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INAUGURATION DAY | The Talbot Hill Microsociety swore in its newly elected leaders on Tuesday. [Page 3]
FRIDAY, JAN. 15, 2016
Mayor proposes moving transit center to Rainier and Grady Plan would use Sound Transit money to move transportation hub out of downtown core BY DEAN A. RADFORD dradford@rentonreporter.com
Mayor Denis Law is exploring with regional officials the idea of relocating the Metro Transit Center from downtown Renton in a move he says would enhance the city’s – and region’s – transportation system. His destination is 8.3 acres at a gateway to Renton, the intersection of Rainier Avenue South and Grady Way on the former site of the Sound Ford dealership. The land is currently empty and has been on the market for many years.
But to get from the transit center on Burnett Avenue to the one on Rainier Avenue could take years. Law first must build consensus for the idea – initially the reaction is favorable, he said – and then work with Sound Transit and other government agencies on how to finance buying the land and designing and building a transit center, mostly a 1,500- to 2,000-stall parking garage. There’s already a Metro park-and-ride lot next door that could be expanded. Law has been promoting his idea since October, when the idea came to him one night while he was lying awake.
Law said he is motivated by providing better access to public transportation for his residents and those living on West Hill and in Fairwood and North Kent and for the city’s business community. “We want better access to buses and the transportation system for our citizens and to serve our businesses,” Law said. The new location is on a major transportation corridor at the intersection of two freeways and is close to major employment centers and the Tukwila Sounder Station. It could be served by Metro Transit’s popular F Line and bus rapid transit. Renton has already spent millions of dol-
lars to improve Southwest 27th Street, a key access point to the Sounder Station. “It made sense to make this our hub for the city,” said Law of the Valley floor in south Renton. And the city is moving forward with several initiatives to create more jobs and places to live in a pedestrian-oriented downtown, Law said. While the city will continue with those initiatives if the transit center remains, heavy bus traffic isn’t compatible with them, Law said. Through regulations and ordinances, the city is addressing issues of bad behavior and crime in or near the current transit center. The city is studying returning to two-way traffic on South Third and South [ more TRANSIT page 4 ]
One dead in North Renton house fire BY BRIAN BECKLEY
bbeckley@rentonreporter.com
Renton rallies for the Hawks! Hundreds of fans showed up for a send-off rally Friday at Renton City Hall, hungry for a victory in the Seahawks’ wild-card playoff victory against the Minnesota Vikings. They were well-fed, with the Hawks beating Minnesota 10-9 when the Viking’s kicker missed a last-minute field goal to win the game. Next up, the Carolina Panthers. DEAN A. RADFORD, Renton Reporter
One person died during a two-alarm fire in North Renton this weekend. The fire is still under investigation. According to Renton Fire Department Deputy Chief Erik Wallgren, firefighters were called to a structure fire in the 300 block of Factory Avenue North at about 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8. Firefighters arrived at the two-story residence to find the building fully engulfed and upgraded the fire to a second alarm to protect the exposed buildings on either side. Wallgren said the fire proved challenging because structural stability of the home had been compromised because of the amount of fire. As firefighters tried to enter, they noted the stairwell from the first to second floor had burned away, making it too risky to enter. Firefighters had to work off a ladder truck platform to put water on the flames from above and through exterior windows. After the fire was knocked down, firefighters were able to enter the residence and discovered the victim on the second floor. According to police, the victim was a white male in his mid-50s. His name has not yet been released. The fire investigation has been turned over to Renton Police. On a high note, firefighters were able to [ more FIRE page 5 ]
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