East Link Station Improvements: bus stop improvements planned for future Judkins Park Station

Project description

As part of the transit integration project to provide new and upgraded bus stops near Sound Transit East Link stations, King County Metro Transit (Metro) will install four (4) bus stops adjacent to the future Sound Transit Judkins Park Station. The four bus stops are located on Rainier Avenue South and I-90 (Bus Stops 35911 and 35922), and 23rd Avenue South and I-90 (Bus Stops 35923 and 35924). Currently, Metro Routes 7, 9, 106, and 987 serve the intersection of Rainier Avenue South and I-90, and Metro Route 48 serves the intersection of 23rd Avenue South and I-90.

Rainier Avenue South and I-90 (Bus Stops 35911 and 35922)

Construction would consist of (see Figure 1):

• Installing conduit within the sidewalk or roadway along the north/east side of Rainier Avenue South.
• The depth of disturbance for the new conduit would be approximately 2.5 feet below surface, and the trench would be approximately 2 feet wide.
• The conduit routing would utilize approximately 100 feet of existing conduit and construct approximately 150 feet of new conduit that would connect to an existing Seattle City Light vault located in the existing bus lane.

23rd Avenue South and I-90 (Bus Stops 35923 and 35924)

For the southbound stop (35923), construction would consist of:

• Installing conduit primarily adjacent to the Mountains to Sound Trail (I-90 Trail) in Benvenuto Viewpoint, a City of Seattle-managed park. Figure 2 shows the conduit route in Benvenuto Viewpoint. The majority of the conduit would be installed via a conduit trench; however, approximately 20 feet of the conduit would be installed via directional bore to avoid disturbing an existing stairway.
• The depth of disturbance for the conduit trench would be approximately 2.5 feet below surface, and the trench would be approximately 2 feet wide. The depth of disturbance for the directional bore could be up to 4 feet.
• As shown in Figure 2, the conduit would start behind the back of 23rd Avenue South sidewalk at the bus stop and extend approximately 80 feet south, part of which would be under an existing stairway adjacent to the bus stop. From where the I-90 Trail within Benvenuto Viewpoint meets the sidewalk, the conduit would extend approximately 220 feet westward alongside the I-90-Trail to the east terminus of South Atlantic Street. The portion of I-90 Trail disturbed during construction, where the conduit crosses beneath the trail, would be repaved after the conduit is installed. Seattle City Light would perform aerial wiring modification work (aerial overhead power installation) between the existing power pole that Metro would connect into at the east terminus of South Atlantic Street and an existing pole at the corner of South Atlantic Street and 22nd Avenue South.

For the northbound stop (35924), construction would consist of:

• Installing a conduit through a vegetated area, consisting of mowed grasses and English ivy, of City of Seattle-managed Sam Smith Park to access the power source of an existing utility pole at the end of a public alley connected to South Judkins Street. Figure 3 shows the conduit route in Sam Smith Park.
• The depth of disturbance for the conduit trench would be approximately 2.5 feet below surface, and the trench would be approximately 2 feet wide for a distance of approximately 100 feet.
• Seattle City Light would modify aerial wiring from the existing pole that Metro would connect into at the end of an alley northward toward South Judkins Street to connect with an existing utility pole. Then, the wiring will be strung from that existing pole at South Judkins Street and the alley eastward to the intersection of South Judkins Street and 24th Avenue South and then southward on 24th Avenue South; see Figure 3.
• In addition to the aerial wiring modification, Seattle City Light would install one new utility pole at the northwest corner of South Judkins Street and 24th Avenue South, and conduct a like-for-like replacement of an existing pole with a similar height, diameter, and foundation depth as the existing pole’s on the north side of South Judkins Street approximately 75 feet west of the new utility pole. The new utility pole would be approximately 35 feet tall and 20 inches in diameter, and would be installed at a depth of approximately 7 feet using a drill rig and bucket truck.

Prior to construction at the bus stops, Metro would conduct a subsurface archaeological survey at unpaved areas of proposed ground disturbance in Benvenuto Viewpoint and Sam Smith Park in the form of hand-dug shovel probes up to 1 meter (3 feet) in depth.

Description of Section 4(f) Resources (Park and Recreation Resources)

Two Section 4(f) public park and recreation areas would be affected by the project improvements at the 23rd Avenue South and I-90 bus stops: Benvenuto Viewpoint and Sam Smith Park, as described below.

Benvenuto Viewpoint (Park and Recreation Resource)

• Benvenuto Viewpoint is an approximate 1.7-acre park maintained by Seattle Parks and located on property owned by Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The park is part of the I-90 lid. The park includes a viewpoint overlooking the I-90 highway with views of Seattle. A portion of the park is landscaped and mowed. A section of the Mountains to Sound Trail (I-90 Trail) is located within the park boundary. Seattle Parks considers Benvenuto Viewpoint a significant park resource.

Sam Smith Park (Park and Recreation Resource)

• Sam Smith Park is an approximate 15.2-acre park maintained by Seattle Parks and located on property owned by WSDOT as part of the I-90 lid. The park includes a play area, picnic tables, adult exercise equipment, and tennis courts. The park also includes an off-leash area for dogs and public art. The I-90 Trail travels through Sam Smith Park. Seattle Parks considers Sam Smith Park a significant park resource.

