Sound Transit secures two TIFIA loans worth nearly $173 million

Sound Transit has secured two Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loans through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau to support two projects to expand and upgrade its light-rail system.

The two loans total nearly $173 million and will consist of up to $93.3 million for the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension and up to $79.3 million for the NE 130th Street Infill Station project that is part of the Lynwood Link Extension. Sound Transit reports the loans will save taxpayers at least $26 million during the next two decades.

“These loans are an important federal investment in our shared commitment to build the regional transit network that will fuel future success,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and King County Executive Dow Constantine.

The loan for the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension will support work to construct the project’s guideway and track, the purchase of five light-rail vehicles, expansion of the existing operations and maintenance facility and pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements. The project’s construction is nearing completion and is expected to open later in 2023.

The loan for the NE 130th Street Infill Station project will support the construction of a new elevated, side platform light-rail station along the Lynnwood Link Extension corridor, which will include bus and paratransit transfer facilities and sidewalk and bicycle infrastructure. Sound Transit anticipates issuing a bid for construction of the station finishes package later in 2023 after the station design has been finalized. The NE 130th Infill Station was approved by voters in 2016 as an addition to the Lynnwood Link extension. The new station will serve a growing residential neighborhood between the Northgate and Shoreline South/148th stations. The NE 130th Street Infill Station is scheduled to open in 2026.

Executive Constantine offered his gratitude to Washington state’s two senators – U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell (both D-WA) – for their “tireless work” to secure the loans needed to continue expansion work.

“These loans will build upon the key federal investments we’ve secured for Sound Transit and will make a big difference in making sure people can get to where they need to go safely and quickly,” said Sen. Murray.

“Thanks to these two Sound Transit projects, more riders in Tacoma and Lynnwood will be able to access reliable and convenient public transportation. More than doubling the length of Tacoma Link will connect everything from the Theater District to the Hilltop neighborhood, while extending the Lynnwood Link to Northeast 130th Street allows a growing residential area better access to a vital transportation corridor,” added Sen. Cantwell.

Sound Transit has a successful track record with TIFIA loans. The agency signed a $1.99 billion master loan agreement in 2016 that supported the Northgate Link, Lynnwood Link, Federal Way Link Extension and Link Operations and Management Facility East. The original loans were refinanced and expanded in 2021 to include the four original projects, the East Link Extension that was part of a 2015 TIFIA loan and the Downtown Redmond Link Extension.