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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Mayor Restarts King Street Station Clock
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
9/1/2009 2:45:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Richard Sheridan (206) 684-8540
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Mayor Restarts King Street Station Clock
Celebrates completion of station’s first phase of renovation
SEATTLE - Celebrating the city’s work towards restoring King Street Station, today Mayor Greg Nickels officially restarted the station’s once derelict clock. The repair of the clock, undertaken by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) with the assistance of expert volunteers, was part of the 103-year-old railroad station’s first phase of renovation. The city has also installed a new terracotta station roof, removed the microwave antenna mast, refurbished the clock tower and clock faces, and restored the lighting around the four clock faces.
“For the first time in more than a decade, Seattleites can once again set their watches by the King Street Station clock,” said Mayor Greg Nickels. “It is an outward sign of the city’s work to restore this important structure and make it a major transportation hub.”
The city will begin a second phase of renovation in early 2010 focused on the terminal’s first floor, mechanical and electrical systems, and seismic upgrades. By late 2011, SDOT will have restored the lobby’s original ornate ceiling, reopened the grand staircase, installed new mechanical and electrical equipment, and strengthened the building’s ability to withstand earthquakes.
Once returned to its original grandeur, King Street Station will be transformed into a modern transportation hub equipped to serve Seattle for the next hundred years. It will provide transportation connections for the southern portion of the city, featuring Amtrak long distance rail, Sound Transit commuter rail and Amtrak intercity buses, along with convenient access to Metro buses, Link light rail and the Seattle Streetcar.
The voter-approved Bridging the Gap levy will provide $10 million towards the renovation work, with additional funding coming from the Federal Transit Administration, Washington State Department of Transportation, Washington State Historic Society, the South Downtown Foundation and 4Culture.
The Seattle Department of Transportation builds, maintains and operates Seattle's $12 billion transportation infrastructure. To further Mayor Nickels’ goal to get Seattle moving, the department manages short- and long-term investments in streets, bridges, pavement and trees, that better connect the city with the region.
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