Shoreline North/185th station is a Link light rail station on the Lynnwood Link Extension serving Shoreline, Washington. The station is located in a trench on the east side of Interstate 5, on the north side of Northeast 185th Street. It includes an adjacent bus station and two-story parking garage with 360 stalls. The station opened on August 30, 2024, with the rest of the line. Shoreline North/185th station also serves as the terminus of the Swift Blue Line.
 42 Shoreline North/185th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Link light rail station | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Platform view from the south entrance on opening day | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | 710 Northeast 185th Street Shoreline, Washington, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 47°45′51″N 122°19′22″W / 47.76417°N 122.32278°W | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operated by | Sound Transit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line(s) | Lynnwood Link Extension | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 side platforms | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Train operators | Sound Transit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bus routes | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bus stands | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bus operators | King County Metro, Community Transit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Connections | Swift Blue Line | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Construction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Structure type | At-grade | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parking | 360 spaces | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bicycle facilities | Lockers and racks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accessible | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | August 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Services | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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History
editThe Shoreline area developed as a suburban bedroom community in the early 20th century, centering around the Seattle–Everett Interurban Railway and later State Highway 99 on Aurora Avenue.[1] The area east of Aurora Avenue had one major commercial center, North City, which developed in the 1940s along 15th Avenue Northeast.[2] Interstate 5 was constructed through the area between Aurora and North City in the early 1960s, roughly along 5th Avenue Northeast.[3] In 1957, the Seattle Transit Commission proposed using the freeway's right of way for a rapid rail transit system, including a stop at "Richmond" near NE 185th Street.[4] The proposal was rejected by the state government over financing concerns, as federal and state highway funds could not be used for the necessary property acquisition.[5]
Planning for a modern light rail system was delegated to the Transit Commission's successor, Metro Transit, in the 1970s. Although the Interstate 5 corridor was left out of the Forward Thrust proposals, put to two votes in 1968 and 1970 that ultimately failed, it was reconsidered in a 1986 proposal by Metro and the Puget Sound Council of Governments, which placed a station serving North City at NE 185th Street.[6] The proposal was never formally adopted, but was the basis for later proposals by the Regional Transit Agency, which later became Sound Transit. In 1995, the RTA proposed the construction of a regional light rail system, including a line from Seattle to Lynnwood that stopped at 175th Street NE in Shoreline north of the Seattle city limits.[7] The plan was rejected by voters and re-sized into a successful 1996 ballot measure, which only constructed light rail from the University of Washington campus in Seattle to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport south of the city.
Light rail service began on August 30, 2024.[8] The bus station opened on September 14 as part of a regional network restructure.[9]
Public involvement in planning
editA community group recognized by Shoreline, called 185th Station-Area Citizens Committee (185SCC) was formed in 2012.[10] The formal planning process in Shoreline started in May 2013.[11]
Public involvement has not always been orderly. At a March 2015 public forum in Shoreline on rezoning, the city's mayor threatened to have rowdy, shouting participants ejected by police.[12]
Station layout
edit| Street level |
To Exits/Entrances, ticket vending machines | |
| Platform level |
Side platform, doors will open on the right | |
| Northbound | ←  1 Line toward Lynnwood City Center (Mountlake Terrace)
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←  2 Line (under construction) toward Lynnwood City Center (Mountlake Terrace)
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| Southbound | → 1 Line toward Angle Lake (Shoreline South/148th) →
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| → 2 Line (under construction) toward Redmond Technology (Shoreline South/148th) →
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| Side platform, doors will open on the right | ||
Shoreline North/185th station consists of two side platforms situated below street level in a trench. The station has two sets of stairs, escalators and elevators leading to enclosed surface entrances with ticket vending machines and rider information. To the immediate east of the station is a bus station with multiple bays, as well as a kiss and ride facility, atop a 360-stall[13] parking garage.[14][15] The parking garage was originally planned to be on the west side of the freeway, connected by an enlarged overpass, but was consolidated to save costs.[16]
Services
editIn addition to Link light rail service, Shoreline North/185th station is the southern terminus of Community Transit's Swift Blue Line, a bus rapid transit service on the State Route 99 corridor in Snohomish County.[17][18] The Blue Line was extended to the station on September 14, 2024, and connects it to Lynnwood and Everett.[19] The station has four bus bays: two for the Swift Blue Line and two for local King County Metro routes. These local routes travel to Richmond Beach, North City, and Northgate.[20]
References
edit- ^ Stein, Alan J. (February 20, 1999). "Shoreline — Thumbnail History". HistoryLink. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ Schuster, Chad (April 16, 2006). "Neighborhood of the week: North City, Shoreline—Appearance, future bright as long rehab nears end". The Seattle Times. p. F3.
- ^ "Chapter 3: Existing Conditions and Population Forecasts". 185th Street Station Subarea Plan (Report). City of Shoreline. March 2015. pp. 3–5. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ Kennett, John J. (March 1, 1957). Rapid Transit on Freeway, Tacoma-Seattle-Everett. Seattle Transit. OCLC 13297486.
- ^ "Hope Dashed on Transit-System Purchase Plan". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. August 1, 1957. p. 13.
- ^ "LRT Trunk Route Schematic" (Map). Federal Way Transit Extension: Plan Review for High-Capacity Transit in the Project Corridor: S. 200th Street to Federal Way City Center (PDF). Puget Sound Council of Governments. 1986. p. 2-2. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ "The Regional Transit System Proposal" (PDF). Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority. February 1995. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 30, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ Deshais, Nicholas; Lindblom, Mike (August 30, 2024). "New light rail stations draw big crowds for first trips". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
- ^ "Service Change". King County Metro. September 2024. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
- ^ "NE 185th Street Station Citizens Committee (events calendar)". City of Shoreline. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
- ^ "Light Rail Station Subarea Planning". City of Shoreline. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ Robertson, Kipp (March 17, 2015). "Outcry from Shoreline residents doesn't stop council from rezoning area around light rail". MyNorthwest.com. Bonneville International. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
- ^ Deshais, Nicholas (September 3, 2024). "What to know about connecting to the new Lynnwood light rail line". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
- ^ "NE 185th Station Site Plan" (PDF). Sound Transit. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
- ^ "Lynnwood Link Extension Shoreline North 185th Station and Garage". Rolluda Architects. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ Lindblom, Mike (November 6, 2017). "$500M hole: How hot economy, city requests punctured Sound Transit's Lynnwood light-rail budget". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ "Existing Conditions and Population Forecasts". 185th Street Station Subarea Plan (Report). City of Shoreline. March 2015. pp. 3–21. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
- ^ "Agency Expanding Swift Blue Line to Shoreline" (Press release). Community Transit. February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
- ^ Lindblom, Mike (August 25, 2024). "Lynnwood light rail is opening. Here's what you'll find at 4 new stations". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
- ^ Buses from Here: Shoreline North/185th Station (Map). King County Metro. September 2024. Retrieved November 3, 2024.