New Era for Historic King Street Station

Landmark structure will be restored to serve as transportation hub

Click here to download the King Street Station fact sheet Click here to see historical photos of King Street Station Video: CityStream Segment: King Street Station.

King Street Station is a public asset that is an important part of this city’s young history. For over one hundred years it has improved connections, serving as a gateway for millions of travelers coming into Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, spurred economic growth and helped to establish Seattle as major metropolitan city.

On March 5, 2008, Mayor Greg Nickels marked the start of a new era for King Street Station with the purchase of the landmark building from the BNSF Railway Company.

Under city ownership, King Street Station is set to undergo a $26.5 million renovation that will achieve the following goals:

• Restore the building historic character and grandeur
• Upgrade facilities to meet present and future needs for rail & transit users
• Enhance passenger safety and security
• Promote sustainable design with a LEED Silver building certification
• Support efforts to transform the station into a modern transit hub

“During its heyday, King Street Station was Seattle’s ‘front door,’ welcoming countless residents, visitors and even presidents,” said Mayor Nickels. “We are saving an important part of Seattle’s soul. By restoring the station’s faded beauty and bringing together long distance rail, commuter rail, and intercity buses, we are connecting our transportation past with our transportation future.”

The station will serve as one of three intermodal transportation hubs in downtown Seattle, alongside the Westlake Hub and the Coleman Ferry Dock. Providing transportation connections for the southern portion of the city, King Street Station will feature Amtrak long distance rail, Sound Transit commuter rail, and Amtrak intercity buses, along with convenient access to Light Rail and Metro buses.

Restorations will be funded by contributions from the city, the state and the federal government. The voter approved Bridging the Gap levy will provide $10 million and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will offer $16.5 million in local, state and federal funds. This support will allow the replacement of the station roof, repair of the clock tower lights, removal of the microwave tower, restoration of the terminal’s first floor and upgrade for seismic safety. Restoration work by the Seattle Department of Transportation on the station will begin in the summer of 2008. WSDOT has already restored the entryway foyer and waiting area restrooms, and purchased new exterior awnings at the cost of $4 million.

At the March 5, 2008 event Mayor Nickels led a rare, behind-the-scene’s tour of the station, pointing out many of the stunning architectural features that will be brought back to life under the restorations, including the 45-foot high molded plaster ceilings in the main waiting room and the station’s grand staircase. The tour concluded at the top of the dramatic clock tower, where the mayor joined a long tradition by signing his name to a girder. To view segments of the event click here.

King Street Station first opened to the public in May 1906. Reed and Stem, the architectural firm responsible for New York City’s historic Grand Central Terminal, designed the station. The San Marco bell tower of Venice, Italy, served as the model for the building’s familiar clock tower. The structure was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.