Sound Transit lands $100M from FTA for light rail extension

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded Sound Transit’s Lynnwood Link light rail extension $100 million in FY 2018 Capital Investment Grant (CIG) funding.

“This is a very positive step toward securing the $1.17 billion full funding grant agreement (FFGA) we need to start building Lynnwood Link next year,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. “Residents across our region are urgently awaiting transportation relief and are making historic investments in Lynnwood Link and other transit infrastructure. We thank USDOT Secretary Elaine Chao, FTA Acting Administrator Jane Williams, and the entire FTA team for answering our hard-working congressional delegation’s united and bipartisan call for this critical funding.”

The $100 million in FY 2018 funding for Lynnwood Link follows $100 million in FY 2017 funding that was appropriated by Congress. The FTA and Sound Transit must finalize the FFGA before the agency can access these first two installments of the $1.17 billion grant.

“I was thrilled to receive a call from FTA Acting Administrator Jane Williams to discuss this allocation and the remaining steps to complete the FFGA by the end of the year,” said Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff. “We could not be more grateful for the administration’s support and look forward to continuing our strong partnership."