King County has officially begun construction on the new RapidRide I line, a 174 million USD, 17-mile project that aims to transform the existing Route 160 corridor.
The route, which currently serves 5,000 daily riders, is planned to be turned into a high-capacity transit line.
At present, the corridor serves as one of the region’s most diverse areas and includes a large number of residents who rely on public transit in order to access jobs, education, and essential services.
Once completed, the line will aim to offer faster, more frequent services, as well as improved connections across the regional transportation network.
Executive Girmay Zahilay said:The groundbreaking of the RapidRide I Line delivers on a long-standing commitment to expand fast, reliable transit service in South King County.
Auburn, Kent, and Renton are among the most diverse and fastest-growing communities in our region, and this new line will help more residents and families get to work, school, medical appointments, and other essential services without needing a car. Projects of this scale don’t happen overnight, and I’m grateful to the federal, state, county, and local partners who made today possible.
The project is supported by almost 80 million USD in federal funding through the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grant Program, as well as more than 19 million USD in additional federal grants, 27.5 million USD in state funding and 47.5 million USD in King County Metro funds.
Construction of the new RapidRide I Line is hoped to create economic opportunity by supporting small businesses and expanding access to careers in the trades, with the contract with Stacy Witbeck meeting the County’s overall requirement that a minimum of 20% of the total contract value is given to certified small or disadvantaged businesses, including those owned by women and minorities.
During peak periods, buses will run every 10 minutes once service begins in 2027, with the rest of the day seeing service every 15 minutes. Riders are expected to travel 26% faster during the morning commute and almost 30% faster during the evening commute.
The entire project includes 82 RapidRide stations, along with new or upgraded crosswalks, mid-block crossings, curb ramps and sidewalks. It is expected to strengthen regional connections, linking riders to downtown Renton, the future Renton Transit Center, currently under construction, Kent Station, and Auburn Station, as well as the RapidRide F Line, future Sound Transit Stride S1 Line service, Sounder trains, and local bus routes.
