Light rail to Federal Way is opening, 17 years after approval
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Four-car trains travel through the Federal Way Downtown station during testing in late September. Photo: Peter Bohler/Courtesy of Sound Transit
Three new Sound Transit stations will open in south King County this weekend, expanding light rail service deeper into Seattle's suburbs.
Why it matters: If you've ever driven from Seattle to Federal Way during rush hour, you might be glad there's a new train for that — and it's scheduled to run every eight minutes during peak times.
The big picture: The extension of light rail to the Federal Way area fulfills a promise originally made 17 years ago with Sound Transit 2, a ballot measure local voters passed in 2008.
- But the financial woes of the Great Recession put those plans on hold. Voters were later asked to approve more funding for the Federal Way extension, which they did with the Sound Transit 3 package in 2016.
State of play: The new stations at Kent Des Moines, Star Lake and Federal Way Downtown will open Saturday, providing service to Highline College as well as some of Federal Way's main shopping areas.
- After that, the only unfinished light rail projects from the Sound Transit 2 package will be the East Link connection across Lake Washington from Seattle to Bellevue, which is scheduled to open next year, Sound Transit spokesperson David Jackson told Axios.
Between the lines: Until recently, it looked as if the Federal Way extension also wouldn't open until 2026 — but this summer, Sound Transit announced plans to move up the opening slightly.
What they're saying: "I always thought hell would freeze over before Federal Way got light rail," King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer said in a written statement earlier this year, calling the expedited opening "an early Christmas gift."
What to expect: Service to the new stations will begin at 11am Saturday, with riders able to catch trains into Seattle and as far north as Lynnwood.
- A celebration and ribbon cutting will begin at 9:30 am at the Federal Way Downtown station, while food trucks, performances and family activities are scheduled at all three stations from 11am-3pm.
- "It's going to be a big party," Jackson said.
What's next: Several additional light rail projects that voters approved through the Sound Transit 3 package in 2016 have yet to break ground.
- As construction costs are projected to balloon, local officials are discussing how to complete those light rail extensions, which include plans to run trains to Ballard, West Seattle, Everett and Tacoma.
- Sound Transit is analyzing options to build the promised projects within the agency's existing budget, Jackson told Axios.
- No decisions are expected until sometime next year.