Sound Transit: Upgrades to Sumner Station a First Priority, Officials Say

This year, Sound Transit will begin working on long-term access improvements at the Sumner station, according to an article in the Tacoma News Tribune.

Officials say they don't have a cemeted timeline yet, but Sumner and Puyallup are first in line for improvements, out of the eight stations Sound Transit owns and operates.

Upgrades could include a parking garage and more pedestrian and bike-friendly access.

Nearly 80 percent of Sounder riders drive to the station and park, which causes congestion on Sumner's roads. One of the goals of the improvements is to make it easier for commuters to walk or bicycle to the station, to ease parking burdens. Access trails, passenger dropoff points and pedestrian bridges are all part of the plan.

Developers hope to have a design in place sometime next year.