Sound Transit Expands Regional Mobility with 1 Line Extension to Federal Way

Sound Transit, Seattle, WA, has launched its Link light rail service to Federal Way, delivering new high-capacity transit options to some of the fastest-growing communities in South King County. The nearly eight-mile extension of the 1 Line adds three new stations—Kent Des Moines, Star Lake, and Federal Way Downtown—as well as two new parking structures and an additional parking facility to support multimodal access.

The opening continues an extraordinary period of growth for Sound Transit, representing the fifth light rail extension in just three years. Recent additions include the T Line to Hilltop, the 2 Line segment between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology, the Lynnwood Link extension into Snohomish County, and the 2 Line extension to Downtown Redmond. The system’s next major milestone—the Crosslake Connection, which will carry the 2 Line across Lake Washington into Seattle—is slated for 2026.

Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine underscored the perseverance and regional collaboration that brought the Federal Way extension to fruition. “Our team and community partners demonstrated remarkable resilience in overcoming the challenges of the Great Recession and COVID pandemic during the life of this project, while still finishing hundreds of millions of dollars under budget,” he said. “This opening represents our ability to deliver for the residents of South King County and the region, connecting more people to opportunity via clean, frequent, reliable transit.”

Approved by voters in the 2008 Sound Transit 2 ballot measure, the project broke ground in 2020 and has been shaped by strong local, state, and federal partnerships. In addition to the Crosslake Connection, Sound Transit plans to open a new Pinehurst Station at NE 130^th Street in Seattle in 2026, part of the ST3 ballot program.

Federal leaders emphasized the project’s importance to regional connectivity and economic opportunity. “The completion of the Federal Way extension is a significant milestone for our light rail system—giving more people greater freedom to get around, commute to work, and live their lives without spending so much time stuck in traffic,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA). She highlighted more than $1 billion in federal support she helped secure, adding, “As vice chair of the Appropriations Committee, I’m fighting every day to protect federal transit dollars and programs like Capital Investment Grants, which underpin so much important public transit expansion we’re working on in Washington state. As long as I’m in Congress, I’ll make sure public transportation remains a federal priority.”

The project’s $2.5 billion cost was supported through a $790 million FTA grant agreement and a $629.5 million low-interest loan from USDOT. Kiewit served as design-builder.

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) noted the extension’s long-term benefits for commuters, airport workers, and families throughout South Puget Sound. “We’re here to celebrate that this fast, traffic-free, affordable transportation infrastructure is going to pay dividends for generations to come,” she said. “We want to enjoy our vibrant region, not spend time in I-5 traffic.”