Light rail to Federal Way begins service

Starting today, new Link light rail service to Federal Way begins, allowing passengers to travel the region while avoiding congestion. The nearly 8-mile 1 Line extension adds new options to travel quickly and safely between Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport and Federal Way and includes three new stations, one at Kent Des Moines, one at Star Lake and one at Federal Way Downtown, as well as two new parking structures and a parking addition in Federal Way.

This is the fifth light rail extension in the past three years for Sound Transit. Those include the T Line service 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. The Crosslake Connection, spanning the 2 Line across Lake Washington into Seattle, is expected in 2026.

Voters approved the Federal Way extension in 2008 as part of the Sound Transit 2 ballot measure. The project broke ground in summer 2020.

“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.”

"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," said U.S. Senator Patty Murray. "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—and as long as I’m in Congress, I’ll make sure it’s a priority for the federal government. As vice chair of the Appropriations Committee, I’m fighting every day to protect federal transit dollars and programs like Capital Investment Grants, which underpin so much important public transit expansion we’re working on in Washington state.”

“We’re here to celebrate that this fast, traffic free, affordable transportation infrastructure is going to pay dividends for generations to come,” said U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell. “Providing affordable options for the airport workers who live in this region to get to work, and certainly another option for South Puget Sound residents to travel to the airport without having to drive. We want to enjoy our vibrant region, not to spend time in I-5 traffic.”

“The opening of the Federal Way Station officially expands and connects the spine of our light rail system to the South Sound, making it easier for riders to get to and from the airport and greater Seattle, said Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10). “Nine years in the making, extending this service to our growing region is a critical step toward a Tacoma Dome Station and completion of our vision for ST3.”

"The future of our region relies on safe and reliable public transportation,” said King County Executive and Sound Board Member Girmay Zahilay. We are entering a monumental phase as the Federal Way Link Extension opens and the 2-line across Lake Washington nears completion in 2026. Communities that have felt cut off from our region’s transit systems will be connected to key areas like Downtown Seattle, Downtown Bellevue, and Sea-Tac International Airport. These new stations in Federal Way, Kent and Des Moines represent an increase in rapid transit for those in South King County.”

“The long-anticipated arrival of light rail to South King County is our very own ‘Polar Express,’ said Sound Transit Board Member and King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer. “As our region prepares for FIFA next year, light rail will put South King County on the map as a destination for the hundreds of thousands of visitors traveling to our region for the tournament.”

“The Link extension to Federal Way is a great step toward connecting our region and providing more transportation, and more equitable, options for South Sound communities,” said State Rep. Jake Fey, chair of the state House Transportation Committee.

“Our team and community partners demonstrated remarkable resilience in overcoming the challenges of the Great Recession and Covid pandemic during the life of this project, while still finishing hundreds of millions of dollars under budget,” said Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine. “This opening represents our ability to deliver for the residents of South King County and the region, connecting more people to opportunity via clean, frequent, reliable transit.”

Kiewit was the design-builder for the project, Funding for the $2.5 billion project includes a $790 million federal grant agreement from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and a $629.5 million low-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The Federal Way extension will serve the following stations:

• Kent Des Moines. Located just southwest of I-5 at the SR516 exit, the elevated Kent Des Moines Station serves Highline College and future affordable housing to be constructed adjacent to the stations. includes a parking garage with approximately 500 new spaces as part of the project.
• Star Lake. Located on the west side of I-5 just north of South 272nd, the Star Lake Station serves the surrounding neighborhoods and features a 1,105-stall parking garage.
• Federal Way Downtown. Located at the Federal Way Transit Center, this elevated station serves one of the busiest transit centers in the region, with extensive connections to local and regional service. It also serves the Federal Way Performing Arts and Events Center and numerous local businesses. Additional housing is expected to be built on surplus property adjacent to the station. An addition to the garage added 341 parking spaces to the 1,224 already in use.

In addition to the 2 Line’s Crosslake Connection, a new Pinehurst Station at NE 130th Street in Seattle is expected to open in 2026. It was part of the ST3 ballot measure.

Visit https://www.soundtransit.org/southkinglink for maps and information about how to ride.