Hilltop Tacoma Link is 75% complete – find out what’s next
As our light rail extension to Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood reaches this milestone, people are excited about riding the train!
Last year, crews installed much of the track and power poles along the route, as well as the platforms for the Stadium District and S. 4th Street stations. They also installed some signals and lighting and new sewer, stormwater and water utilities – all while working safely to protect workers and the public during COVID-19.
While the contractor is making good progress, we still have about a year of construction to go.
The project will reach more key milestones in 2021. We’ll open our expanded Operations and Maintenance Facility this spring, and five new light rail vehicles will arrive in the fall. Crews will complete the track installation that’s already underway on Division Avenue and Commerce Street, and they’ll install signals, lighting, curbs, gutters and overhead wires. The contractor will also deliver the buildings for the traction power substations and will build the platforms for four stations on Martin Luther King Jr. Way and one station on Commerce Street.
After construction concludes and we test the trains and systems, Hilltop Tacoma Link will open for service in 2022.
There will be a lot going on in the coming months, so if you have questions or concerns about this project or construction, please contact Liz Ellis at liz.ellis@soundtransit.org or 253.208.0586. We can’t wait to ride Tacoma Link with you in Stadium and Hilltop!
Support Hilltop, Stadium and Commerce Street businesses
To encourage customers to shop at businesses during construction, we’re reminding Tacomans to be “Loyal to the Local.” Don’t miss our Loyal to the Local video series, which highlights the Hilltop and Stadium Business Districts as well as individual businesses along the route. We also wrapped a Tacoma Link train with promos reminding folks to shop Hilltop, Stadium and Commerce Street.
Check out these short features, and thank you for continuing to be Loyal to the Local!
Don’t miss the Hilltop Spring Crawl
Sound Transit proudly sponsors the Hilltop Spring Crawl April 18-24, organized by the Hilltop Action Coalition and Tacoma Housing Authority. This weeklong community event includes online and in-person activities, so download your event passport today and make sure to support Hilltop businesses and all businesses along the route. You may even win a prize!
Last year we sponsored several virtual events during the pandemic, including the Hilltop Business Crawl, Hilltop Holiday Crawl and Dickens Festival. We look forward to collaborating on more community events in 2021!
Join our Facebook group
Have you joined the Hilltop Tacoma Link Facebook group yet? It’s a great way to keep tabs on construction progress (including cool photos) as well as the people, places and events along the Hilltop Tacoma Link route. Connect with others in your community and join today!
Online community group meetings
We’re continuing to present Hilltop Tacoma Link project updates to community groups via online platforms Zoom and Microsoft Teams. If you’d like to learn more about the project and ask questions, please contact Liz Ellis at liz.ellis@soundtransit.org to schedule an online meeting. We hope to meet in-person again soon! Thank you!
