Tacoma Dome Link Extension project updates
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Overview
The Tacoma Dome Link Extension will add nearly 10 miles of mostly elevated light rail 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 connect to regional transit services like Pierce Transit, Intercity Transit, and others.
Stations will feature pickup and drop-off zones for riders. They will provide convenient access for pedestrians, cyclists, and riders arriving on paratransit. The future South Federal Way and Fife stations will each have approximately 500 parking spaces.
Benefits of the TDLE
When Tacoma Dome Link starts, it will offer fast and frequent travel to destinations across the region, including:
- Federal Way Transit Center to Tacoma Dome Station in 20 minutes
- Fife to Tacoma Dome Station in 6 minutes
- Tacoma Dome Station to Sea-Tac Airport in 35 minutes
Current project status
The Tacoma Dome Link Extension (TDLE) project is currently in the environmental review phase of planning. As part of this phase, Sound Transit develops conceptual design and prepares an Environmental Impact Statement that evaluates the potential impacts of the project. Through this work, we found the need to consider more station options in Fife and an additional route and associated station options in the South Federal Way/Milton area. There are no other alternatives being proposed in Tacoma.
On March 23, 2023, the Sound Transit Board approved the study of an additional route alternative in South Federal Way and stations options in Fife in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, anticipated to be published in 2024. A Draft EIS analyzes and documents a project's potential impacts to the natural and built environment, and it proposes ways to mitigate unavoidable impacts. When the Draft EIS is published, there will be an opportunity to make formal public comments on the project that will be sent to the Sound Transit Board for consideration.
When we publish the Draft EIS, we’ll invite the public to review and make formal comments. We’ll share the news through our digital channels, and we’ll also mail postcards to residents, businesses and property owners before the public comment period.
Questions or comments before then? We're always here to help. You can contact the project team at tdlink@soundtransit.org.
We encourage you to sign up for project email updates for all the latest news as the TDLE develops.
What can I expect as a project neighbor?
For resident or business and/or property owner near a potential TDLE route or station: Sign up for email updates to stay current on the project. If you have any questions or you'd like a meeting to learn more, contact the project team at tdlink@soundtransit.org.
The Draft EIS will identify potentially affected properties. You will have the chance to provide feedback on those findings once we release the Draft EIS. The Sound Transit Board considers the feedback we receive through this formal comment process.
After considering the Draft EIS and comments received, the Board will alter or confirm the "preferred alternative." A preferred alternative is a statement of where the agency is leaning based on information available at the time. It's not a final decision.
The Board will choose routes and stations and the project to be built after we issue the Final EIS.
