a garage near the downtown stations without an ugly building inside the city. Many residents aren’t too eager to have a garage in the downtown core because it detracts from the surrounding atmosphere. But it may be the only solution to solving the car overcrowding problem.

A garage near Shaw Road would serve as a center point to draw commuters coming off South Hill before the make their way either north into Puyallup or South into Sumner. A bus could then take commuters to the Sounder stations, and back.

Building one garage at a mid-point makes sense. It saves the cities from each building their own individual parking garage. And, if Sound Transit decides to put another station in between Sumner and Puyallup, the first step will have been made.

While the logic is sound, the fate probably lies in the details. The trio of Puyallup council members are only asking for Sumner and Puyallup to explore the possibility.

It’s time for the rest of the council to get involved if this idea is to really gain traction.