Lakewood station was originally scheduled to open in 2002 as part of a Sounder extension, but plans were delayed due to funding issues and the state government's work on the Point Defiance Bypass project.

[1] The station was designed by Hewitt Architects and includes one piece of public art commissioned by Sound Transit,[7] Transpire, a cast bronze sculpture by Mark Calderon that depicts a campfire with intertwined spires.

[2][8] The original design of the sculpture attracted controversy for being phallic in nature, which conflicted with the city's stance against prostitution and sex businesses that had historically operated along Pacific Highway.

[15] Insufficient sales tax revenue, increased construction costs, design changes requested by Tacoma officials, and the state government's delays in planning the Point Defiance Bypass moved the projected opening date to 2007 and later 2012.

[16][17][18] Lakewood's city government selected a site on Pacific Highway Southwest near Bridgeport Way as its preferred location for the commuter rail station in 1998,[19] and it was adopted by Sound Transit after the completion of an environmental assessment in 2002.

[27][28] Sounder service to Lakewood began on October 8, 2012, marking the completion of the original 82-mile (132 km) network, and was preceded by a ribbon-cutting celebration and inaugural rides to and from Tacoma Dome Station two days prior.