Sound Transit to hold public meetings on Federal Way Link Extension

Public invited to learn about the project, and provide input on station area look and feel

Sound Transit will hold open houses in Des Moines and Federal Way for members of the public to learn about the project and timeline, and provide input on the character of the three future light rail stations located near Kent Des Moines Road, South 272nd Street and Interstate 5, and at the Federal Way Transit Center. 

The open houses will be held at the following locations and participants will have the opportunity to provide input on all three stations. 

• Federal Way: Wednesday, Sept. 13, from 4 - 7 p.m. at the Federal Way Community Center, 876 S. 333rd St., Federal Way
• Des Moines: Saturday, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Highline College Building 2, 2400 S. 240th St., Des Moines

Those who are unable to attend in person can participate in an online survey, available through Sept. 22. The survey is available in five languages; Spanish, Russian, Korean, Vietnamese and Somali. 

With construction starting in 2019, Sound Transit is entering the next phase of the Federal Way Link Extension project, which includes securing a contractor who will design and build the alignment and three station areas. Sound Transit is currently exploring station area concepts to include in the design-build contract and is seeking public input on the character of the three new stations.

Design-build is a project delivery method that streamlines and expedites the project delivery process by fostering collaboration between the designers and contractors. By uniting the designer and builder in every aspect of the process, the design-build method encourages opportunities to identify design and cost efficiencies and creative problem solving. 

Members of the public are invited to learn about the project, ask questions and provide input on the character of the three new stations. Sound Transit is committed to designing stations that reflect the goals and priorities of the community. 

Additional opportunities for community input will be available after the design-build contractor is on board, at key points in the development of the alignment and station area designs.

The 7.8-mile Federal Way Link extension will begin operation in 2024. The route will extend south from the Angle Lake Station in the City of SeaTac, cross State Route 99, continue along the south edge of the future SR 509 highway to Interstate 5, and travel south along the west side of Interstate 5 (I-5). At Kent Des Moines Road, the route will transition west and the station area will be located near Highline College between Highway 99 and 30th Avenue South. The alignment will then transition back to I-5 and continue south along the west side of I-5 to the Star Lake Park and Ride at South 272nd Street in the City of Kent. South of South 272nd Street, the alignment will continue along the west side of I-5 before curving west at South 317th Street and terminating at the Federal Way Transit Center at the west side of 23rd Avenue South and north of South 320th Street.