Imagine a bustling community, long overlooked in transportation investments, finally getting its moment in the spotlight. That’s exactly what happened in South King County this weekend, as thousands of excited riders packed trains to celebrate the launch of the Federal Way Light Rail Extension. But here’s where it gets controversial: while the project promises to connect the region like never before, some argue it missed a golden opportunity for redevelopment by not following a different route. Let’s dive into the story behind this transformative—yet debated—expansion.
On Saturday, three gleaming new light rail stations—Federal Way Downtown, Star Lake, and Kent Des Moines—officially opened their doors, marking a significant milestone for Sound Transit’s ambitious system expansion. The day was filled with family-friendly festivities, live music, and food, capping off years of effort to bring light rail deeper into South King County. And this is the part most people miss: the 7.8-mile Federal Way Extension, now part of the 1 Line, makes it the second-longest light rail line in the U.S. at 41 miles, second only to Los Angeles’ A Line. This achievement comes hot on the heels of the 8.5-mile Lynnwood Link Extension, which opened in August 2024.
The journey to this moment began in 2008, when voters approved the Sound Transit 2 (ST2) ballot measure, pledging to extend service to S 272nd Street, where Star Lake Station now stands. However, the 2009 Great Recession forced Sound Transit to scale back plans and seek additional funding to push south of Angle Lake. It wasn’t until the 2016 Sound Transit 3 (ST3) measure that the extension to Federal Way’s emerging downtown became fully funded. If you missed the opening day, don’t worry—The Urbanist’s photo tour offers a glimpse of these new stations.
The celebration was a literal and figurative bright spot for South King County, an area where residents have long felt shortchanged on transportation. Elected officials at the ribbon-cutting wore pins referencing a 2004 quip by King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer, who joked light rail would arrive only when ‘hell freezes over.’ Fast forward to today, and that joke has become a reality, thanks in part to advocacy from Federal Way, Des Moines, and Kent.
Here’s where the debate heats up: The light rail alignment largely follows the I-5 freeway south of SeaTac, a decision that continues to irk transit advocates who fought for it to follow State Route 99. They argued that placing the line along this major north-south business corridor would spark greater redevelopment opportunities. A decade later, their concerns seem validated, as the area around Star Lake Station—the extension’s midpoint—has seen limited redevelopment, and housing growth near Federal Way stations has been modest, with only 3,000 homes in the pipeline.
Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell emphasized the extension’s broader impact: ‘This isn’t just about transportation. It’s about economic opportunity, development, and connecting our entire region.’ Beyond boosting the local economy, the extension is expected to attract 18,000 to 23,000 daily passengers by 2028, adding to the 1 Line’s already impressive ridership of over 110,000 daily riders since June 2025.
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay highlighted the human impact: ‘A student in Federal Way can now take a train directly to UW, a worker in Kent can access jobs along the entire line, and families have a reliable way to reach the airport, healthcare, and schools.’ Yet, federal funding for such projects remains precarious, especially during Trump’s second term, though Sound Transit’s current projects have so far avoided the chopping block.
Senator Maria Cantwell underscored the challenges of securing funding: ‘We fought hard to secure $790 million during the first Trump administration and $150 million from the American Rescue Plan. This infrastructure will pay dividends for generations.’
Looking ahead, Sound Transit’s next expansion—the 2 Line across Lake Washington—is set for spring 2026, pending testing. Meanwhile, Federal Way will remain the 1 Line’s southern terminus until 2035, when the Tacoma Dome Link Extension connects King and Pierce Counties. However, a looming $30-40 billion shortfall threatens these plans, though many remain focused on completing the network’s ‘spine.’
As Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine aptly put it, ‘This will soon become so ingrained in our lives that we’ll take it for granted—complaining when it falters, but forgetting what life was like without it.’
Now, here’s a question for you: Did Sound Transit make the right call with the I-5 alignment, or should they have prioritized State Route 99 for greater redevelopment potential? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear your thoughts!
