Welcome
Explore the latest
Potential additions for further study
Since beginning the environmental review process for the Tacoma Dome Link Extension in 2018, Sound Transit identified the need to consider additional route and station options. These include:
- Two station options in Fife.
- An additional route in South Federal Way / Milton and associated station locations in South Federal Way.
- No additional alternatives are being proposed in Tacoma.
This March, the Sound Transit Board will review these potential additions. We’ll share a summary of public feedback for their consideration, then the Board will identify additional route and station options for further study in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
To bring these additional route and station options up to the same level of evaluation as our existing alternatives, we would delay Draft EIS publication to mid-2024. This delay would also impact the start of service for the Tacoma Dome Link, which we now anticipate opening in 2035.
Share feedback by March 17
Share your questions and feedback about the potential additions in Fife and South Federal Way by March 17. You can comment through this website or email us at tdlink@soundtransit.org.
While this isn’t a formal comment period in the environmental review process, we’ll share a summary of feedback with the Sound Transit Board to help inform their action.
The information shared in this online open house is preliminary. The Draft EIS will include more detailed information about all routes and stations (including the additions to Fife and South Federal Way, should the Board identify them for inclusion), and their potential effects on the natural and built environments. We’ll seek comments from the public, Tribal Nations, cities and agencies during a formal public comment period when the Draft EIS is published.
Although it’s always unfortunate to experience schedule delays, these potential additions are an example of the environmental process at work. The purpose of preparing the EIS is to thoroughly study the potential effects of alternatives. This allows for potential challenges to be identified early, reducing risk during final design and construction.
- During the project’s alternatives development phase in 2018/2019, we conducted extensive engagement and outreach to identify alternatives for further study in the Draft EIS. This work included screening alternatives against a variety of measures, based on early design concepts. The alternatives were narrowed down through this process, to streamline and accelerate planning for system expansion projects. As a result, the Draft EIS includes a single station in Fife and a single route in South Federal Way/Milton.
- Since that time, we’ve advanced the design and environmental review. As a result, we recognize the need to introduce additional alternatives. These additions will provide flexibility and reduce the risk for additional study after the Draft EIS, which would create further delay.
Attend an in-person drop-in session
Milton/Edgewood Library
Wed., March 8 | 5-7 p.m.
900 Meridian Ave E, Milton
Federal Way Community Center
Tues., March 14 | 8-10 a.m.
876 S 33rd St, Federal Way
Poodle Dog Restaurant
Wed., March 15 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
1522 54th Ave E, Fife
Need more information now?
Review the project overview or visit our website for additional background information and resources. Sign up for email updates for all the latest news as the Tacoma Dome Link Extension develops.
Have questions or want to schedule a briefing with a member of the project team?
Contact us
Email: tdlink@soundtransit.org
Phone: 206-398-5453
Fife
New information for the Fife Segment
Fife Station, which the Sound Transit Board identified as part of the preferred alternative to study in the Draft EIS in 2019, is in a federally designated floodplain. Through ongoing development of the Draft EIS, we’ve come to better understand the nature and limits of the floodplain.
Federal regulations and guidance for floodplain management require us to consider alternatives found outside of the floodplain. We’re now proposing to study two more potential station options—the Fife 54th Span Station Option and Fife 54th-West Station Option—outside of the designated floodplain.
Adding these options wouldn’t change the preferred alternative in the Draft EIS. If the Board identifies them for study in the Draft EIS, we’ll study the Fife 54th Span and Fife 54th-West station options, as well as the preferred alternative, equally. After the Draft EIS comment period, the Board will confirm or modify the preferred alternative, prior to preparation of the Final EIS.

