Tacoma — $75 million Funding Secured

December 2015

Progressive Railroading reports that Sound Transit has secured $75 million in Federal funding to extend the Tacoma Link modern streetcar line. The funding via the Small Starts program was included in the $1.1 trillion budget bill approved by Congress in early December.

On top of the Small Starts funding, the 2.4-mile extension is to receive $50 million in tax revenue from the Sound Transit 2 ballot measure and $33 million in other federal and state grants, including a $15 million TIGER VII grant.

A referendum approving exension of the Tacoma Link light-rail system was passed in 2008. The extension will run along Stadium Way to the Hilltop District. Additionally, the project calls for an expanded operations and maintenance facility in Tacoma.

Engineering work on the project will proceed over the next two years including determining changes to the preliminary cost estimate of $175 million. The project team hopes to begin construction in 2018.