Sound Transit’s Federal Way Link Extension opens for passenger service

Recently, Sound Transit welcomed its first passengers aboard the Federal Way Link Extension (FWLE) – marking a major milestone for the project. The opening celebration kicked off with speeches from community leaders and a ribbon cutting ceremony in Federal Way, Washington, followed by a day of planned special events to commemorate the achievement.

The Federal Way Link Extension expands the regional light rail system by nearly 8 miles (13 kilometers), providing fast and frequent service for commuters in South King County. The project adds three new elevated stations to the 1 Line – Kent Des Moines, Star Lake, and Federal Way Downtown – each featuring a parking garage with a combined total of 3,200 spaces and convenient connections to additional transit services.

Our team has been involved in the project since 2018, serving as the lead partner in South County Transit Partners, a joint venture between Mott MacDonald and AtkinsRéalis. The scope of our work included delivering design-build project management (DBPM) services – from procurement through design and construction.

“This milestone reflects over seven years of collaboration with Sound Transit and highlights our deep commitment to increasing mobility across the Puget Sound region. We are honored to have supported Sound Transit and the community with this transformative investment," says Diana Walker, Northwest division general manager at Mott MacDonald.