The text below describes the image above
After leaving Federal Way, the Sound Transit Board’s Preferred Alternative route, Preferred Fife alternative, follows I-5 until it begins to gradually curve at Porter Way to briefly align and then cross over SR 99, also called Pacific Highway East. The route then curves northwest until it runs east-west, just south of 12th Street East. The route then enters the elevated Fife Station on the west side of 59th Avenue East, which is part of the preferred alternative. Federal regulations and guidance for floodplain management require us to consider alternatives found outside of the floodplain. We’re now proposing to study two more potential station options—the Fife 54th Span Station Option and Fife 54th-West Station Option—outside of the designated floodplain. For the routes we are studying in Fife and from the Preferred Fife alternative, one route would curve slightly north toward 12th Street East and cross over 54th Avenue East to enter Fife 54th-West Station with a southwest slanted orientation. Second, from the Preferred Fife alternative, the other route curves slightly south toward 15th Street East to enter Fife 54th Span Station, which spans 54th Avenue East just north of 15th Street East. After exiting the station, we are studying three route alternatives that travel west. The Fife Pacific Highway elevated route exits the station westward and crosses over 54th Avenue East before crossing and transitioning to the south side of Pacific Highway near Willow Road. This elevated route continues along the south side of Pacific Highway until it reaches 34th Avenue East where it transitions south to the north side of I-5 on its way to the Tacoma segment of the project. We are also studying a route called Fife Median. This route is similar to the Fife Pacific Highway route; however, it is elevated in the median of Pacific Highway until it reaches 34th Avenue East where it transitions south to the north side of I-5 on its way to the Tacoma segment of the project. Lastly, we are studying the Fife I-5 route. This route exits Fife Station westward and crosses over 54th Avenue East and veers south, crossing over Pacific Highway to gradually curve to align with the north side of I-5 on its way to the Tacoma segment of the project. All of these routes alternatives converge back to the preferred alternative route that crosses the Puyallup River en route to Tacoma.
The preferred Fife Station is in a federally designated floodplain. Federal guidelines for floodplain management require we conduct environmental review of an additional option outside of the floodplain.
To meet this requirement, we developed additional station options in Fife that are outside of the floodplain boundary but in the vicinity of the original station, to meet the growth needs of the City of Fife and their plans for a new City Center. We developed these options through a screening process and workshops, in close partnership with the City of Fife, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and other agency partners. We will continue to coordinate closely with the City of Fife to understand the floodplain in the Fife station area and plan for future climate conditions.
Survey
We’ll prepare a summary of your feedback for the Sound Transit Board to consider before they identify any additional station options to study in the Draft EIS. You’ll have the opportunity to provide formal comments on all station and route alternatives in Fife when we publish the Draft EIS, now anticipated in mid-2024.
South Federal Way
New information for the South Federal Way Segment
The southern part of the South Federal Way Segment includes one route, which the Board identified as the preferred alternative. Early coordination with Regional Tribal Partners identified known cultural resources click for definition adjacent to I-5. In recent communications they voiced that these impacts are unavoidable. We are now considering studying a potential route from South Federal Way to Milton along Pacific Highway (SR 99). Evaluating multiple alternatives in South Federal Way would provide more flexibility.
We are exploring potential routes on both sides of Pacific Highway as well as in the median. The design of this route would be further refined and is subject to change. We’re also exploring two potential station locations for study in the vicinity of the SF Enchanted Parkway Station that would serve the Pacific Highway route.
If the Board identifies these potential additions for inclusion in the Draft EIS, we’ll study all options equally. After the Draft EIS comment period, the Board will confirm or modify the preferred alternative, prior to preparation of the Final EIS.

The text below describes the image above
The start of Tacoma Dome Link Extension is at the end of the Federal Way Link Extension at the Federal Way Transit Center. From there, the Sound Transit’s Board Preferred Alternative route, Preferred SF Enchanted Parkway, gradually curves to run alongside the I-5 corridor. After the elevated route crosses S 344th Street, it travels through some commercial properties before an elevated crossing of S 348th Street. It then crosses over Enchanted Parkway to serve the Board’s Preferred Alternative, SF Enchanted Parkway Station, elevated at Enchanted Parkway and S 352nd Street. We are also studying an elevated SF 352nd Span Station Option, which is called a “span” station option because it has entrances on both sides of the intersection. After that, the route follows Enchanted Parkway until it curves back toward the I-5 corridor on its way to Fife via Milton. An additional route alternative we are studying is SF I-5. This route follows the same alignment as the preferred alternative up until S 344th Street, where it continues south along I-5 until it reaches another elevated station alternative, SF I-5 Station, located at the current Jet Chevrolet auto dealership. After exiting the station, the route continues south along I-5 to Fife via Milton. We are studying a potential additional route alternative in South Federal Way called SF Pacific Highway. This route exits a station at Enchanted Parkway and S 352nd Street and curves southwest until aligning with SR 99. The route continues along SR 99 until the curve in I-5 near Milton where it rejoins the preferred alternative. We’re also exploring two potential station locations for study in the vicinity of the SF Enchanted Parkway Station that would serve the Pacific Highway route. We are also studying both garage and surface parking options at each of the South Federal Way station alternatives.
We evaluated several potential routes through a screening process and in close coordination with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, cities and other agency partners. Based on this evaluation, the Board will consider identifying a route on Pacific Highway in the Draft EIS.
The three South Federal Way stations currently being studied in the Draft EIS— SF Enchanted Parkway Station, SF 352nd Span Station Option, SF I-5 Station— could not be served by the proposed route on Pacific Highway. We are exploring two additional station locations along the Pacific Highway route, a north and a south location, for potential study in the Draft EIS.
If the Board identifies additional route and station options for study in the Draft EIS, we’ll study all the stations and routes equally. After the Draft EIS comment period, the Board will confirm or modify the preferred alternative, prior to preparation of the Final EIS.

