Fieldwork for Tacoma Dome Link Extension
Over the past few weeks, you have may have seen crews conducting land and water surveys in Federal Way, Milton, Fife and Tacoma. These teams are working to better understand conditions at and near the preferred routes and station locations for our Tacoma Dome Link Extension project. In the coming weeks, crews will begin collecting soil samples using geo-technical boring equipment to explore underground conditions at and near these locations.
We’re collecting this information to support design and engineering work and the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project. The Draft EIS will analyze the project’s potential impacts to the natural and built environment, as well as evaluate ways to avoid, minimize or mitigate unavoidable impacts. It will consider impacts on historic and cultural resources, residential properties, businesses, communities, the local economy and other resources.
Fieldwork will continue throughout the environmental review phase of the project and may include additional noise and vibration monitoring, wetland and stream surveys, cultural and historic resource surveys and more.
Depending on the type of work being done, you may see us dropping off a flyer or crews with safety vests directing you to sources for more information.
What’s ahead for the project in 2020?
In July 2019, the Board identified “preferred alternatives” and “other alternatives” for TDLE, and we’ll evaluate their impacts in the Draft EIS we’ve begun preparing. The project team has also been refining the alternatives’ programming requirements, station designs and routes to meet the regional light rail system’s long-term needs.
We expect to publish the Draft EIS in 2021, and we’ll host a formal public review and comment period. The Board will then modify or confirm the preferred route and station alternatives. After we publish the Final EIS, which will include responses to comments on the Draft EIS, in 2022, the Board will select the projects to be built.
In the meantime, you can view all current project documents, including maps of station designs and routes, on the project website. To stay updated on our progress, subscribe to e-mail updates or contact the project team at tdlink@soundtransit.org or 206-398-5453.
What is TDLE?
Sound Transit’s Link light rail extension from Federal Way to Tacoma will create fast, congestion-free connections to residential and job centers in the South Sound and beyond when it launches in 2030, including:
- South Federal Way to Tacoma in 20 minutes
- Fife to Tacoma in six minutes
- Tacoma to Sea-Tac Airport in 35 minutes
The Tacoma Dome Link Extension will add almost 10 miles of mostly elevated tracks to the regional light rail system and four new stations, near south Federal Way, Fife, East Tacoma and the Tacoma Dome.
These stations will also offer riders efficient connections to other transit options like Sounder, Tacoma Link, ST Express, King County Metro, Pierce Transit, Intercity Transit and Amtrak.
Stations will feature pick-up and drop-off zones and provide access for those traveling by foot, bike, paratransit and other modes. The future South Federal Way and Fife stations will include approximately 500 parking spaces each.
Important message regarding COVID-19
Sound Transit is ensuring the health and safety of the community and our workforce by following the guidance of our partners at Public Health-Seattle & King County, Washington State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding COVID-19.
At this time, Sound Transit plans to continue construction and fieldwork in your area and throughout the Sound Transit District. We are working closely with our public health partners, construction management teams and private contractors to ensure everyone working on Sound Transit projects is cautious and safe. We are re-evaluating our strategies as we receive new information and guidelines from our public health officials. We will continue to provide updates if there are any changes to construction schedules or planned work in your area.
Expanding your transit choices
By 2024, we’ll open more than 20 new Link light rail stations, launching new service to Northgate, Bellevue, Lynnwood, Federal Way, Redmond and the Hilltop neighborhood in Tacoma. We’ll also introduce Stride bus rapid transit on I-405, SR 518, SR 522 and NE 145th and open new parking and access improvements at Sounder stations. While we build these projects, we’re also advancing plans to expand Sounder South capacity and bring more light rail to Tacoma, Everett, West Seattle, Ballard, South Kirkland and Issaquah. Click below to explore the progress we made in 2019 and discover the future of regional transit in your area.