Federal Way Link Extension: How We Got Here

In just a few days, the first Link train with passengers will travel to Kent and Federal Way. Since the first official discussions of building light rail to Federal Way over 15 years ago, the Seattle Transit Blog has followed its progress. Take a trip down memory lane as we look back at the discussions, designs, and construction that have led to the celebration this Saturday.

Northbound Link train approaching Star Lake station

In November 2007, the Roads and Transit ballot measure was rejected by voters. The roads" part of the ballot measure would have invested in state highways, bridges, and local roads in an attempt to fix key chokepoints. The transit" part of the package would have extended Link north to 164th St/Ash Way, south to Tacoma Dome, and east to Overlake/Microsoft in Redmond. The plan would have also funded additional ST Express service, the First Hill Streetcar, and planning studies for potential transit extensions.

Roads and Transit map (Roads & Transit)

After the ballot measure failed, Sound Transit went back to the drawing board for ST2. In April 2008, the Federal Way City Council voted to support light rail through Federal Way to Tacoma. However, Sound Transit had a different plan. In July, Erica C. Barnett (then at The Stranger), shared a breakdown of the revised ST2 plan. This plan included:

• Link expansion north to Lynnwood (from UW), south to Star Lake (from Sea-Tac), and east to Redmond Technology
• Expanded ST Express service
• Improved Sounder service between Lakewood and Seattle and to use 8-car trains

This plan was sent to voters in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties in November 2008. This time, voters approved ST2 (Prop 1). These projects were bold expansions for a light rail system that was not yet open to the public.

Two years after ST2 passed, Sound Transit announced that the 2008 Great Recession caused a 25% drop in expected revenue. This caused the agency to delay some projects and reconsider others. South King County's 31% drop in expected revenue put the Link extension to Federal Way in jeopardy. In December 2010, extensions past Angle Lake were put on pause. Unsurprisingly, Federal Way was not pleased with this outcome and the City Council passed a resolution to urge Sound Transit to build Link all the way to Federal Way.

While construction was paused on the Federal Way Link Extension in the early 2010s, the planning continued. Sound Transit explored four alternatives for the route between Angle Lake station and Federal Way Transit Center. Link would either follow SR-99, I-5, or combination of the two. Ultimately, Sound Transit chose the I-5 alignment. The Seattle Transit Blog did not agree with this decision.

The closest option to the Board's preferred alignment.

The ST3 ballot measure was passed by voters in 2016. ST3 provided funding for the extension between Kent Des Moines and Federal Way Downtown. In 2017, the Sound Transit Board officially adopted the alignment and stations along the extension. This moved FWLE to the design stage and Sound Transit shared the initial concepts for each station.

Construction of FWLEofficially began in July 2020withservice planned to start in 2024. Construction continued fairly smoothly until 2022, when a mud-slide caused Sound Transit to re-evaluate a segment of the route near the McSorely Wetland. After some investigation, Sound Transit decided to build a 500 ft cantilever bridge over the impacted area. This change pushed the FWLE opening back to 2026.

Sound Transit's longest-spanning bridge to date threads the needle between the southbound lanes of I-5 (hidden in the background of this photo) and a wetland area in Kent. (Sound Transit)

Earlier this year, Sound Transit announced FWLE would open earlier than planned. For the past few months, 1 Line trains have operated between Angle Lake and Federal Way Downtown, without passengers. Testing has continued to run smoothly and Sound Transit will welcome the first passengers on the new segment this Saturday.

A northbound 1 Line train arrives as a southbound 1 Line train departs Angle Lake stationMore Federal Way Link Extension Opening Coverage

Federal Way Link Extension: Opening Celebration Details