Kent or Auburn Sounder station parking situation (Seattle, Maple Valley: buying a house, neighborhoods)

[kentauburnarea]

I am looking at buying a house which is going to be around 10-12 minutes drive from both Auburn/Kent Station. I will be working at Amazon SLU campus and hoping that I could take the sounder train from one of these two stations. Any idea how easy is car parking at any of these 2 stations? Of course I will be looking at finding at parking spot during those peak morning hours.

The sounder train commute from Auburn/Kent station does not seem to bad.

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by kentauburnarea

I am looking at buying a house which is going to be around 10-12 minutes drive from both Auburn/Kent Station. I will be working at Amazon SLU campus and hoping that I could take the sounder train from one of these two stations. Any idea how easy is car parking at any of these 2 stations? Of course I will be looking at finding at parking spot during those peak morning hours.

The sounder train commute from Auburn/Kent station does not seem to bad.

During the peak morning hours, both the Kent and Auburn lots get pretty full. Auburn has some nearby lots that they charge for by the month, and both have shuttle buses that go to the stations from various nearby neighborhoods. I have a friend who used to take the shuttle bus from Lakeland Hills in Auburn to the Sounder station...It was an hour long commute, all told. He felt it was worth it.

[VirtualErik]

every time I've gone through Kent station, lot is full. Just don't depend on it as parking there may not be an option unless you are there pre dawn.

[kentauburnarea]

In that case, it probably would make sense to take some sort of park and ride options or a bus that would go directly to the station and then board the sounder train

[Boxkicker]

I lived in Maple Valley and worked right near where you are going to work.

I caught the 6:30ish Sounder train and never had a problem with parking in the Kent Station garage.

The Sounder train will get you to King Street station and then you can walk across the street and catch either a bus or the light rail to the Westlake station.

Overall, with me leaving at 6am, it was about a 75-90 minute door to door commute.

Nevertheless, it was the main reason I moved. Hated spending 3 hours a day commuting.

[Unicorn hunter]

I agree with Boxkicker. Commuting is hell. Kent Station garage is full by 7 a.m., other than Fridays. There is a free park and ride lot about 10 blocks away. Good for daily exercise anyway! I also live out by Maple Valley and took bus/Sounder into Seattle. Definitely eats up about 3 hours of your day. I am now retired and what I love best is NO MORE COMMUTE! If you can afford to live closer to work do it!

[CrazyDonkey]

Equidistant from the Kent or Auburn Station sounds like the Covington area. Check to see if there is a bus within walking distance to the Kent or Auburn Station, or a carpool ride. Alternatively, there are 1.1k free parking spots at the Angle Lake Light Rail Station, which will take you directly to the Westlake Station.

[kentauburnarea]

The angle lake station sounds like a viable alternative too. At least it takes directly to westlake station so I dont have to do another bus ride to Amazon. The sounder from Kent takes to king street station so a bus ride to Amazon is much needed.

[discord]

Did you end up buying a place? How did your commute work out?

[mhays25]

Sound Transit plans more garages at a list of stations including Auburn. It'll take a few years though.