The text below describes the image above
The start of Tacoma Dome Link Extension is at the end of the Federal Way Link Extension at the Federal Way Transit Center. From there, the Sound Transit’s Board Preferred Alternative route, Preferred SF Enchanted Parkway, gradually curves to run alongside the I-5 corridor. After the elevated route crosses S 344th Street, it travels through some commercial properties before an elevated crossing of S 348th Street. It then crosses over Enchanted Parkway to serve the Board’s Preferred Alternative, SF Enchanted Parkway Station, elevated at Enchanted Parkway and S 352nd Street. We are also studying an elevated SF 352nd Span Station Option, which is called a “span” station option because it has entrances on both sides of the intersection. After that, the route follows Enchanted Parkway until it curves back toward the I-5 corridor on its way to Fife via Milton. An additional route alternative we are studying is SF I-5. This route follows the same alignment as the preferred alternative up until S 344th Street, where it continues south along I-5 until it reaches another elevated station alternative, SF I-5 Station, located at the current Jet Chevrolet auto dealership. After exiting the station, the route continues south along I-5 to Fife via Milton. We are studying a potential additional route alternative in South Federal Way called SF Pacific Highway. This route exits a station at Enchanted Parkway and S 352nd Street and curves southwest until aligning with SR 99. The route continues along SR 99 until the curve in I-5 near Milton where it rejoins the preferred alternative. We’re also exploring two potential station locations for study in the vicinity of the SF Enchanted Parkway Station that would serve the Pacific Highway route. We are also studying both garage and surface parking options at each of the South Federal Way station alternatives.
Survey
We’ll prepare a summary of your feedback for the Sound Transit Board to consider before they identify any additional route or stations to study in the Draft EIS. You’ll have the opportunity to give formal comments on all alternatives in South Federal Way when we publish the Draft EIS, now expected in mid-2024.
Draft EIS 101
Learn more about the upcoming Draft EIS
An Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS for short, provides Tribal Nations, agencies 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. We expect to publish the Draft EIS in mid-2024, at which time we'll also invite Tribal Nations, agencies and the public to provide formal comments.
We'll then prepare a Final EIS, which will include updates as needed, further evaluation of the preferred alternative 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 substantive 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.
- 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

To learn more about the different types of fieldwork activities we may conduct in your neighborhood, check out our fact sheet .
For property owners
Properties potentially affected by the additional route alternative and station option will be identified in the Draft EIS. We will notify potentially affected property owners before publication of the Draft EIS. Before then, contact us to request a briefing on the project or to learn more about Sound Transit’s property acquisition and relocation process. You can check out our TDLE project website, for more background on the project. We also recommend you sign up for project alerts so we can notify you directly whenever new information becomes available.
Project overview
Expanding regional light rail from Federal Way to Tacoma
The Tacoma Dome Link Extension will add nearly 10 miles to our regional light rail system, via mostly elevated tracks between Federal Way and Tacoma. This project includes four new light rail stations in the South Federal Way, Fife, East Tacoma/Portland Avenue and Tacoma Dome areas. These stations will also provide connections to other regional transit services like the Sounder S Line, the Link T Line, ST Express, King County Metro, Pierce Transit, Intercity Transit and Amtrak.

