South Link Connections is a process co-led by Sound Transit and King County Metro (Metro) for a coordinated regional transit system to connect communities in South King and Pierce counties to more places.
By 2026, the Federal Way Link Extension (FWLE) project will extend the Link light rail from Angle Lake Station to Federal Way. The 7.8-mile extension includes three stations: Kent Des Moines Station near Highline College, Star Lake Station near South 272nd Street, and Federal Way Downtown Station at the current Federal Way Transit Center.
To prepare for these changes and to improve mobility and access for current and future riders, Sound Transit is working closely with our partner agencies, King County Metro and Pierce Transit. We aim to establish a coordinated regional transit system connecting communities in South King and Pierce counties to more places.
The three new stations will facilitate easy transfers between Link and buses. Stations will feature pickup and drop-off zones and provide convenient access for pedestrians, cyclists, and riders arriving on paratransit and other modes. Additionally, each station will have 3,200 parking spaces.
The FWLE will offer fast and frequent travel to popular destinations across the region. The extension will provide a 16-minute commute between Federal Way Downtown Station and Sea-Tac Airport, and a 42-minute ride between Kent Des Moines Station and Downtown Seattle. It will also provide connections from other parts of the region to the South Sound.
Timeline
Phase 1
During the project's first community engagement phase, Sound Transit and Metro shared information about the project’s scope and vision. We also gathered information about service needs and connected with key stakeholders and community-based organizations. This information and previous engagement reports will help shape the draft service concept for public feedback during Phase 2 engagement.
Phase 2
More information is coming soon!
For more information on King County Metro’s process and role in this project, please visit their South Link Connections site.
South Link Mobility Board
The South Link Mobility Board is a group of individuals providing input to Sound Transit and King County Metro’s service planning teams throughout the South Link Connections project.
Partner Review Board
The Partner Review Board is a group of external stakeholders that reviews service concepts and provides feedback. The board includes representatives from jurisdictions and major institutions in the project area, leaders of community-based organizations, and representatives from partner transit agencies.