The earth is moving for $3.1 billion light rail extension from SeaTac to Federal Way
Sound Transit’s new Federal Way Link light rail extension is finally moving earth after years of planning and taxpayer-funded initiatives.
Construction crews are working along Interstate 5 and several other locations on the 7.8-mile route between Federal Way and SeaTac. If the project opens on schedule in 2024, passengers will travel to the airport from Federal Way in 15 minutes.
Sound Transit had originally planned a groundbreaking on the $3.1 billion project in the spring at the former Star Lake park and ride, now the future site of a Link station.
Then, the coronavirus pandemic hit.
“The world changed and having a big groundbreaking with dignitaries didn’t make a lot of sense,” said Sound Transit spokesman Scott Thompson.
On Thursday, the agency will hold a virtual ground breaking — the release of a video with information, sound bites and CEO Peter Rogoff turning dirt with a golden shovel.
Construction began in earnest in the spring. Travelers along I-5 have seen earth moving since April. This week, crews were working along the freeway adjacent to the Midway Landfill in Kent. There, an elevated line will carry light rail trains alongside I-5 traffic.
The completed route will run from the current southern terminus at Angle Lake to a new Federal Way station.
This week, crews were bringing in fill dirt for the new Federal Way station, which will be located south of the Federal Way transit center and adjacent to South 320th Street, across from The Commons at Federal Way mall.
Two other stations are having their sites prepared. One will serve Kent and Des Moines at South 236th Street and Pacific Highway. It will be between Interstate 5 and Highline College. The other will be located at Star Lake.
All three stations will have parking structures.
The route will be a mix of elevated structures, as it is near the airport, and street level like Tacoma Link. But the route will have its own dedicated right-of-way and won’t share streets with automobiles.
In addition to taxpayer-funded initiatives, funding for the project came from:
— $790 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration.
— $629.5 million federal transportation loan.
