Press Release: Renton Transit Center Garage to Move Forward
Published on May 28, 2026
RENTON, WA (MAY 28, 2026) – As part of the long-term advocacy efforts led by Mayor Armondo Pavone and Councilmember Ed Prince, the City of Renton is proud to announce $100 million in secured funding for the parking garage at the Renton Transit Center, an integral part of regional connectivity. The news comes following the May 28 Sound Transit Board vote to rebalance the agency’s financial plan and address long-term budget shortfall, via the Enterprise Initiative.
Mayor Pavone notably stated the importance of the Renton Transit Center parking garage both as critical access infrastructure for riders in Renton and as important investment for equity in the South King County region following decades of paying into the Sound Transit fund, while facing delays to Renton’s projects in 2021.
In the Seattle Times Op-Ed pages on May 19, Mayor Pavone stated, “Renton is among the fastest-growing communities in King County. We are home to more than 100,000 residents and over 70,000 jobs, and we are one of the county’s largest employment centers. We are also a regional transit hub serving communities throughout South King County. Riders from Maple Valley, Covington, Black Diamond and unincorporated King County will rely on access to the Renton Transit Center to connect to the regional transit network. We need expansion.”
The inclusion of funding is a result of an amendment offered by the City of Renton, sponsored by Councilmember Prince and co-sponsored by King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, King County Councilmember Steffanie Fain, Mayor Angela Birney (Redmond), and Mayor Tom McLeod (Tukwila). This project is indicative of the efforts by the City of Renton to be a good partner to Sound Transit, and find creative solutions to move projects in Renton forward, such as the public partnership approach applied to the NE 44th Street Park-and-Ride, which will deliver another critical access project more efficiently and cost-effectively.
Renton’s transit ridership includes riders who live within walking distance of transit and those who drive to it. The City is actively planning for dense transit-oriented development, and walkable communities centered on transit.
Find more information on Renton’s Transit Oriented Development plans here.
Find more information on Renton’s advocacy efforts with regional transportation projects here.
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About the City of Renton
The City of Renton, Washington, with a population of 109,700 (2025), is located on the southeast shore of Lake Washington, just south of Seattle. Renton's strong economic base, diverse marketplace, and favorable business climate have attracted nationally recognized companies wishing to provide employees and their families with an outstanding quality of life. Renton is the home of Boeing, PACCAR, IKEA, Super Bowl Champion (2014 & 2026) Seattle Seahawks, two-time (2016 & 2019) MLS champion and CONCACAF Champion (2022) Seattle Sounders FC (in 2024), and the eternal resting place of rock icon Jimi Hendrix. You can find more information on our website, news releases, Facebook, Instagram, X, and Nextdoor pages.