Light rail station on I-90 honoring a local legend through station art and identity
1484 Rainier Ave S
Seattle, WA
Light Rail Station
Sound Transit
Under Construction
Estimated Completion 2023
Part of the long-anticipated East Link Extension connecting Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond, the Judkins Park Station knits together a diverse community divided by I-90 for decades, providing greater connectivity and access to employment, entertainment, services, and learning institutions throughout the region.
Located at the center roadway of I-90, riders will enter the station from Rainier Avenue S and 23rd Avenue S. A portion of the I-90 bridge was removed to fit the station entrance at Rainier Avenue South. The bridge removal provided opportunity to bring natural light into the station entrance and adjacent bus waiting area. Station entrances at both Rainier Avenue S and 23rd Avenue S provide seamless bus to rail transfer, and direct station access from the Mountain to Sound Trail for pedestrians and bicyclists. Residential development within walking distance of the station has already increased in anticipation of the project opening.
Previously, the thoroughfare of Rainier Avenue was poorly lit, covered by the highway, and not conducive to biking or walking. Removal of an overhead pedestrian bridge and careful consideration of lighting, artwork, and landscaping results in a welcoming pedestrian arrival at the new station.
A bright station provides direct access from the lobby to the platform, via stairs and escalators. The station honors and celebrates Seattle native Jimi Hendrix in the community he grew up in by incorporating murals of the acclaimed singer and songwriter on the building entrances. Artist Hank Willis Thomas featured the local musician at the entrance walls by creating Hendrix’s images from various stages of his life. The station itself will be an icon of connection for the community and a proud symbol of the area’s rich heritage.
