Tacoma Dome Link Extension project updates
Like many transit agencies, Sound Transit faces escalating costs in nearly every area of its work.
The Enterprise Initiative is Sound Transit’s comprehensive effort aimed at delivering the maximum benefits of ST3 within available financial resources. Current estimates show a long-term funding gap of approximately $34.5 billion over the next 20 years. Sound Transit remains fully committed to the ST3 plan, which was approved by voters in 2016.
On May 28, the Sound Transit Board updated the ST3 system plan under Resolution No. R2026-11. The Tacoma Dome Link Extension (TDLE) is fully funded within existing resources. However, the parking garages at South Federal Way and Fife are deferred until additional funding sources are identified.
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Overview
The Tacoma Dome Link Extension will add about 8.5 miles of mostly elevated light rail tracks between Federal Way and Tacoma. This project includes four new light rail stations in the South Federal Way, Fife, East Tacoma/Portland Avenue and Tacoma Dome areas.
These stations will connect to regional transit services like Pierce Transit, King County Metro, Amtrak, and others.
Stations will feature pickup and drop-off zones for riders. They will provide convenient access for pedestrians, cyclists, and riders arriving on paratransit.
Benefits of the TDLE
When Tacoma Dome Link starts, it will offer fast and frequent travel to destinations across the region, including:
- Federal Way Transit Center to Tacoma Dome Station in 20 minutes
- Fife to Tacoma Dome Station in 6 minutes
- Tacoma Dome Station to Sea-Tac Airport in 35 minutes
Current project status
The Tacoma Dome Link Extension (TDLE) project is currently in the environmental review phase. Since the Sound Transit Board identified a preferred alternative for TDLE in June of 2025, Sound Transit has been continuing to advance project design and fieldwork in preparation for the Final EIS. The Final EIS will include analysis of the Preferred Alternative and other Draft EIS alternatives, as well as responses to comments on the Draft EIS. The Board will select the project to be built following the publication of the Final EIS, expected in 2027.
In the meantime, Sound Transit is designing future TDLE stations and working with local partners on potential improvements to make it safer and easier for people to get to the future stations using any mode of travel.
What can I expect as a project neighbor?
- Visit the project’s Online Open House to learn more.
- We encourage you to sign up for project email updates for all the latest news as the TDLE project develops.
- If you have any questions or would like to set up a meeting to learn more, contact the project team at tdlink@soundtransit.org.
- The Sound Transit Board will choose routes, station locations, and the project to be built after we publish the Final EIS, expected no earlier than 2027.
