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Get caught up on the latest information about the Tacoma Dome Link Extension. Learn about updates on the route and station locations Sound Transit is studying in each project segment in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

Project update

TDLE is currently in the planning phase. The environmental review we began in 2019 is still ongoing, and we have developed some design refinements based on what we have learned so far. In November 2019, we shared an update on the route and station locations we are studying as well as some design concepts and visualizations (see the archived online open house ). These routes and stations are formally designated as "alternatives." In most of the corridor, the Sound Transit Board identified one alternative as their top choice, known officially as the "preferred alternative" and other alternatives to study in the Draft EIS.

In Fall 2020, we provided updates on the latest project refinements, including preliminary station concepts and ideas to improve access to the stations. We'll share more updates as we continue to make refinements.

Light rail train traveling on tracks adjacent to highway. — Travel between Tacoma and Sea-Tac Airport will take only 35 minutes on Link light rail, reliably bypassing highway congestion on mostly elevated tracks.

Map showing future service provided by Sound Transit.
Tacoma Dome Link Extension extends regional light rail from Federal Way to Tacoma Dome Station area with stations at South Federal Way, Fife, East Tacoma and Tacoma Dome Station. Service dates are based on pre-COVID-19 schedules and are subject to change. Click map to view a full-size PDF map. — Service dates are based on pre-COVID-19 schedules and are subject to change. Click to enlarge the map (PDF).

Tacoma Dome Link Extension project timeline

Pre-COVID-19 Schedule

Schedule subject to changes resulting from the COVID-19 crisis and realignment

*Impacts from COVID-19 have impacted the environmental review process, both internally and with our planning partners. This has resulted in a potential shift of the opening date for TDLE from late 2030 into 2031. Schedules are based on limited design and engineering at this phase of project development. The opening date is subject to further change as the Sound Transit Board’s realignment process determines which plans and timelines for voter-approved projects will need to change due to lower revenue projections, absent receiving alternative revenue.

2016 Voter Approval

2018-2023 Planning

Alternatives development
ST Board identifies preferred alternative
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (We are here)
Final Environmental Impact Statement
Preliminary design
ST Board selects project to be built
Federal Record of Decision

2023-2025 Design

Final route design
Final station designs
Procure and commission station and public art
Obtain land use and construction permits
Property acquisition/relocation

2025-2030 Construction

Conversations with property owners
Groundbreaking
Construction updates and mitigation
Safely Education
Testing and Preoperations

2030 - 2031 Start of service*

Property owner and tenant coordination during COVID-19

Outreach Specialists are working to provide property owners and tenants in the TDLE corridor frequent updates, especially if the project could directly affect their property, home or business.

In the past, Outreach Specialists delivered flyers door to door and frequently met with property owners and tenants one-on-one. In light of COVID-19, Sound Transit is closely following state and city public health directives on social distancing. For the foreseeable future, our Outreach Specialists will continue corresponding with potentially affected property owners and tenants virtually or by phone.

Want to speak with a member of the project team? Contact us via the information in the need more info box.

Environmental Review 101

We are currently analyzing the TDLE project through a detailed review called a Draft Environmental Impact Statement. To begin an EIS process, the Sound Transit Board identifies the routes and station locations we should study and formally names them “alternatives.” In most of the corridor, the Board identified one alternative as their top choice, known officially as the "preferred alternative," and other alternatives to study.

An EIS analyzes and documents all these alternatives and their potential impacts to the natural and built environment, and it identifies ways to mitigate unavoidable impacts. Through this process, we consider things like effects on historic and cultural resources, residential properties, businesses, communities, the local economy and other resources.

Need more information now?

Visit our project website for additional background information and resources. Sign up for email updates for all the latest news as the TDLE develops.

Have questions or want to schedule a briefing with a member of the project team?

Contact us via
Email: tdlink@soundtransit.org
Phone: 206-398-5453

South Federal Way

Explore what we’re studying in the South Federal Way segment

Status of South Federal Way route and station alternatives

We are studying the following alternatives in the South Federal Way Segment:

Representative map of South Federal Way route and station alternatives. The preferred route alternative travels along Enchanted Parkway S with two station alternatives at Enchanted Parkway S and S 352nd St. Another route alternative travels adjacent to I-5 with a station alternative near S 356th St. Both route alternatives will be elevated rails. Click map to view a full-size PDF map. — A closer look at the South Federal Way station area. | Click to enlarge map (PDF)

Routes

(Preferred) SF Enchanted Parkway
SF I-5
SF Design Option

Stations

SF Enchanted Parkway Station
SF 352nd Span Station Option
SF I-5 Station

Satellite map of South Federal Way route and station alternatives. The preferred route alternative travels along Enchanted Parkway S with station alternatives at Enchanted Parkway S and S 352nd St. Another route alternative travels adjacent to I-5 with a station alternative near S 356th St. Click map to view a full-size PDF map. — We’re studying these South Federal Way route and station alternatives in the Draft EIS. Click to enlarge South Federal Way segement map (PDF)

Fife

Explore what we’re studying in the Fife segment

Status of Fife route and station alternatives

We’re studying the following alternatives in the Fife Segment:

Routes

(Preferred) Fife alternative
Fife Pacific Highway
Fife I-5
Fife Median

Station

Fife Station

Follow along with recent design refinements in Fife

Since scoping in spring 2019, we made adjustments to the Fife I-5 and Fife Pacific Highway route alternatives. These shifts mainly occur between 54th Avenue East, heading west toward Willow Road East. The curve of the Fife Pacific Highway route alternative was adjusted to the east to keep the alignment out of the intersection at Pacific Highway East and Willow Road East as much as possible. This adjustment results in fewer property impacts and also removes the need to rebuild the intersection to maintain the left turn movements. This adjustment will also allow for an increased train speed on the elevated rail from 40 mph to 45 mph in the area.

