Sound Transit secures more than $1.4 billion in funding for Federal Way light-rail extension
Federal funding in the form of a grant and loan has moved Sound Transit’s Federal Way Link Extension Project a step closer to its anticipated 2024 opening.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Sound Transit signed a $790-million Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) through the Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program. The process began in mid-December with the transfer of funds and a 30-day review period.
In addition to the FFGA, Sound Transit has been approved for up to $629.5 million in U.S. Department of Transportation credit assistance through the Build America Bureau under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program. The TIFIA loan is part of a master loan agreement Sound Transit secured in 2016 to help fund the construction of four light-rail projects.
"This $790 million federal grant will improve mobility for thousands of people who travel throughout the Seattle area," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
The project is a 7.8-mile extension of the Link light-rail system, from the existing Angle Lake station through the cities of SeaTac, Des Moines, Kent and Federal Way in southern King County, Wash. The project will serve a dense suburban corridor where the existing roadway network is constrained and travel options are limited to two congested roadways. The project’s first stated purpose in project profile documents on the FTA’s website is congestion relief. The extension will serve the I-5 corridor, which has seen traffic congestion increase by 128 percent in the past five years and transit ridership increase by 196 percent.
"Commuters in Seattle can now look forward to a one seat ride between King County, Sea-Tac Airport, downtown Seattle and the University of Washington," said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. "This extension will improve access to jobs, healthcare, educational opportunities and other destinations in the Puget Sound region."
Construction on the light-rail project is expected to begin shortly now that the FFGA has been executed. In May 2019, the Sound Transit Board of Directors selected Kiewit Infrastructure West Company to design and build the Federal Way Link Extension.
This is the second CIG funding announcement from FTA in two days. FTA awarded a $53.4-million grant through the CIG program to Spokane Transit Authority on Jan. 21 for the Central City Line Bus Rapid Transit project.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
