Photo by Glenn Landfield for Sound Transit.
On Saturday, December 6th, thousands of transit riders celebrated the opening of Sound Transit’s Link light rail extension to Federal Way! The 1 Line now stretches south to three new stations at Kent Des Moines Road near Highline College, Star Lake, and Federal Way Downtown, for a total of 41 miles from Federal Way to Lynnwood. It brings a new fast and affordable transit option to thousands of workers and students in South King County, and opens up new destinations for transit riders across the region.
We had a ton of fun tabling at the new Federal Way Downtown station, where we spoke with transit riders about what this extension means to them. We heard from residents of South King County about how excited they are to be able to get to the airport, downtown Seattle and the stadiums more easily. We heard from Seattle residents eager to explore South King County and try new cuisine and parks. Riders from all across the region are excited about the Crosslake connection as well as future Sound Transit 3 projects that will connect Tacoma, Everett, Ballard, and West Seattle by light rail.
Read on to hear directly from riders about how light rail shapes their lives:
Irene, Federal Way
What excites you about the Federal Way Extension opening up today?
Oh, my gosh. I’m going to use it in so many ways. Right now, we’ve had to drive up to Angle Lake if we want to use the light rail, but now we don’t have to. We’re going to use it to go to the airport. We’re going to use it to go to games and concerts in downtown Seattle. My kids who love going to UW, we’re going to be using it to go to Husky Games, and we’re going to be using it, hopefully, if my youngest goes to UW, she’s going to use it to go back and forth from college to come home and we won’t have to go all the way to UW or to Angle Lake anymore. I’m considering using it to go to work up at Swedish Hospital. So, we’ll see. I mean, there’s so many opportunities now. And I’m super looking forward to it, maybe extending down to Tacoma so we can explore Tacoma’s downtown much more than we do now.
Alex, Mercer Island
What excites you about the Federal Way Extension opening up today?
Most of the people I know who live here in South King County rely on transit to get around. I think this will bring a lot more business from up north and make it a lot easier for people to travel north from here, especially with how much traffic there is on I-5. And right now, it takes like an hour to an hour and a half to get up north. But with the Link extension, hopefully, it should be more consistent and reliable. I know a friend who often travels from here, and it takes her a couple hours to get to where she needs to go. So this will cut down the travel time quite a bit. I wish I had something like this when I lived down here before I moved, because the transit wasn’t good enough frankly.
Does light rail affect where you choose to live in the region?
Yes, actually, I’ve been wanting to move back to South King County, but then it wasn’t quite viable, but now it’s actually viable for me because I mainly rely on transit to get around because cars are just too expensive these days. I don’t want to deal with gas, I don’t want to deal with car payments and all of that. I just want to go to where I need to go. And at least Link Light Rail is reliable, so it’s quite enjoyable. That’s awesome.
Are you excited for any other future light rail projects that are opening up?
I’m excited for the Crosslake connection, because currently I’m staying with someone on Mercer Island, and it’ll make it a lot easier for me to get to work in Tukwila. It takes me at least an hour and a half to two hours to get to work and about an hour and a half to get home. Light rail is a bit more reliable than the 550, because there have been a lot of times where I have been almost late because I’ll ride the bus and then bam, a bunch of traffic on I-90. Hopefully, with the new Crosslake connection, I’ll cut down my commute a little bit.
John, Capitol Hill in Seattle
What excites you about the Federal Way Extension opening up today?
I’m excited for so many things, but my biggest thing is being able to hop on the Link light rail and just come and explore different cuisines. I know Federal Way has got good food and I’m excited about that.
Are you excited for any other future light rail projects that are opening up?
Oh, yeah. I’m excited for the Tacoma one, but that’s going to be like many years to come.
Connor, Auburn
How has light rail impacted the way that you travel around the region?
Light rail has dramatically changed the way that I view how transportation can be done. As opposed to having to pay for parking, fight for a spot in Seattle, I can choose to move somewhere outside of the main area and take light rail into the epicenter and use it for quick and efficient operations in and outside of the downtown business core, so I love it.
What excites you about the Federal Way Extension opening up today?
I think I’ll probably use it for going to work. I do martial arts up in Redmond, so when we cross the bridge, I’ll probably be taking it from Federal way all the way to Redmond and back.
Tyler, Port Orchard
What excites you about the Federal Way Extension opening up today?
I’m excited for reduced traffic and a different way to get around town without needing my car.
Are you excited for any other future light rail projects that are opening up?
Really excited for the Tacoma one. Not excited it’s going to take 10 years, but excited nonetheless.
Do you think we should build the damn trains faster?
Yeah, whatever it takes, man. Just come on. It is ridiculous.
Avery, Capitol Hill in Seattle
How has light rail impacted the way that you travel around the region?
Well, I moved here partly for the light rail, and to be near it and to be able to get around the region, car free, because I don’t like driving, it sucks. It’s how I get around most of the days. It’s enabled me to be car-free and feel like I’m a member of society and not have to be miserable in traffic.
Do you think you’ll be coming down to Federal Way with this new light rail expansion?
I’m a lot more likely than I was. I have never been to Federal Way before. This is my first time, and I have seen some of those parks on the Puget Sound over there that seem like they might be a little bit more accessible now.
Are you excited for any other future light rail projects that are opening up?
I really, really would like West Seattle and Ballard to happen. There is so much housing opportunity in the city of Seattle, and I hope we can let lots of people live near the trains when we open those up.
Efe, Maple Leaf in Seattle
What excites you about the Federal Way Extension opening up today?
Well, I mean, transit is good in general, and I’m just more excited to come to Kent and Federal Way more often. You know, the more people who travel in between, from Seattle, Kent and to Federal Way, the better. I think it will just mean more housing and more activity in Kent and Federal Way.
