(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, announced a nearly $173 million loan for two Sound Transit projects. The loans come from the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program and will support the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension project and the Lynnwood Link Infill Station project.
“Sound Transit is an absolutely critical component of the Puget Sound’s infrastructure. Supporting the expansion and upgrade of its links, such as the Tacoma Link and Lynnwood Link, continues to be a top priority,” said Senator Murray. “These loans will build upon the key federal investments we’ve secured for Sound Transit and will make a big difference in making sure people can get to where they need to go safely and quickly. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I’ll continue to fight to secure the federal support we need to build world class public transit systems here in Washington state.”
“Thanks to these two Sound Transit projects, more riders in Tacoma and Lynnwood will be able to access reliable and convenient public transportation. More than doubling the length of Tacoma Link will connect everything from the Theater District to the Hilltop neighborhood, while extending the Lynnwood Link to Northeast 130th Street allows a growing residential area better access to a vital transportation corridor,” said Senator Cantwell. “Federal financing assistance for these projects ultimately saves Sound Transit at least $26 million over the next two decades – that’s more money going toward making our public transit system work for its users.”
Both projects have been part of Sound Transit’s ongoing work to expand and upgrade existing links. Specifically, the loans amount to:
- Up to $93.3 million for the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension project to construct 2.4 miles of guideway and track, the purchase of five light rail vehicles, expansion of the existing operations and maintenance facility, and pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements;
- Up to $79.3 million for NE 130th Street Infill Station project to construct a new elevated, side platform light rail station along the Lynnwood Link Extension light rail corridor. The project also includes bus and paratransit transfer facilities and sidewalk and bicycle infrastructure.
Senator Murray has long pushed to deliver funding for Washington state’s transportation and transit infrastructure. Earlier this month, Senator Murray applauded President Biden for including $250.7 million for the Lynnwood Link Light Rail extension project in his budget request for Fiscal Year 2024. In January, Senator Murray announced over $115 million in new funding for Sound Transit to support the Federal Way Link and Lynnwood Link projects. This funding, which was included in the FY23 Omnibus spending bill, served as additional Capital Investment Grant (CIG) funding to help projects experiencing cost overruns due to the pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and inflation. This provision was the culmination of nearly two years of Senator Murray’s efforts to secure additional relief for transit agencies.
Senator Cantwell is a longtime champion of ongoing investments in Washington state’s Light Rail system. Upon finalization of the FY23 Omnibus spending bill, Senator Cantwell celebrated the inclusion of $329.14 million for the Federal Way Link Light Rail Extension – which fully funds the project three years ahead of schedule – and $254 million for the Lynnwood Link Light Rail Extension. As chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Senator Cantwell helped deliver large funding increases for transportation in the Biden-Harris Infrastructure Law, which included $8 billion for CIG funding over five years.
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