Sound Transit to host open house on potential Tacoma Link Expansion station, terminus options

Public asked to provide input on station and terminus options, second maintenance facility

Sound Transit, in collaboration with the City of Tacoma, will hold an open house on potential expansion of Tacoma Link next Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Allen AME Church, 1223 Martin Luther King Jr. Way.

Participants will have the opportunity to comment on planning underway to identify station and terminus options for the proposed light rail alignment that would expand the existing 1.6-mile system from the Theater District to the Hilltop District via Stadium Way. Participants will also review site options for an expanded maintenance facility that would be located near the current facility at East 25th and East G streets.

In February, the Tacoma City Council recommended a double-track alignment that would continue north from the existing Theater District Station to the Hilltop District via Stadium Way, North First Street, Division Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Later that month, the Sound Transit Board of Directors approved the Hilltop via Stadium Way alignment, which is now under environmental review. As part of this review, Sound Transit is evaluating potential community and environmental impacts that could result if the expansion is built.  

In 2008, voters approved the Sound Transit 2 ballot measure, which included funding for partnership to expand the Tacoma Link system. Building the expansion will require securing partner and federal funding to supplement ST2 tax revenues. The project assumes one-third funding from Sound Transit, one third from a partner or partners not yet determined, and one third from a federal Small Starts grant.  

More information on the Tacoma Link Expansion can be found at soundtransit.org/TacomaLinkExpansion.