Construction for a new Kirkland Transit Center on Third Street between Central Way and Kirkland Avenue is ready to begin. The new center will replace the current 22-year-old structure.

Please join Sound Transit at an informational open house to learn about the project, the construction schedule and how the city and King County Metro plan to manage downtown traffic and bus service during construction. The community open house will run from 5-7 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Kirkland Teen Center, 348 Kirkland Ave. The presentation will begin at 6 p.m. Project staff will be available to answer questions and listen to comments.

The Kirkland Transit Center project will improve speed and reliability of bus service, as well as provide our customers with new waiting areas, enhanced pedestrian crossings, and bicycle amenities. New signal, intersection, and traffic circulation improvements will smooth traffic flows around the transit center and enhance pedestrian safety for our customers and neighborhood residents.

Because the Transit Center will not be the only new addition to downtown Kirkland, representatives from the King County Library System, the King County Wastewater Treatment Division and the City of Kirkland will be present to share information about improvements being planned for the Kirkland Library and upgrade of the downtown sewer pump system.

For information, visit www.soundtransit.org, or contact Roger Iwata, community outreach specialist at 206-689-4904.