The new Link light rail service in Seattle to Federal Way began on Dec. 6, allowing travel within the South King County, Washington region while avoiding congestion.
Officials said the nearly 8-mile 1 Line extension will provide travelers with new options to travel between Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport and Federal Way. The route includes three new stations – at Kent Des Moines, Star Lake and Federal Way Downtown – as well as two new parking structures and a parking addition in Federal Way.
The extension is the fifth light rail extension in the past three years for Sound Transit, including the T-Line to Hilltop, the 2 Line between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology stations, the Lynnwood extension into Snohomish County and the 2 Line extension to Downtown Redmond. Another extension, the Crosslake Connection, is expected in 2026 and will extend the 2 Line across Lake Washington into Seattle.
“The debut of the Federal Way Link Extension marks yet another progress milestone for Sound Transit and the region,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. “This extension brings Link that much closer to connecting all three counties of the Puget Sound region.”
Voters approved the Federal Way extension in 2008 as part of the Sound Transit 2 ballot measure. The project broke ground in the summer of 2020 and cost an estimated $2.5 billion, which included a $790 million federal grant from the Federal Transit Administration and a $629.5 million low-interest loan from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation.
“The completion of the Federal Way extension is a significant milestone for our light rail system—giving more people greater freedom to get around, commute to work, and live their lives without spending so much time stuck in traffic,” U.S. Senator Patty Murray said. “I’m proud to have helped steer over a billion dollars in federal investment toward this project to help make today’s grand opening a reality. Building out public transportation is a priority for people in Washington state, and it’s a priority for me.”