What is the Solution to Puyallup's Sound Transit Parking Problem?

An upcoming joint meeting with Sound Transit and the Puyallup City Council will focus on access and improvement options to the downtown Puyallup transit center.

The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24 from 5-7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the fifth floor of City Hall in downtown Puyallup.

Parking is an ongoing issue at the Puyallup center. Last year, Sound Transit announced plans to renovate the Puyallup and Sumner stations with the construction of parking garages. 

On a typical work day, 1,600 people catch the train in Puyallup or Sumner. That demand will double in the next 20 years, Sound Transit has predicted. In Puyallup, commuter parking has already reached its capacity.

Sound Transit has about $55 million earmarked in improvements to the Puyallup station but city leaders are divided on what the area needs, according to The Tacoma News Tribune. 

Councilman John Palmer has suggested a more "holistic" approach with diverse housing options plus parking structures, while deputy mayor John Knutson has said "forced housing" and development could create problems for residents.

Sound Transit is also considering charging for parking at its facilities. Spokeswoman Kimberly Reason says pay-to-park discussions are early, but could be a possibility within a year or two. 

What kind of parking solution would work best for the Puyallup Sound Transit station? Tell us in the comments.