[2][3] The platforms have several covered shelters and are connected to ground level by stairs and ramps that lead towards a pedestrian underpass along Longacres Way at the north end of the station.

[6][7] The plaza also includes a piece of public art, Sheila Klein's sculpture and garden Imaginary Landscape, located at the station's ancillary building.

The City of Tukwila has prepared the area around the station for transit-oriented development and plans to build a multi-use trail between Longacres Way and the Southcenter Mall.

[12][13] Southwest 27th Street travels south and east from the station to Boeing's Longacres Industrial Park,[14] the Federal Reserve Bank, and offices for Kaiser Permanente.

[18][19] The railroad was sparsely used during its early years, earning the title "Orphan Road", but had several daily passenger trains stopping at Black River Junction (near Fort Dent) and Orillia (south of modern-day Tukwila station).

[44] The cost of the station was increased to $796,000 as a result of the rushed bidding and design process, which lasted five days and omitted a survey of underground utilities.

[45] The interim Tukwila station opened on March 12, 2001, built with wooden platforms, chain-link fencing, and 250 parking spaces in the former Longacres lot on lease from Boeing.

[38][52] Construction of a permanent Tukwila station with up to 400 parking spaces was included in the Roads and Transit ballot measure,[52][53] which was rejected by voters in November 2007.

[58] The FTA and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) approved the reevaluated design in 2011 and found no significantly different environmental impacts for the northern platforms.

[63] In June 2014, the RapidRide F Line began serving the station's newly completed bus bays, replacing local service on routes 110 and 140 between Burien and Renton.

[64] The City of Renton completed its extension of Strander Boulevard to the station later in the month, connecting to the new park and ride on the west side of the platforms.

[72][73] The agency's 2005 long-range plan studied a potential light rail line connecting Burien to Renton, with stops at Southcenter Mall and the Tukwila Sounder station.

[74] The 2014 update to the long-range plan re-studied the corridor as an extension to the proposed West Seattle light rail or bus rapid transit line, and also considered a connection to Sounder at Tukwila station.