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The Valley Transit Downtown Transfer Center and Walla Walla Farmers Market share a common location. This design competition explores the possibilites for a new Walla Walla Market Station. Integrated facilities can enhance an already mutually beneficial relationship by improving services for transit riders and market visitors.

Downtown Walla Walla is at the heart of a compellingly beautiful agricultural region increasingly renowned for recent wine industry success.  Among the top Washington wheat producers, the agricultural legacy of the area includes asparagus, spinach, potatoes, green peas, alfalfa hay, barley, corn, grapes, string and lima beans, and Walla Walla Sweet Onions. The arts are treasured here, from foundries that cast sculptors' artistry to a wide selection of music provided at the Summer Sounds on the Plaza downtown. Community amenities for the 44,000 area residents include three local colleges, a vibrant historic downtown, access to nearby outdoor activities, an affordable public transit system, and a seasonal Farmers market featuring as many as 100 vendors.

In 2001, Walla Walla was named one of the Great American Main Streets by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The City has also been called out as a National Trust Destination of Distinction (2002), as Sunset Magazine's best Main Street in the West (2002) and the best Western Wine Destination of 2005.  In 2006, Money Magazine named Walla Walla the "best place to retire."

Valley Transit provides local bus service from a Transfer Center Service Building on Main Street, located near City Hall and the County Courthouse. Services available at the transfer center include bus schedule information, ticketing, and public restrooms.  The building is adjacent to a public parking lot behind City Hall.  Every weekend between May and the end of October, the site completely transforms to host the Walla Walla Valley Farmers Market. The market includes an eclectic array of vendors, musicians, children's activities, and community gathering opportunities.

In partnership with the City, the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation, and the Walla Walla Valley Farmers Market Association, Valley Transit seeks to replace the existing facility with a Market Station incorporating expanded uses and integrating other potential community amenities. The Design Competition includes evaluation of the Valley Transit site and adjacent city property and development of an innovative architectural and urban design solution representative of the City and stakeholders values.

In 2004, Walla Walla adopted a Downtown Master Plan to guide the growth of the city's central commercial district. While the historic buildings and character of downtown are largely to credit for the awards and recognition, Walla Walla seeks to promote good design and maintain a creative sense of place in its expansion.

The design competition is funded by a grant from the Washington State Rural Mobility program.