SEATTLE — Sound Transit will open the next segment of its Link light rail system — the 1 Line extension to Federal Way, Wash. — on Dec. 6, the agency announced today (Aug. 28, 2025).
The 7.8-mile addition will include new stations at Kent Des Moins, Star Lake, and Federal Way Downtown.
“Today’s announcement on Federal Way shows that the region continues to make significant progress toward our mass transit goals,” Sound Transit Board Chair Dave Somers said in a press release. “This is one more step in completing the spine and providing relief from gridlock and more travel options for our residents. I look forward to the day we open Everett, and Tacoma, and the other key elements of the Sound Transit 3 package.”
The agency said last month that it anticipated the Federal Way extension would open this year after the board approved phased opening of the extensions currently under construction, but had not specified a date [see “Sound Transit moves up opening date …,” Trains.com, July 25, 2025].
“It’s exciting to see trains out there running on the tracks as we continue to prepare for the opening of this crucial extension, further knitting our region together with clean, traffic-free light rail,” said Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine. “Thank you to our partners at the Washington State Department of Transportation and the local jurisdictions who have accommodated years of project activity, and to our hard-working contractors and staff.”
More on the Federal Way extension is available here. Sound Transit said more details on opening-day plans will be provided at a later date.
Note that four-car LRVs will operate every 8 minutes during peak hours, offering a connection to Seattle in 50 minutes. This development is anticipated to alleviate congestion on a section of Interstate 5 that often resembles a parking lot more than a freeway.
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