If Sound Transit gets its way, the light rail from Federal Way will stop here in Tacoma
When it arrives in Tacoma in 2035, Sound Transit’s nearly 10-mile-long extension of Link light rail from Federal Way will probably barrel down 25th Street East to an elevated station situated next to Freighthouse Square. At least that’s the preferred plan Sound Transit has developed.
The Tacoma Dome Link Extension draft environmental impact statement (EIS), which outlines the plans, is dated Dec. 13, 2024 but it became live on Sound Transit’s website Wednesday. Following a comment and public hearing phase this month and into early 2025, Sound Transit’s board will select a final route and station locations in 2026.
In July 2019, the first set of alternatives for the $3.3 billion project were identified by Sound Transit. In March 2023, the Sound Transit board kicked the plans back for further study. They wanted more alternatives studied due to the routes impacting culturally sensitive areas.
A preferred route through South Federal Way and into Fife has still not been identified, according to the new EIS.
Whichever of the routes is chosen by Sound Transit’s board, it will include four new stations and follow either Pacific Highway (state Route 99) or Interstate 5 from Federal Way through Fife and into Tacoma.
Crossing the river
All the routes into Tacoma cross the Puyallup River at the same point, just north of I-5. Two types of bridges are under study. One would be a single span, and the other would use one or more supports placed in the river.
Both bridges would be higher than I-5’s bridges. The single span would be 60 feet higher.
After crossing the river, all routes head to the Portland Avenue Station. The preferred location for that station is between East Portland Avenue and East Bay Street. Six businesses would be displaced by the station, Sound Transit said.
To the Dome
From the Portland Avenue Station, the route alternatives diverge. The preferred route would follow East 25th Street to a station built between East D and East G streets, adjacent to Freighthouse Square. Nine businesses would be displaced, Sound Transit said.
One considered route requires the demolition of Freighthouse Square. The preferred does not.
Both Amtrak’s and Sound Transit’s Sounder trains have stations at Freighthouse Square. Tacoma Link (T Line) runs along East 25th Street and has a station across from the restaurant and retail hub.
Construction of the preferred route and station on East 25th Street would require temporary relocation or closure of the T Line terminus station on the north side of the street and close the track connecting to the line’s operations and maintenance facility.
The elevated track, called a guideway, would create a “tunnel effect” on East 25th Street, according to Sound Transit.
From Federal Way
As it now stands, the Tacoma extension would have one new station in South Federal Way, one in Fife and two in Tacoma. The project would include two parking facilities (surface or structured parking) of approximately 500 stalls each at the stations in South Federal Way and Fife, according to Sound Transit.
The route travels through Federal Way, Milton, Fife, and Tacoma in King and Pierce counties. The project travels across the ancestral and reservation lands of the Puyallup Tribe and a small portion of unincorporated Pierce County, according to Sound Transit.
The project was funded by voters in 2016 as part of the Sound Transit 3.
Why no plan for south Federal Way?
The only section of the route without an identified preferred alternative is what Sound Transit calls the south Federal Way segment. It runs from South 344th Street to the Fife boundary near Wapato Way East.
Two possible routes follow I-5, and two others follow Pacific Highway. The routes along I-5 caused concerns for the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, according to Sound Transit.
“Both would have unavoidable impacts to known culturally sensitive areas and resources in proximity to the I-5 corridor,” the agency stated.
The Pacific Highway route would avoid the sensitive areas but have greater impacts on wetlands
What’s next
A 60-day public comment begins on Dec. 13, according to Sound Transit.
Following that, the Sound Transit Board will confirm or modify the preferred alternative for evaluation in the final environmental impact statement which should be published in 2026.
The board also needs to identify a preferred alternative for the portion of the route through Federal Way and Fife.
Following publication of the final statement, the board will decide in 2026 the ultimate route and station locations.
Timeline
The project has been pushed back more than once, but Sound Transit plans to begin construction in 2028 or 2029 with full operation in 2035. Parking facilities in Federal Way and Fife would open in 2038.
The Tacoma extension is expected to carry between 24,000 and 36,000 riders a day, according to Sound Transit.
When it’s operational, the extension will mark a nearly 40-year-long plan by Sound Transit to create a Federal Way to Tacoma light rail link.
Public comment opportunities
- 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, Greater Tacoma Convention Center, 1500 Commerce St., Tacoma.
- 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, Federal Way Performing Arts and Events Center, 31510 Pete von Reichbauer Way S., Federal Way.
- 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, Fife Community Center, 2111 54th Ave. E., Fife.
- Or comment online at soundtransit.org/tdlink-deis and 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, via Zoom link on https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85314895495
This story was originally published December 5, 2024 at 10:00 AM.
