Sound Transit Completes Landmark $3.1 Billion Lynnwood Link Extension Connecting King and Snohomish Counties

A Historic Inter-County Mass Transit Connection for Puget Sound

SEATTLE, Washington — Marking one of the most consequential transit milestones in Pacific Northwest history, Sound Transit, together with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), King County, and Snohomish County, has officially commenced full passenger operations on the landmark $3.1 billion Lynnwood Link Extension. Extending the high-capacity 1 Line by 8.5 miles north from Northgate, the megaproject marks the first time in regional history that the Link light rail network crosses county borders to serve Snohomish County communities.

The transformative extension provides commuters with a fast, congestion-free alternative to Interstate 5, slashing peak-hour travel times between the northern suburbs and downtown Seattle. Passengers boarding at the Lynnwood terminal reach Westlake Station in the heart of Downtown Seattle in just 27 minutes, bypassing notoriously unpredictable freeway gridlock and establishing a dependable spine for daily metropolitan mobility.

Four Architecturally Striking Stations and Integrated Transit Hubs

The 8.5-mile corridor features four brand-new, modern transit stations designed for seamless regional passenger transfers: Shoreline South/148th St., Shoreline North/185th St., Mountlake Terrace, and Lynnwood City Center. Each facility incorporates elevated platforms, weather-sheltered passenger waiting areas, interactive digital arrival signage, and expansive public artwork reflecting native Pacific Northwest ecosystems.

To facilitate multi-modal travel, the project added three major parking structures delivering over 1,500 new parking spaces, alongside direct passenger bridges linking adjacent freeway bus flyer stops. Regional transit agencies, including Community Transit and King County Metro, have completely restructured their local feeder networks to connect directly with the new light rail stations, transforming Lynnwood and Shoreline into primary suburban transit hubs.

Substantial Federal Investment and Explosive Ridership Growth

The $3.1 billion extension was delivered through a robust financial partnership approved by voters under the Sound Transit 2 (ST2) plan. The capital program was anchored by a $1.17 billion Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) awarded by the FTA's Capital Investment Grants program, complemented by a $658 million low-interest loan through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA).

Ridership response has been immediate and profound. Transit analysts project the Lynnwood Link segment will carry between 47,000 and 55,000 daily riders, propelling Sound Transit's system-wide ridership past three million monthly passengers for the first time in agency records. Powered by 100 percent carbon-free clean electricity sourced from regional hydro and renewable utilities, the zero-emission electric trainsets eliminate tens of thousands of solo vehicle trips daily, significantly curtailing vehicular carbon emissions along the I-5 corridor.

Catalyzing Sustainable Transit-Oriented Urban Communities

Civic leaders and urban planners throughout King and Snohomish counties emphasized that the Lynnwood Link Extension is already functioning as a catalyst for sustainable urban regeneration. Surrounding station areas have witnessed an influx of private capital development, unlocking the construction of thousands of transit-oriented housing units, mixed-use commercial centers, and walkable pedestrian promenades.

With final track connections progressing for the forthcoming East Link 2 Line across Lake Washington and future extensions advancing toward Everett and Tacoma, the completion of the Lynnwood Link extension firmly cements the Puget Sound region as a national benchmark for rapid transit expansion and climate-resilient metropolitan growth.