How has light rail impacted the way that you travel around the region?
It’s just much more convenient than driving. I do own a car, and I sometimes use it, but I really do not like driving. I do not like to find parking in areas with a lot of car traffic and it’s just hard to do that. So I try to use transit as much as possible. You can read a book on transit — it’s just nicer.
Are you excited for any other future light rail projects that are opening up?
I’m hyped about the Crosslake extension as well, so seeing this opening is like a “okay, this is really happening” moment. For me, once the 2 Line fully opens, it will just be like, two hops to get to work, right now it’s three hops.
Franz, Chinatown International District in Seattle
Franz, Chinatown International District in SeattleWhat excites you about the Federal Way Extension opening up today?
I’m really excited to explore the restaurants around here. I’m a chef, but I can’t really justify driving myself down, it’s such a waste of gas. I’d rather just take public transit.
How has light rail impacted the way that you travel around the region?
When I first moved here a couple of years ago, I didn’t have a car, and I wanted to live in the city and be able to commute wherever I wanted to go. So being so close to Chinatown station and the streetcar and all the bus lines has really expanded my spread and where I can go and work in Seattle. It’s really good to have consistent and steady transit service for people who either don’t have vehicles or don’t want to take their vehicles.
Are you excited for any other future light rail projects that are opening up?
Really excited for West Seattle, that would be really good. And just going all the way down to Tacoma would also be fantastic. To just really connect all the main cities here in the Seattle area.
Grace, Des Moines
Grace, Des MoinesWhat excites you about the Federal Way Extension opening up today?
I’m really excited for the Kent Des Moines station to open up because I live really close to it, so I’ll be able to walk or bike there and we’ll be able to go downtown, have meetings. It’ll be nice.
How has light rail impacted the way that you travel around the region?
I grew up in Puyallup where there’s not a whole lot of transit. So living in an area with transit like light rail, that’s so easy, has made me realize how nice it is to have these resources and amenities in the area and has allowed me to just have more access.
Are you excited for any other future light rail projects that are opening up?
Yes, I’m very excited for the Crosslake connection to open up because my office is in Redmond, and as I mentioned, I’m in Des Moines. So it’s far. But when the Crosslake connection opens up, I can ride the train all the way from, like, right outside my house to right outside my office. It’ll be awesome.
Page, Federal Way
Page, Federal WayWhat excites you about the Federal Way Extension opening up today?
I’m thrilled to be able to get to the airport a lot easier, particularly at peak traffic times where getting there, even on I-5, is super busy. I’m really excited for that.
How has light rail impacted the way that you travel around the region?
I don’t have to worry about the different timing of traffic. The trains run very regularly and they’re on time and if they’re delayed, we know they’re delayed. So it’s really exciting to have that peace of mind. I just get to zone out when I ride the train.
Are you excited for any other future light rail projects that are opening up?
I am really going to be thrilled when we get connected with Seattle Center because of going to concerts and things like that. I would love to be able to take the light rail like I can to go to the stadiums. So I’m really looking forward to when that happens.
Elliot, Snohomish
What excites you about the Federal Way Extension opening up today?
Well, I’m just really passionate about transit, to be honest. I don’t really come down to Federal Way or Kent for anything, but more light rail is always better, especially for other people or maybe future trips that I don’t even know I’ll take yet.
How has light rail impacted the way that you travel around the region?
So much. I can’t even begin to explain it. I hate driving. I think driving is not fun at all. And so I don’t. I just choose not to because we have such a lovely transit system. And I go down to Seattle two times a week at least, which if you’re coming from Snohomish, usually you don’t do that. My mom, she used to never go into Seattle because she hated driving in there. And then I taught her how to use the light rail. And now we come and do stuff all the time.
Are you excited for any other future light rail projects that are opening up?
The Everett extension and specifically the Ashway stop as well. I’m most excited for those because I can get to both of those with one bus and then I have a straight shot to Seattle. I’m also most excited for the upcoming 1 and 2 Line connections, because I go to Bellevue all the time and it’s way faster to go on the light rail through to Bellevue than it is to ride a bus down there.
Matthew, Columbia City in Seattle
Matthew, Columbia City in SeattleHow has light rail impacted the way that you travel around the region
Oh, I mean it’s fantastic. When my partner and I moved here eight years ago, finding an apartment right by the light rail station was at the top of our list. You know, I use a wheelchair, so finding comfortable housing and accessible transportation can be really hard.
What does this Federal Way Extension mean for you? Do you feel like you’re going to come down to Federal Way more often as a result?
Oh yeah, I think I’ll definitely be coming down Federal Way. I mean, I’ve never been to this part of the town before at all. I just love the idea of rolling on a train and just reading until you get where you’re going.
Are you excited for any other future light rail projects that are opening up?
So coming from the East Coast, you know, we had a much more expansive transit system. It was also a lot older. It was 100 years old in New York City and in Philadelphia and all that. So I grew up having to find what few stations were accessible, you know, which one could I get off at. All this parsing of the system and all that, all the time. So this was the first time I lived somewhere, ever, in my life, where I could take every station. You know, I don’t have to have a decoder ring to figure out what’s accessible for me.
One thing I really hope, as you have this opportunity to keep building new stations, is that they keep doing it right. You know, it’s also the only time I’ve lived anywhere where they have two elevators per platform and the amazing difference that makes. For other people, a broken elevator means, “Oh, man, I’m going to have to take some extra steps here today, what a pain in the butt.” For me and folks like me, that means like, “Oh, there’s part of the city I can’t get to today.” And so, yeah, just being able to have the redundancy built in so that if one goes down, it’s not obliterated — as far as I’m concerned, that’s huge.
