After months of requests from Washington state’s Democratic congressional delegation, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will approve a more than $1.4 billion full funding grant agreement (FFGA) for the region’s Federal Way light rail extension.
The commitment is split into two parts: a $790 million grant from the USDOT’s Capital Investment Grant program and a $629.47 million direct loan from the USDOT’s Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program. Sound Transit, which will handle construction, announced its readiness to proceed as soon as the loans are signed and executed. The final agreement is expected to be signed in mid-January.
“This is an early gift for the South Sound community that will help decrease commute times and reduce traffic congestion for families, students, workers, and travelers throughout the region,” U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) said. “As transit ridership in Puget Sound continues to grow and more Washingtonians look to transportation alternatives like light rail to escape gridlock and traffic, this vital infrastructure project will help keep Puget Sound moving toward the future. I commend Secretary Chao and the FTA for working with Washingtonians to move this critical project forward, and I look forward to getting this project underway.”
The Federal Way project is a piece of a Puget Sound regional system. It will add 7.8 miles of light rail from Angle Lake, Washington to Federal Way, Washington. Sound Transit estimates the addition will add 40,700 daily trips and save commuters approximately 30 minutes of travel time when compared to driving. Local officials also expect the project to bring with it as much as $34 million in transit-oriented development, along with $1.8 million in annual parking revenue. This is in addition to the $465 million expected to stem from recent, current, and projected private-sector development near light rail stations in SeaTac, Washington, and another $680 million of public and private sector value capture identified in the Federal Way Link corridor.
“This announcement is great news for everyone in the South Sound who will now have the option to take light rail right into downtown Seattle and beyond,” U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said. “Three new light rail stations and 1,200 new parking spaces will help reduce congestion and increase connectivity for commuters and families throughout south King and Pierce counties.”
Murray and Cantwell were joined in project support by their colleagues in the House, including U.S. Reps. Adam Smith (D-WA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA), Denny Heck (D-WA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Derek Kilmer (D-WA).