On Sept. 16, Sound Transit celebrated the opening of the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension. The 2.4-mile Hilltop extension doubles the length of the T Line and includes seven new stations:
- St. Joseph (M.L.K. Jr. Way south of South 17th St.)
- Hilltop District (South 11th and M.L.K. Way)
- 6th Avenue (at M.L.K. Way)
- Tacoma General (M.L.K Way at MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital)
- Stadium District (North 1st St. at North G St.)
- South 4th (at South Stadium Way)
- Old City Hall Station (Commerce St. north of South 7th St.)
"The Hilltop extension is a major step toward creating a more connected Tacoma and region as we continue expanding our transit network," said Sound Transit Board Chair and King County Executive Dow Constantine. "With this opening, riders will have even greater access to opportunities and the communities connected by this new service."
"Connecting our historic Stadium District, Wright Park, medical facilities, downtown and the Tacoma Dome to the rest of our city and the broader region, these light-rail stations represent our ongoing commitment to sustainability, equity, access and mobility for all," said Sound Transit Board Member and Tacoma Deputy Mayor Kristina Walker. "Today is a big day for Tacoma."
Sound Transit will begin charging fares via ORCA, paper tickets and the Transit GO app ($2 per trip for adults, $4 day pass or free for youth 18 and under) and will conduct a targeted ORCA LIFT reduced fare promotion and awareness campaign in Tacoma. To ease the transition, 10,000 ORCA cards will be distributed to people living around the Tacoma Link alignment.
As part of the expansion, five new light-rail vehicles were purchased from Brookville Equipment Corporation of Pennsylvania, doubling the previous fleet. Each of the 66-foot-long cars is designed to carry more than 100 passengers. The eight-foot-wide car has seating for up to 26 passengers, with accessibility seating for passengers using wheelchairs and mobility devices and space for bikes.
“Sound Transit thanks all the federal, state, regional and local project partners that put in so much hard work and dedicated effort to plan, construct and open the T Line,” said Sound Transit CEO Julie Timm. “This new extension connects residents and visitors to the heart of Tacoma more sustainably and more equitably from small local businesses and housing to parks, hospitals and museums.”