The text below describes the image above
Map showing the Tacoma Dome Link Extension project. The project starts at the Federal Way Transit Center with a route traveling south with a station area in South Federal Way in the vicinity of Federal Way Crossings shopping center. The route continues south and curves west to enter a station area in Fife. The route continues west to cross over the Puyallup River to enter two station areas, one near Portland Avenue and one near the Tacoma Dome, where the project ends.
TDLE is currently in the planning phase. The environmental review we began in 2019 is still ongoing. The routes and stations we are studying are formally appointed 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.
This March, the Sound Transit Board will consider whether to identify additional station options in Fife and an additional route and stations in South Federal Way for study in the Draft EIS.
South Federal Way
We're studying the following alternatives in the South Federal Way Segment


The text below describes the 2 images above
The start of Tacoma Dome Link Extension is at the end of the Federal Way Link Extension at the Federal Way Transit Center. From there, the Sound Transit’s Board Preferred Alternative route, Preferred SF Enchanted Parkway, gradually curves to run alongside the I-5 corridor. After the elevated route crosses S 344th Street, it travels through some commercial properties before an elevated crossing of S 348th Street. It then crosses over Enchanted Parkway to serve the Board’s Preferred Alternative, SF Enchanted Parkway Station, elevated at Enchanted Parkway and S 352nd Street. We are also studying an elevated SF 352nd Span Station Option, which is called a “span” station option because it has entrances on both sides of the intersection. After that, the route follows Enchanted Parkway until it curves back toward the I-5 corridor on its way to Fife via Milton. An additional route alternative we are studying is SF I-5. This route follows the same alignment as the preferred alternative up until S 344th Street, where it continues south along I-5 until it reaches another elevated station alternative, SF I-5 Station, located at the current Jet Chevrolet auto dealership. After exiting the station, the route continues south along I-5 to Fife via Milton. We are studying a potential additional route alternative in South Federal Way called SF Pacific Highway. This route exits a station at Enchanted Parkway and S 352nd Street and curves southwest until aligning with SR 99. The route continues along SR 99 until the curve in I-5 near Milton where it rejoins the preferred alternative. We’re also exploring two potential station locations for study in the vicinity of the SF Enchanted Parkway Station that would serve the Pacific Highway route. We are also studying both garage and surface parking options at each of the South Federal Way station alternatives.
Routes
- (Preferred) SF Enchanted Parkway
- SF I-5
- SF Design Option
- (Potential) SF Pacific Highway – If identified by the Board for study in the Draft EIS, we're exploring potential routes on both sides of Pacific Highway and in the median.
Stations
- SF Enchanted Parkway Station
- SF 352nd Span Station Option
- SF I-5 Station
- (Potential) station location – north – If identified by the Board for study in the Draft EIS, this station location would serve the SF Pacific Highway route.
- (Potential) station location – south – If identified by the Board for study in the Draft EIS, this station location would serve the SF Pacific Highway route.
Fife
We’re studying the following alternatives in the Fife Segment

