Sound Transit Break Ground On $217M Hilltop Extension Project

TACOMA, WA — Sound Transit on Monday broke ground and began construction of the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension, which when completed will more than double the length of the existing Tacoma Link line.

Adding more than 2 miles to the line, the extension will bring transit options to the Stadium and Hilltop districts, add six more stations, and see the current Theater District station split apart and relocated into two new stations at Old City Hall and Commerce Street. Service on the new line is expected to begin in 2022. Afterward, another extension project slated for completion by 2039 will see track laid to Tacoma Community College.

"Years of thoughtful planning and collaboration between community, state, and federal leaders to connect downtown Tacoma with the historic Stadium and Hilltop neighborhoods helped lay the tracks for today's groundbreaking, and I am thrilled to see the results of our hard work to expand affordable public transit options for local residents, students, and commuters,” said Sen. Patty Murray, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which helped secure a $15 million federal TIGER grant to fund a portion of the $217 million project.

Funding for the project will also come from a partnership between the city and Sound Transit, as well as a $75 million federal Small Starts grant.

"Hilltop Tacoma Link provides additional access to our downtown corridor and will help fuel our economic growth," Tacoma Mayor and Sound Transit boardmember Victoria Woodards said. "This groundbreaking event today would not have been possible without the support of Sen. Murray, Rep. Kilmer and our partnership with the Federal Transit Administration. Our city is poised to grow by 64 percent in the next 20 years and expanding Tacoma Link will connect residents to our regional transit system for years to come."

Along with the rail line extension, the project will also see an expansion at the Sound Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility on East 25th Street in order to accommodate five more light rail vehicles, project officials said.

"Expanding Tacoma Link will bring $250 million in economic development to our region’s economy. Best of all, it connects neighbors to each other, cuts traffic and helps people avoid hefty parking bills." said Rep. Derek Kilmer. “As a longtime supporter of this project, I’m excited construction is getting started. I’ll keep pushing Congress to invest in infrastructure projects that create and support local jobs."

For more information on the project, visit SoundTransit.org/HTLink.

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Image via Sound Transit