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Project Engagement and Design Updates
2025 was an exciting year for the Sounder S Line, as the Sounder Rail Track and Signal Improvement (SRTSI) Project advanced steadily toward its goal of updating the service for the future. Let’s look back at what’s happened over the past year.
Engagement
Over the summer and into the fall, our Sounder community engagement team spoke with hundreds of people in King and Pierce Counties, from Seattle to Lakewood. By participating in numerous community events and festivals, we gathered valuable feedback on improving Sounder for our riders. On a few occasions, we worked with the Tacoma Dome Link Extension team to engage the community about the two active projects in similar areas.
We’d like to extend a special thank you to the following groups for allowing us to join their events:
- The Puyallup Tribe of Indians
- The City of Lakewood
- The City of Tacoma
We spoke with both regular Sounder riders and new faces. The feedback we gathered this summer will help shape Sounder’s future.
Design
On the design side, the SRTSI project surpassed significant milestones. In South Tacoma, along “Segment B,” our design team developed plans for adding a second set of tracks through South Tacoma. These tracks will feature five new roadway crossings and a new bridge over S 66th Street in Tacoma, helping the Sounder add capacity and maintain reliability.
Further south, along segment C, which runs from Lakewood to DuPont, we’ve been coordinating with a host of partners to advance designs for adding a second set of tracks to this 7-mile stretch. We’ve been working with WSDOT, as well as the regulators, on a new shared-use path between Lakewood and Tillicum to ensure the future tracks minimize damage to the surrounding environment. For more information on this and other WSDOT-led projects in the area, you can visit WSDOT’s website here.
What’s next?
Our project staff will continue working on designs for the rail track and signal improvements toward the next milestone. We continue to engage our partners in incorporating key features and details into our plans to create the best service possible. Currently, we’ll be spending 2026 working towards a 30% design.
In the meantime, our engagement staff will be present in Tacoma and Lakewood in 2026 with more updates and outreach. Sign up for updates and alerts, so you can join us at the next event near you.
Additionally, the Sounder South Tacoma and Lakewood Station Access Improvements are transitioning the projects from planning to the pre-construction phase. These projects will soon provide updates as well. Make sure to stay connected and learn more by visiting the South Tacoma and Lakewood Station Project pages.
Additional Links
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