Sound Transit to hear proposed amendment on Federal Way light rail study | Transportation

A proposed $24 million study that would get Federal Way “shovel ready” for light rail will be presented to the Sound Transit Capitol Committee this afternoon.

Sound Transit Board and King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer will present the proposal, which was announced Monday, at 1:30 p.m. at Union Station.

The proposal aims to complete the engineering and environmental review for a South 272nd Street and a Federal Way Transit Center area light rail extension.

The proposal comes after concerns in Federal Way regarding the transit system’s inequity and transparency within the city. In January, Federal Way Mayor Skip Priest asked auditors to investigate Sound Transit, saying their “broken promises and failures in South King County suggest that light rail has veered off course.”

Federal Way says it welcomes the plan, but is cautious about the proposal, which it says echos an earlier city suggestion to redirect planning funds for a future ballot measure to the South Link project.

If the proposal receives internal approval by the Sound Transit committees and board, discussions with Federal Way can begin.