The text below describes the image above
After leaving Federal Way, the Sound Transit Board’s Preferred Alternative route, Preferred Fife alternative, follows I-5 until it begins to gradually curve at Porter Way to briefly align and then cross over SR 99, also called Pacific Highway East. The route then curves northwest until it runs east-west, just south of 12th Street East. The route then enters the elevated Fife Station on the west side of 59th Avenue East, which is part of the preferred alternative. Federal regulations and guidance for floodplain management require us to consider alternatives found outside of the floodplain. We’re now proposing to study two more potential station options—the Fife 54th Span Station Option and Fife 54th-West Station Option—outside of the designated floodplain. For the routes we are studying in Fife and from the Preferred Fife alternative, one route would curve slightly north toward 12th Street East and cross over 54th Avenue East to enter Fife 54th-West Station with a southwest slanted orientation. Second, from the Preferred Fife alternative, the other route curves slightly south toward 15th Street East to enter Fife 54th Span Station, which spans 54th Avenue East just north of 15th Street East. After exiting the station, we are studying three route alternatives that travel west. The Fife Pacific Highway elevated route exits the station westward and crosses over 54th Avenue East before crossing and transitioning to the south side of Pacific Highway near Willow Road. This elevated route continues along the south side of Pacific Highway until it reaches 34th Avenue East where it transitions south to the north side of I-5 on its way to the Tacoma segment of the project. We are also studying a route called Fife Median. This route is similar to the Fife Pacific Highway route; however, it is elevated in the median of Pacific Highway until it reaches 34th Avenue East where it transitions south to the north side of I-5 on its way to the Tacoma segment of the project. Lastly, we are studying the Fife I-5 route. This route exits Fife Station westward and crosses over 54th Avenue East and veers south, crossing over Pacific Highway to gradually curve to align with the north side of I-5 on its way to the Tacoma segment of the project. All of these routes alternatives converge back to the preferred alternative route that crosses the Puyallup River en route to Tacoma.
Routes
- (Preferred) All Fife alternatives
- Fife Pacific Highway
- Fife I-5
- Fife Median
Stations
- Fife Station
- (Potential) Fife 54th Span Station Option – If identified by the Board for study in the Draft EIS, this additional station option is outside of the federally designated floodplain in Fife.
- (Potential) Fife 54th-West Station Option – If identified by the Board for study in the Draft EIS, this additional station option is outside of the federally designated floodplain in Fife.
Portland Avenue
Explore what we're studying in the Portland Avenue station area of the Tacoma Segment
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:

The text below describes the image above
From Fife, the route crosses the Puyallup River just north of I-5. The span over the river will either be a higher, clear span option or a lower span that includes piers in the Puyallup River. After the river crossing, the route enters the elevated Preferred Alternative Portland Avenue Station, located on the east side of Portland Avenue near East 26th Street. After exiting the station, the route crosses over the Sounder Tracks and is elevated over East 25th Street. We are also studying an elevated Portland Avenue Span Station Option, which is called a “span” station option because it has entrances on both sides of Portland Avenue, just north of E 26th Street. After exiting the station, the route crosses over the Sounder Tracks and is elevated over East 25th Street. The route from the Portland Avenue station area to the Tacoma Dome station area depends on the station alternative selected in both of the station areas. Watch and listen to the Tacoma Dome video for more details.
Routes
- (Preferred) All Tacoma alternatives (Tacoma 25th Street-West)
- Portland Avenue Design Option
Stations
- Portland Avenue Station
- Portland Avenue Span Station Option
We are not considering additional route or station options in the Portland Avenue station area.
We’re studying two Puyallup River bridge types: one that would span the river without support piers in the river (clear-span) and another with support piers in the river.
- The clear-span design includes a span of over 550 feet about 60 feet above the level of the northernmost I-5 bridge.
- The support-pier design requires one or two piers in the river, with the bridge elevated about 10 feet or more above the level of the I-5 bridge.
We will update our early conceptual designs as the project progresses.
Tacoma Dome
Explore what we're studying in the Tacoma Dome Station area in the Tacoma Segment
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:

The text below describes the image above
The Sound Transit Board’s Preferred Alternative route, called Tacoma 25th Street – West, leaves westward from the Portland Avenue Station then crosses over the Sounder tracks and East L Street, remaining elevated over East 25th Street entering the elevated Tacoma 25th Street – West Station located between East G and East D Streets, adjacent to the transit park-and-ride garage on E 25th Street. We are also studying a route called Tacoma 25th Street-East, which also exits westward from the Portland Avenue Station and crosses over the Sounder tracks and East L Street and is elevated over East 25th Street. This route enters the elevated Tacoma 25th Street-East Station located on East 25th Street, just east of East G Street. Another route we are studying is Tacoma 26th Street. This route exits westward from the Portland Avenue Station and follows the Sounder tracks crossing under East L Street then gradually curves south to be elevated over East 26th Street where it enters the elevated Tacoma 26th Street Station located at the intersection of East D Street and East 26th Street. The station would span the intersection with entrances on both sides of the street. Lastly, we are studying a route called Tacoma Close to Sounder. This route exits the Portland Avenue Station and aligns with the south side of the Sounder train corridor. The route runs under East L Street before crossing over the Sounder tracks and enters the elevated Tacoma Close to Sounder Station, which is located within the footprint of the eastern portion of Freighthouse Square west of East G Street.
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
We are not considering additional route or station options in the Tacoma Dome station area.