Preferred light-rail route and station sites for the Tacoma Dome Link Extension have been selected by the Sound Transit board
**Tacoma Dome Link Extension: Sound Transit Reveals Preferred Light-Rail Route and Station Locations**
The Sound Transit Board has unveiled its preferred light-rail route and station locations for the Tacoma Dome Link Extension (TDLE), a significant step towards extending light-rail service from Federal Way to Tacoma, Washington.
The TDLE, set to seamlessly connect Pierce County to SeaTac, Seattle, the Eastside, Lynnwood, and ultimately Everett, according to Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine, will span approximately 10 miles and include four new stations.
The preferred route for the TDLE runs from Federal Way through Fife to Tacoma, with a design refinement to run on the east side of State Route 99 (SR 99) in Milton. This refinement crosses from the west side of SR 99 to the east side near the county line, continues north along SR 99’s east side, then leaves SR 99 north of 70th Avenue East.
The TDLE will feature three stations: one in South Federal Way, one in Fife, and two in Tacoma. The South Federal Way station will be located on the south side of South 352nd Street, while the Fife station's specific location within the town remains to be determined.
In Tacoma, the line will include the Portland Avenue Station, situated in an industrial area to avoid straddling Portland Avenue, and the Tacoma Dome Station, strategically placed near the existing Sounder and Amtrak stations for improved multimodal connectivity. The Tacoma Dome station location also considers maintaining service on the existing T Line streetcar into downtown during construction.
Sound Transit Board Chair Dave Somers stated that this decision marks a major milestone toward establishing light-rail service to all three counties in the Sound Transit district. The project will now move into the preliminary engineering and final environmental impact statement phase for further study, with the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) anticipated in 2027.
Extensive coordination was undertaken with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, as a large portion of the route and two stations are located on their reservation. Close coordination will continue throughout every phase of the project.
The TDLE is another step forward in building the regional light-rail spine that voters approved, transforming regional travel so fundamentally that it will leave people wondering how they ever did without it, according to Constantine.
- The Tacoma Dome Link Extension (TDLE) will incorporate the rail industry by extending light-rail service from Federal Way to Tacoma, ultimately connecting Pierce County to other major cities like SeaTac, Seattle, the Eastside, Lynnwood, and Everett.
- The public-transit sector will benefit from the TDLE project as it seeks finance for the extension, with a preferred route planned along State Route 99 in Milton and includes four new stations in total.
- As the TDLE progresses, the infrastructure of Tacoma will witness substantial change, as it will feature significantly improved transportation connectivity with stations like the Portland Avenue Station in an industrial area and the Tacoma Dome Station strategically located near existing Sounder and Amtrak stations, enhancing multimodal transport options.
