(The Center Square) – Ten days from now, Sound Transit will open the Lynnwood Link Light Rail Extension.
Five years after construction began on the line, rail service to Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and Shoreline makes its public debut during a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11. a.m. on Friday, Aug. 30.
“This is the first light rail extension that’s actually leaving King County and getting to Snohomish County, so that is a major accomplishment,” said Sound Transit Media Relations Manager John Gallagher.
Gallagher told The Center Square the next couple of years will bring more new lines opening and more connectivity for Link light rail.
“We’ve got this opening and then we’ve got the rest of the opening across Lake Washington to connect to the eastside, and then in early 2026 we will have Federal Way opening.”
The Federal Way Link Extension is about two years behind schedule.
It will add nearly eight miles to the system via mostly elevated tracks between SeaTac and Federal Way, with three new stations in Kent Des Moines near Highline College, Star Lake, and Downtown Federal Way.
When Federal Way Link starts service in early 2026, Sound Transit promises commuters will be able to get from the Federal Way Downtown Station to Sea-Tac Airport in 16 minutes, and from Kent Des Moines to Seattle in 42 minutes.
The Lynnwood Link opening will mark a big shift in light rail fares, going from a structure based on distance traveled to a $3 flat fare per ride. This will mean Link riders with an ORCA card will no longer need to “tap off” at the end of their ride.
The station’s completion marks the conclusion of a $3 billion project that voters approved in 2008.
What did taxpayers get for their money?
“It’s eight-and-a-half miles, it’s four new stations and approximately half of the alignment is at grade, the other half is elevated,” Gallagher said. “The four new stations are two in Shoreline at 148th and 185th, one in Mountlake Terrace at the existing transit station and then the Lynnwood City Station.”
He continued, “There are two 500 stall parking spaces at the Shoreline stations and then 1,670 parking spaces at the Lynnwood station, because that’s going to be a transit hub.”
He said the cost of the project was revised up by $500 million in 2017.
For those who haven’t ridden light rail for safety reasons, Gallagher said Sound Transit made changes to address that.
“Last year we changed our security contracts. We now have about 550 security personnel available throughout the system, so that really helped us,” Gallagher pointed out. “We’re certainly cognizant with new riders, we want to assure them that we’re paying special attention, especially with the new extension that people feel comfortable and welcome.”
For opening weekend, riders can expect to see far more Sound Transit employees than usual, and plenty of pomp and circumstance.
The agency will have workers there to make sure no one gets lost, plenty of security and Chamber of Commerce members at each stop to celebrate the grand opening.
Is it worth the investment?
According to 2022 reports published by Washington Policy Center, since 2017, Sound Transit’s full system expansion went from costing taxpayers $92 billion to $142 billion and project completion was stretched from 2041 to 2046.
Anticipated tax revenue – which includes sales and use tax, motor vehicle excise tax, property tax and rental car tax – increased from $60.6 billion to $88.9 billion. This huge increase will not add more elements to the plan, nor will it increase projected ridership.
According to the Puget Sound Regional Council, Sound Transit is constructing a rail system that will likely carry fewer than 5% of regional trips.
