Federal Way Link Extension Oversight Services

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To relieve congestion and create faster, more reliable transportation options for the growing southern portion of King County, Washington, voters approved funding in November 2008 to extend Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority’s (Sound Transit) Link light rail system from Angle Lake Station in the City of SeaTac to the Federal Way Transit Center.

Valued at $1.6 billion, the 7.8-mile extension is Sound Transit’s largest design-build project to date. Once complete, it will enable passengers to ride the Link from Federal Way to Sea-Tac Airport in 15 minutes and from the Kent Des Moines Station to downtown Seattle in 42 minutes.

Since 2018, we have been part of the team assisting Sound Transit on the project. During the first phase, we provided project oversight services in preparation for the execution of the design-build contract. Our integrated team then embedded with Sound Transit staff and co-located with the design-build contractor beginning in 2019. This enabled us to efficiently provide resident engineering, construction and engineering management, project controls, scheduling, change management, technical support and inspection and quality assurance services for the second phase (2B), which includes the design and construction of the project.

As part of Phase 2B, three new transit stations are being constructed that will serve the cities of Kent and Des Moines: Kent Des Moines Station, Star Lake Station and the Federal Way Downtown Station. Together, the three stations will provide an additional 3,200 parking spaces along the route. In addition, a new street with wide pedestrian paths will connect the Kent Des Moines Station with Highline College, and a new parking garage will be built at the Federal Way Transit Center.

Our design and engineering expertise has helped solve challenges encountered during the project. In July 2022, approximately 200 linear feet of embankment supporting Interstate 5 (I-5) slid downslope nine feet, requiring a three-day, precautionary lane closure on southbound I-5. In response, our team worked with the design-build contractor to develop a plan to temporarily stabilize the slope by installing a buttress of large, angular rocks known as quarry spalls. The slope is now stabilized, and to prevent long-term stability issues, a 500-foot bridge is being constructed over the unstable soil.

Systems installation is currently underway, and most construction is expected to be completed in 2024. Remaining construction is expected to be finished in 2025, with testing and commissioning to follow before service begins. Once operational, the extension will transport 29,000 to 34,000 riders daily.


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