Sound Transit’s new light‑rail extension to Federal Way officially opened this week, adding three stations after a five‑year construction process delayed by engineering and safety challenges. The extension — originally approved by voters back in 2008 under the ST2 plan — brings rail service to Kent Des Moines, Star Lake, and downtown Federal Way.
Construction began in summer 2020, and despite hopes of reaching Star Lake by 2023, unexpected ground‑instability issues discovered in August 2022 forced a redesign of a segment along Interstate 5 in Kent, pushing back the timeline. Even with those obstacles, the extension opened on budget at roughly $2.5 billion.
“This Federal Way Link Extension brings Link that much closer to connecting all three counties of the Puget Sound region,” said Sound Transit Board Chair Dave Somers. The project’s funding came from a mix of sources: a $790 million federal grant from the Federal Transit Administration and a $629.5 million low‑interest loan from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Initially, the ST3 plan projected the extension cost at about $2.09 billion, but inflation and rising property values drove the final price up. The funds for the broader ST3 program — which includes further light‑rail expansion across the region — depend on taxes approved by voters. In King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties homeowners pay varying amounts annually, depending on property value and county tax rate.
Sound Transit’s long-term capital plan spans 30 years with a projected $150.5 billion in total expenditures. Even so, the agency anticipates as much as $34.5 billion in cost overruns due to inflation and rising construction costs. Projects still under way include major lines to Ballard, West Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, South Kirkland, and Issaquah. The next scheduled opening is Pinehurst Station in Seattle, expected in 2026.
The opening of the Federal Way extension offers commuters new transit options and represents a significant milestone for regional rail connectivity — but it also underscores long-term financial pressures on ambitious public transit projects.