The Fife I-5 route includes an adjustment to the section of the route crossing over Pacific Highway East between the Fife Station and the segment where the alignment runs parallel along I-5. This adjustment creates more distance between the tracks and nearby properties and decreases the number of property impacts in the area.

We are also studying a route alternative on Pacific Highway East called the Fife Pacific Highway Median Alternative, or Fife Median for short. The alignment for this alternative is elevated along Pacific Highway East in the existing center turn lane.

Portland Avenue

Explore what we’re studying in the Portland Avenue station area of the Tacoma segment

Status of Portland Avenue route and station alternatives

The Tacoma Segment of the project will have two stations: at Portland Avenue and the Tacoma Dome. We’re studying the following alternatives in the Portland Avenue area:

Representative map of Portland Avenue route and station alternatives. The preferred route alternative passes through a station alternative located between Portland Ave E and E Bay St. A second station alternative spans the road of Portland Ave E and is adjacent to Sound Transit Sounder tracks. Click map to view a full-size PDF map. — A closer look at the Portland Avenue station area. | Click to enlarge map (PDF)

Routes

(Preferred) Tacoma 25th Street-West
Portland Avenue Design Option

Stations

Portland Avenue Station
Portland Avenue Span Station Option

Satellite map of Tacoma Dome route and station alternatives. East Tacoma has two station alternatives being considered on Portland Ave E. Tacoma Dome has four station alternatives being considered. E 25th St – West is the preferred route alternative. Click map to view a full-size PDF map. — We’re studying these Portland Avenue route and station alternatives in the Draft EIS. Click to enlarge map (PDF)

Follow along with our recent design refinements near the Portland Avenue station area

We are studying two Puyallup River bridge types: one design that would clear-span the river and another with bridge support piers in the river.

The clear-span design includes a 560-foot span that is elevated about 60 feet above the level of the northernmost I-5 bridge.
The in-river pier design requires two piers in the river, the bridge would be elevated 10 feet above the level of the current I-5 bridge (which is scheduled for removal as part of the I-5 HOV lane project).

Tacoma Dome

Explore what we’re studying in the Tacoma Dome station area in the Tacoma segment

Status of Tacoma Dome route and station alternatives

The Tacoma Segment of the project will have two stations: at Portland Avenue and the Tacoma Dome. We’re studying the following alternatives in the Tacoma Dome area:

Routes

(Preferred) Tacoma 25th Street-West
Tacoma Close to Sounder
Tacoma 25th Street-East
Tacoma 26th Street

Stations

Tacoma 25th Street-West Station
Tacoma Close to Sounder Station
Tacoma 25th Street-East Station
Tacoma 26th Street Station

Satellite map of Portland Avenue and Tacoma Dome route and station alternatives. Click map to view a full-size PDF map. — We’re studying these Tacoma Dome route and station alternatives in the Draft EIS. Click to enlarge Tacoma segment map (PDF)

Next steps

Learn more about the upcoming Draft EIS

An Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS for short, provides agencies, tribes and the public an understanding of a project's potential impacts to the natural and built environment, and it identifies ways to mitigate unavoidable impacts. Through this process, we analyze each alternative and design option, considering things like effects on historic and cultural resources, residential properties, businesses, communities, the local economy and other resources.

The project is now in environmental review. In the near future, we expect to publish the Draft EIS, at which time we'll also invite the public, agencies and tribes to provide formal comments.

We'll then conduct a Final EIS, which will include updates as needed, further evaluation of preferred alternatives identified by the Board following comments on the Draft EIS, and of the other alternatives considered in the Draft EIS. The Final EIS will also include responses to all public, agency, and tribal comments submitted on the Draft EIS.

After publication of the Final EIS, the Sound Transit Board will select the project to be built, informed by the EIS analyses and public, tribal and agency comments.

What do we study in a Draft EIS?

Acquisitions, displacements and relocations
Air quality
Economics including Impacts to businesses
Ecosystems
Electromagnetic fields
Energy
Environmental justice
Geology and soils
Hazardous materials

Historic and archaeological resources
Land use
Noise and vibration
Parks and recreational resources
Public services, safety and security
Social impacts, community facilities and neighborhoods
Transportation (traffic, freight, navigation, transit, non-motorized)
Utilities
Visual and aesthetics
Water resources

The pandemic and our economy

Welcome

Explore the latest

Project update

Pre-COVID-19 Schedule

Schedule subject to changes resulting from the COVID-19 crisis and realignment

2016 Voter Approval

2018-2023 Planning

2023-2025 Design

2025-2030 Construction

2030 - 2031 Start of service*

Environmental Review 101

Need more information now?

South Federal Way

South Federal Way

Explore what we’re studying in the South Federal Way segment

We are studying the following alternatives in the South Federal Way Segment:

Fife

Fife

Explore what we’re studying in the Fife segment

We’re studying the following alternatives in the Fife Segment:

Portland Avenue

Explore what we’re studying in the Portland Avenue station area of the Tacoma segment

Tacoma Dome

Tacoma Dome

Explore what we’re studying in the Tacoma Dome station area in the Tacoma segment

Next steps

Next steps

Learn more about the upcoming Draft EIS

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