For more than two decades, PCL Construction has collaborated with key transportation organizations — including Amtrak, Sound Transit and the Port of Seattle, who owns and operates the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) — to build the infrastructure that links people to opportunity, adventure and each other.

“Our role has been and continues to be centered around supporting the goals of our clients,” says Andrew Fernandez, who leads operations across Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Idaho as district manager of PCL’s Seattle office. “Organizations like Sound Transit, Amtrak and the Port of Seattle have ambitious visions for connectivity, job creation, transit-oriented development and building more sustainable communities. We see ourselves as stewards of those community goals, helping bring them to life.”

Since the early 1990s, PCL has completed multiple vital transportation infrastructure projects across the Northwest. Here’s a look at PCL’s past and current transportation infrastructure projects, along with insight into what the future holds for transportation in the Northwest.

Locomotive Service Facility at the Amtrak Seattle King Street Coach Yard

This 31,000-square-foot locomotive service facility and maintenance shop for Amtrak houses maintenance services for heavy rail cars. The facility includes a 55-ton overhead crane, and a 125-ton drop table for switching out locomotive parts. To handle the immense equipment loads, the building sits atop steel pipe piles driven 180 feet underground. Two train tracks run through the shop, connecting directly to Amtrak’s mainline, while a 75-foot extension and custom doors allow the crane to move materials without disrupting other operations.

To reduce energy use, the building features 29 translucent wall panels and white epoxy-painted walls that maximize natural light. In darker months, LED fixtures with occupancy sensors light only the areas in use, cutting down on waste and improving efficiency.

This project was awarded ENR’s Best Regional Project for the Northwest Region in 2019.

Sound Transit South 200^th Street Link Extension

This design-build project extended an existing light rail system from SEA to a new station 1.6 miles south of the airport. A key goal of this project was to minimize long-term disruptions to airport traffic. To achieve this, the PCL team constructed a long-span structure — a structural element that provides covered open areas without intermediate supports, allowing construction to move forward without interfering with busy roadways.

Amtrak Seattle Yard Trainset Maintenance Facility

This project includes a new 90,000-square-foot maintenance and inspection facility, a two-story administrative space, and an adjacent service and cleaning track. The project also includes a 39,000-square-foot, two-story parking garage, three storage tracks, and major site and utility upgrades within the active Amtrak Seattle Yard. This design-build project will support the introduction of new, state-of-the-art Amtrak Airo trains set to launch on the Amtrak Cascades route in 2026.

Sound Transit Stride Bus Operations and Maintenance Facility

This project will support the expansion of Sound Transit’s Stride Bus Rapid Transit system by increasing bus storage, maintenance capacity and operational efficiency. The complex will house up to 120 articulated and double-decker buses and includes the construction of an 18,000-square-foot administration and operations building, as well as a 78,500-square-foot maintenance facility equipped with a specialized service bay, and a 141,000-square-foot parking garage with a bus wash and fueling facility. A multi-level parking structure will provide dedicated space for bus storage on the first level and employee parking above, with integrated fueling, washing and support systems designed to streamline operations.

Port of Seattle Shared Use Lounge – Club at SEA

In 2024, SEA set a passenger record with over 52.6 million travelers passing through the airport. To keep pace with this growth, the Port of Seattle is investing in ways to improve passenger experience. One of these upgrades includes a new shared-use lounge on Concourse A, known as The Club at SEA.

This 14,000-square-foot premium lounge will sell day passes to the public, offering all travelers the opportunity to enjoy upscale design, locally inspired food and beverage offerings, private restrooms, high-speed connectivity, business amenities and flexible seating areas.

With decades of experience and a deep commitment to community-focused infrastructure, PCL is helping lead the way for smart, sustainable transportation solutions in the Northwest. Across the region, transit agencies saw a 12% increase in ridership from 2023 to 2024, totaling nearly 151 million trips. This trend is expected to continue as investments in transportation infrastructure grow.

The United States’ Department of Transportation’s proposed budget to be allocated to Amtrak in 2026 is $6.8 billion, which is a significant investment aimed at enhancing rail infrastructure across the country. These enhancements include the Northwest, where ridership has reached record levels in recent years. In addition to upgrading existing routes and facilities, Amtrak is proposing new routes in the region to support continued growth.

Sound Transit is also advancing its long-term expansion plan, originally launched in 2016. Between 2024 and 2041, the Link light rail system will grow by more than 60 miles and add 37 new stations. Once completed, the expanded system is projected to serve up to 600,000 daily passengers.

Meanwhile, SEA is responding to record-breaking passenger volumes in 2024 and anticipated growth in 2025 with a major expansion initiative. The proposed long-term projects include airfield upgrades, new roadways and infrastructure, facility relocations through new construction and a new terminal.

“The projected growth of public transportation over the coming decades is monumental,” says Fernandez. “The Northwest is in an exciting position to transform and grow how we move through our communities, and at PCL, we’re proud to help drive that change forward.”

From expanding light rail and bus rapid transit systems to enhancing airport facilities and preparing for next-generation trains, PCL’s current projects are laying the groundwork for a more connected and efficient future. As mobility trends shift and demand rises, PCL remains a trusted partner in building the infrastructure that keeps the Northwest moving forward.