Both of these resources are protected resources under Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966 because they are a park publicly owned and open to the public, their major purpose is park or recreation activities, and both are significant as a park or recreation area.

Determination of De Minimis (Minimal) Project Impacts on the Parks

Benvenuto Viewpoint

• Metro requires a portion of transportation-related underground conduit to be located within Benvenuto Viewpoint. Figure 2 illustrates the area affected by the project within Benvenuto Viewpoint. Approximately 900 square feet of the 1.7-acre park would be used for transportation-related purposes to supply power to the southbound bus stop (35923). The placement of the conduit would largely be in the grass area immediately adjacent to the I-90 Trail (approximately 900 square feet). Construction may require the temporary closure of an approximate 220-foot section of the I-90 Trail to allow for the excavation/trenching and the placement of the conduit crossing. The closure and detour of the trail would be of short duration, lasting up to 5 days. It is possible the trail closure could be limited to a very small trail detour around the immediate trail disturbance location by placing temporary crushed surfacing or wood chips on the existing grass. If not, and a more extensive trail closure is needed, information would be provided in advance of the closure, and the detour route would be signed and connected to an existing trail connection point on South Atlantic Street (Figure 4). The trail crossing would be repaved and restored to its pre-construction condition. The landscaped grassed area in Benvenuto Viewpoint temporarily disturbed for the conduit installation would be restored to its pre-construction condition after construction is complete. Prior to construction, a subsurface archaeological survey would be conducted at unpaved areas of proposed ground disturbance (where the underground conduit would be installed) in the form of hand-dug shovel probes up to 1 meter (3 feet) in depth.
• The size of the area impacted is approximately 900 square feet, which is a small area relative to the 1.7-acre size of Benvenuto Viewpoint. The installation of underground conduit in Benvenuto Viewpoint would not permanently affect park facilities or functions, nor result in noise or visual impacts.

Sam Smith Park

• Metro requires transportation-related underground conduit to be located within Sam Smith Park. The area affected by the project within Sam Smith Park is shown in Figure 3. Approximately 611 square feet of the 15.2-acre park would be used for transportation-related purposes related to the power supply needed for the northbound bus stop (35924). Prior to construction, a subsurface archaeological survey would be conducted at unpaved areas of proposed ground disturbance (where the underground conduit would be installed) in the form of hand-dug shovel probes up to 1 meter (3 feet) in depth. The project would install an underground conduit in this area. The temporary construction activities are in a location of the park not associated with any of the park amenities. A small portion of the park adjacent to 23rd Avenue South would need to be closed during construction for up to 5 days, but access to the park’s amenities and the park itself would remain open to the public. The area associated with the temporary construction activities is an open area with mowed grass. Once construction is complete the disturbed area will be restored to preconstruction conditions. The new underground conduit would tie into an existing pole at the end of an alley north of the bus stop toward South Judkins Street; this alley is within the park boundary. Seattle City Light would modify the aerial wiring at the existing pole at the end of the alley, then string wiring from that pole to an existing pole at South Judkins Street. There would be no ground disturbance or new project elements associated with Seattle City Light’s aerial wire installation.
• The size of the area impacted would be approximately 611 square feet, which is a small area relative to the 15.2-acre size of Sam Smith Park. There are no recreational amenities or features in the area where the underground conduit would be installed. The installation of underground conduit in Sam Smith Park would not permanently affect park facilities or functions, nor result in noise or visual impacts.

Who does this project affect and why is it important to know?

The impact on Benvenuto Viewpoint and the I-90 Trail users will be temporary and minor. The temporary closure and detour of an approximate 220-foot section of the trail would be of short duration, lasting up to 5 days. It is possible the trail closure could be limited to a very small trail detour around the immediate trail disturbance location by placing temporary crushed surfacing or wood chips on the existing grass. If not, and a more extensive trail closure is needed, information would be provided in advance of the closure, and the detour route would be signed and connected to an existing trail connection point on South Atlantic Street (Figure 4). Once construction is complete, all disturbed areas, including both the trail and the landscaped grassed area immediately adjacent to the trail, will be restored to preconstruction conditions.

The impact on Sam Smith Park users will be temporary and minor. A small portion of the park (an open area with mowed grass with no park amenities) adjacent to 23rd Avenue South would need to be closed during construction for up to 5 days, but access to the park’s amenities and the park itself would remain open to the public. Once construction is complete the disturbed area will be restored to preconstruction conditions.

When does construction begin?

The proposed construction is currently in review, but the exploratory probes for soil testing are expected to begin by December of 2025 or January of 2026. The actual construction is anticipated to begin in late February or March of 2026.

For questions and comments

If you have any questions or comments, please contact King County Metro Transit Environmental Planner, Lawrence Chung, via email at lachung@kingcounty.gov by February 9, 2026. This public notice is also posted online at https://kingcountymetro.blog/tag/east-link-judkins-park-station/. If you wish to reach Metro by mail, please send your comments to the address below:

Lawrence Chung – Transit Environmental Planner
Transit Real Estate & Environmental (TREE)
Metro Transit Department, Capital Division
201 South Jackson St., MS KSC-TR-0431
Seattle, WA  98104-3856

PDF Section 4f Public Notice – Figure 1

(PDF Section 4f Public Notice – Figure 2)

(PDF Section 4f Public Notice – Figure 3)

(PDF Section 4f Public Notice – Figure 4)