Project overview
The Everett Link Extension will provide fast, reliable connections to residential and employment centers throughout the region. The project will connect the communities of Lynnwood, unincorporated Snohomish County, and Everett.
Everett Link Extension quick facts:
- Adds approximately 16 miles of light rail connecting Snohomish County residents to the regional Link light rail network.
- Adds six new stations from Lynnwood City Center to Everett Station.
- We are also studying a
provisional station
at SR 99/Airport Road through the planning process, but this station is not funded for final design and construction.
- We are studying parking facilities at Mariner and Everett stations, but final design and construction of parking are deferred.
- The project includes Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) North, which would support overall system operation and have the capacity to receive, store, and service a larger train fleet to support Link extensions. To build this new facility, we need approximately 80–100+ acres near the light rail line.
Project area
Map showing the Everett Link Extension’s route and station alternatives. The proposed project route parallels I5 and continues north from Lynnwood City Center station to Everett Station with stations at West Alderwood, Ashway, Mariner, SR 99/Airport Road, southwest Everett Industrial Center and SR 526/Evergreen. 3 potential locations for a future Operations and Maintenance Facility are around state route 99 and Airport Road.
Everett Link Extension alternatives being studied in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Project schedule
- Alternatives development
- Alternatives development (2021 – 2023).
- State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) scoping (2023).
- The Sound Transit Board identified preferred and other alternatives for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (2023).
- Draft EIS
- Conceptual engineering (2023 – 2026).
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) scoping (2025).
- Public review and comment on the Draft EIS (2026) (WE ARE HERE).
- Sound Transit Board confirms or modifies the preferred alternative for Final EIS (2027).
- Final EIS
- Preliminary engineering (2027).
- Publication of the Final EIS (2027).
- Federal
Record of Decision
(Winter 2027 – 2028).
- Sound Transit Board selects project to be built (Winter 2027 – 2028).
- Final station and route designs.
- Procure and commission station and public art.
- Obtain land use and construction permits.
- Begin property
acquisition
/relocation.
- Groundbreaking.
- Construction updates and mitigation.
- Safety education.
- Testing and pre-operations.
The current projected date for opening light rail service from the Lynnwood City Center Station to SW Everett Industrial Center Station is 2037, with the opening of the two northernmost stations (SR 526/Evergreen and Everett Station) in 2041.
OMF North is planned to open prior to the light rail extension opening, as the facility is necessary for storing rail cars and supporting service for other parts of the regional system as well as the extension to Everett. To prioritize reaching Everett as rapidly as possible, the current plan also defers the parking facilities at Mariner and Everett Stations.
What we’ve done so far:
As part of the ST3 ballot measure in 2016, voters approved funding for the representative project, which established light rail as the transit mode for the corridor, an approximate route, the number and general locations of light rail stations, and passenger access. The representative project was our starting point for project planning.
The first step in planning was alternatives development, where we worked with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), local jurisdictions, and communities to identify any additional alternative routes, stations, and OMF North locations to be studied alongside the representative project in the environmental review process.
During alternatives development, we evaluated potential alternatives at progressively greater levels of detail and invited comments from the public, Tribes, and agencies at each level. We provided updates and asked for feedback on alternatives at three major decision-making points:
Your feedback supported our advisory groups’ efforts to narrow down the number of alternatives and ultimately helped Sound Transit identify which alternatives would be studied in the EIS.
- In June 2023, the Sound Transit Board identified alternatives, including some preferred alternatives, for stations, routes, and OMF North locations to be studied in the EIS. This was the final step in the alternatives development phase of the project, and from there we transitioned into the environmental review phase.
- In summer 2024, Sound Transit shared updated station area maps, early station layouts, and updated OMF North maps. Although this was not an official comment period, viewers were able to leave feedback through a comment form on the site.
- Sound Transit and the FTA conducted NEPA EIS scoping in summer 2025 and asked for feedback on alternatives being studied in the EIS.
Through Nonmotorized Station Access Allowance projects, Sound Transit works with jurisdiction partners to create safe and direct walking, biking, and rolling routes to the Everett Link stations from neighborhoods, businesses, and community gathering spaces. In May–June 2025, we shared our initial list of candidate projects and asked for community feedback to help us understand how you will get to future Everett Link stations.
Learn more
Project materials
Background information
Local planning efforts
