Project overview

The Tacoma Dome Link Extension includes four segments: Federal Way, South Federal Way, Fife, and Tacoma. The project is in the planning phase.

Expanding regional light rail from Federal Way to Tacoma

TDLE will add about 8.5 miles of light rail service to our regional transit system via mostly elevated tracks as it crosses through the cities of Federal Way, Milton, Fife, and parts of King and Pierce Counties. It also crosses the ancestral and reservation lands of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. This project includes four new light rail stations in the South Federal Way, Fife, Portland Avenue, and Tacoma Dome areas. These stations will also connect to transit services, including the Sounder S Line, the T Line, ST Express, King County Metro, Pierce Transit, and Amtrak.

Map showing the Tacoma Dome Link Extension project. The project route travels from the future Federal Way Downtown station to downtown Tacoma near the Tacoma Dome and T-Line. The map outlines several route alternatives in the 3 main project segments: South Federal Way, Fife, and Tacoma. The map uses 4 zoomed-in boxes to show possible station locations in the station areas: South Federal Way, Fife, Portland Avenue, and Tacoma Dome.

For more information about the routes and station alternatives we’re studying, see the Final EIS page.

Project timeline

2016 Approval of ST3 projects 

2017–2027 Planning

Alternatives development.

ST Board identifies alternatives to study in an EIS, including a preferred alternative in some locations.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

ST Board confirms or modifies the preferred alternative.

  • Final Environmental Impact Statement.
  • ST Board selects project to be built.
  • Federal Transit Administration issues Record of Decision./

2027–2029 Design

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

2029–2035 Construction

  • Groundbreaking.
  • Construction updates and mitigation.
  • Safety education.
  • Testing and pre-operations.

2035  Forecasted In-Service Date*

These dates are subject to change.

*As part of the Enterprise Initiative, the Board may defer station parking until funding becomes available.