‘Bring on the Trains,’ Says Mount Vernon
Mayor Goes Ahead with Multimodal Transportation Center, Despite Criticism

by Michael Barrett

Whether people consider it a boondoggle, another snag in traffic flow, one city’s expensive pipe dream or just “pie in the Skye,” the Multimodal Transportation Center in downtown Mount Vernon is going to start its construction phase in a few short months.

“We’ve spent in the neighborhood of $2.5 million getting to this point,” says Mayor Skye Richendrfer. “It’s going to be a great project.”

The intermodal center includes a spanking new Amtrak station servicing all of Skagit County, a Skagit Transit (SKAT) hub, the Greyhound bus depot, taxi stands, passenger parking, bicycle racks and, inside, waiting rooms, visitor information center and even public meeting rooms. The total cost is estimated at $5.6 million.

The project, started nearly 10 years ago, has had its detractors from the get-go, and more recently, those opposed to it have not been few and far between. Many contend it’s costing too much. Some believe the access means are out of kilter. Others are against it because of the additional street congestion it will cause and the fact there’s no parking downtown now, let alone when the project is completed.

Richendrfer, the city’s third-term executive, has led the charge on the center and has garnered support from where it counts, including city councilpersons, chamber and business people, federal transportation officials and others.

“We’ve very much moved down the path the past couple of years in regards to this project and I think it’s got broad-based support,” he states. “I know there are a number of organizations, like the Downtown Business Community and Chamber of Commerce, who’ve come out in support of this project. The objections I’ve heard aren’t based on anything but rhetoric and disinformation.”

While much of the emphasis has been on buying “rundown old structures” — five properties in all — for demolition and completing a “stringent” environmental assessment through the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), the problem with parking remains the sticking point on many fronts. The main opposition comes from the county, with the three commissioners arguing that the city shouldn’t take any places away from its employees.

 

Parking a perpetual problem

“We do recognize that we have to do more for long-term parking in partnership with Skagit County,” Richendrfer admits. “The primary objection that needs to be addressed is county employees’ parking, and we’ve been working very closely with the commissioners to resolve that. It’s being negotiated.” One plan tendered, he says, is a exchange of parking places, the city giving the county one for another nearer the railway station.

Opposition from business people has centered on the congestion the depot would bring to the heart of downtown. But the city contends the present location of the Amtrak station — East College Way between Urban Avenue and Continental Place — is more crowded, based on a detail traffic study. Turning into and out of the center — under strong criticism — as well is being touted as not a problem.

“People will easily be able to get in and out,” Richendrfer states. “There’ll be right-turn-only off Kincaid Street and a new signal at the entry way on Montgomery Street. . . . We’ll have the additional ability to improve the intersection traffic flow by Scott’s Bookstore. You’ve seen how often that’s been jammed there.”

Another objection has been about the lack of space on the building site itself, the danger imposed to pedestrians crossing tracks to the waiting platform and the potentially long waits at the Kincaid crossing.

“Personally, I think when people see the demolition occur there and the sense of how big the actual property is, that will dissuade some of the congestion aspect of it,” Richendrfer notes. “The fact is, there are two trains north and two trains south currently and eight buses per hour there. I, like others, hope there will be increased train traffic.”

As far as the wait along Kincaid Street, the city points out the barricades will operate as they do now when any train passes, but passenger coaches, being able to fit along the platform, will not block the intersection.

Richendrfer hopes construction can begin in July and be completed in 10 months. Demolition was to start in March as soon as the remaining property purchases were concluded, which seemed imminent. The only sticking point appeared still to be on where county employees could park.