Sound Transit’s Link light rail made its first stops in Kent, Des Moines, and Federal Way today, marking the agency’s initial major expansion into the South Sound region.
Service commenced around 11 a.m. Saturday from the Kent Des Moines Station, Star Lake Station, and Federal Way Downtown Station. Sound Transit kicked off “Opening Day” with a ribbon cutting ceremony in Federal Way at 9:30 a.m., attended by several local, regional, and federal leaders celebrating the project years in development.
“Today is South King County’s day,” exclaimed Dow Constantine, Sound Transit’s CEO.
All three stations offer between 300 and more than 1,000 parking spots for riders, along with connectivity to other regional public transportation systems including Sound Transit Express, King County Metro, and Pierce County Transit.
The $2.5 billion project has been considered long overdue. Voters first approved the Federal Way Extension in 2008, and crews broke ground on construction in 2020. Despite the lengthy timeline, it represents Sound Transit’s fifth light rail extension in three years.
“We’ve always wanted this to go from Tacoma to Everett, and this is a big chunk into South King County,” U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell said Saturday morning.
South Sound residents like Mason Du have been waiting extensively for an expansion of this magnitude. Du, like many others, typically endures a two-hour commute by car from Federal Way into Seattle for work.
“I’m going to take it to work down in Seattle, and it will be really nice because I’ve been commuting for a few years now,” Du explained. “So I’ve been looking forward to this expansion for a while.”
Zack Glovak, another commuter who travels from Federal Way into downtown Seattle daily for work, said the new one-seat ride will reduce his travel time by almost half an hour.
“I’ve been taking the bus, but traffic on I-5 has been pretty hectic lately, so I’m excited to have the train,” Glovak said. “Hopefully it’s a bit more predictable.”
Others expressed excitement about using the extension for reverse commutes. Chris Porter said he spends more than two hours via bus, bike, and train commuting from West Seattle to Federal Way. He has been waiting years for this directional option.
“I mean, I enjoy biking, I enjoy public transit,” Porter continued, “but it’s nice to see this area sort of catch up a little bit with the rest of the world.”
The expansion connects riders from Lynnwood to Federal Way. Sound Transit’s new stops offer trains every eight to 15 minutes, operating from 5 a.m. until midnight seven days weekly.
“Eight new miles, three new stations, additional bus connectivity, additional parking spaces,” explained Luke Lamon, a Sound Transit spokesperson.
Local leaders, including Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell, view the light rail extension as a hopeful sign of transformation for his city and surrounding communities.
“Viewing Federal Way as the jumping point into King County and points north,” Mayor Ferrell shared his hopes. “Whether it’s Husky Stadium or the stadiums in downtown, or even the workplaces in downtown.”
Sound Transit expects the three new stations to serve up to 23,000 riders daily, potentially reducing regular congestion on Interstate 5. Commuters also expressed eagerness for quicker rides to and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
“The A line is 30 minutes out here, so this will be like a 10-minute ride, and when you have another bus to catch to go somewhere else, that matters,” Andrea Wheeler of Federal Way exclaimed.
The additional eight miles make the 1 Line the second-longest light rail line in the country, according to Sound Transit. The agency says this achievement helps it reach broader organizational goals.
“We connect people to opportunity, and that can take all sorts of different forms, whether it’s education, recreation, jobs, housing,” Lamon added.
Sound Transit provided the following estimated travel times for the new service:
16 minutes from Federal Way to SEA Airport 50 minutes from Federal Way to downtown Seattle 42 minutes from Kent Des Moines to downtown Seattle
The opening represents a milestone for South King County communities that have advocated for light rail service for over a decade. The extension brings rapid transit options to areas previously dependent on bus service and personal vehicles for accessing employment centers and regional amenities.
The parking availability at new stations addresses concerns about first-mile and last-mile connectivity. Riders living beyond walking distance from stations can drive to park-and-ride facilities, then complete journeys via train.
Integration with existing transit systems creates transfer opportunities for riders whose destinations lie beyond light rail routes. The coordination between Sound Transit, King County Metro, and Pierce County Transit enables multi-modal trips across the region.
The predictability advantage Glovak mentioned reflects a key light rail benefit over bus service. While buses face unpredictable delays from traffic congestion, trains operate on dedicated tracks with consistent schedules.
The reverse commute option Porter discussed highlights how transit benefits extend beyond traditional patterns of suburban residents working downtown. Federal Way’s employment centers now become more accessible to Seattle residents without cars.
Mayor Ferrell’s vision of Federal Way as a gateway to King County suggests aspirations for the city to become a regional hub rather than simply a bedroom community. Transit-oriented development around stations could reshape the city’s character.
The 23,000 daily ridership projection represents significant transit demand. If achieved, this volume would demonstrate substantial appetite for car alternatives among South Sound residents.
The second-longest light rail designation underscores the system’s expanding geographic reach. As Sound Transit continues building toward Everett, Tacoma, and Eastside destinations, the network will provide increasingly comprehensive regional coverage.
