What is TDLE?
Sound Transit’s Link light rail extension from Federal Way to Tacoma will create fast, congestion-free connections to residential and job centers in the South Sound and beyond when it launches in 2030, including:
- South Federal Way to Tacoma in 20 minutes
- Fife to Tacoma in six minutes
- Tacoma to Sea-Tac Airport in 35 minutes
The Tacoma Dome Link Extension (TDLE) project will add almost 10 miles of mostly elevated tracks to the regional light rail system and four new stations, near south Federal Way, Fife, east Tacoma and the Tacoma Dome.
These stations will also offer riders efficient connections to other transit options like Sounder, Tacoma Link, ST Express, King County Metro, Pierce Transit, Intercity Transit and Amtrak.
Stations will feature pick-up and drop-off zones and provide access for those traveling by foot, bike, paratransit and other modes. The future South Federal Way and Fife stations will include approximately 500 parking spaces each.
What’s new on TDLE?
Your input on TDLE routes and station locations during the initial public comment period in Spring 2019 helped the Sound Transit Board determine which options to study through a formal environmental review process called a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). An EIS documents a project’s potential effects on the natural and built environment, and it proposes ways to mitigate unavoidable impacts. This process will take about three years to complete, including the opportunity for public, agency and tribal comment after we publish the Draft EIS.
Over the past year, Sound Transit has worked closely with communities to refine our plans, and we’ll continue to do so. Check out how we’ve narrowed our route and station locations to reflect each area’s vision for future transit:
Join us this month to learn more
Now’s your chance to ask questions, get updates and learn about next steps.
Attend an informational drop-in session to learn about potential route and station locations:
- Wednesday, Nov. 13, 6 - 8 p.m. // Federal Way Link Extension Open House at Highline College: 2400 S 240th St, Building 8, Des Moines
- Saturday, Nov. 16, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. // Eastside Community Center: 1721 E 56th St, Tacoma
- Saturday, Nov. 16, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. // Federal Way Library: 34200 1st Way S, Federal Way
- Wednesday, Nov. 20, 6 - 8 p.m. // Federal Way Link Extension Open House at Federal Way Performing Arts Center: 31510 Pete von Reichbauer Way South, Federal Way
- Wednesday, Nov. 20, 8 – 10 a.m. // Starbucks: 900 E Meridian Ave E, Suite 12, Milton
- Wednesday, Nov. 20, 5 – 7 p.m. // Evergreen State College: 1210 6th Ave, Front Lobby, Tacoma
- Thursday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. // Poodle Dog: 1522 54th Ave E, Fife
- Tuesday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. // UW Tacoma Campus: 1900 Commerce St, Central Stairway, Tacoma
- Tuesday, Dec. 3, 4 – 6 p.m. // Fife Pierce County Library: 6622 20th St E, Fife
- Wednesday, Dec. 4, 6 – 8 a.m. // Tacoma Dome Sounder Station: 424 East 25th St, Tacoma
- Wednesday, Dec. 4, 5 – 7 p.m. // Federal Way Community Center: 876 S 333rd St, Federal Way
Or check out our online version of the drop-in sessions: tdlink.participate.online
Plus: Progress on the Operations and Maintenance Facility South
We’re forging ahead on the Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) South project, which we need by 2026 to store and service our growing fleet of clean, quiet electric light rail trains. The OMF South will create more than 300 living-wage jobs in South King County.
OMF South’s next in-person outreach phase will be starting in November at the same time as TDLE outreach. You can access our online version of the OMF South drop-in sessions through Dec. 6.