Quick Definition: The Everett Link Extension is a planned 16-mile light rail segment connecting Lynnwood City Center to Everett Station with six new stations. Sound Transit targets a 2037 opening to SW Everett Industrial Center and 2041 full service to Everett Station, pending closure of a $500 million funding gap.
We’ve been watching the Everett Link Extension timeline shift around for a few years now, and 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most consequential years for the project since voters approved ST3 back in 2016. This spring, Sound Transit is preparing to release its Draft Environmental Impact Statement — the document that narrows down exactly where the tracks, stations, and operations facility will go. This is what you need to know right now.
Where the Project Stands in April 2026
The Everett Link Extension remains in its Planning Phase, with the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) expected to be released for public review in 2026. The Draft EIS is a big deal — it’s the point where Sound Transit presents the preferred alignment, the six station locations, and the environmental and community impacts of building 16 miles of elevated light rail through Snohomish County.
Once the Draft EIS is released, there will be a public comment period. Then Sound Transit prepares the Final EIS, currently expected around 2027. The Sound Transit Board formally votes on the route and station locations after the Final EIS — no shovels in the ground before that point.
- 2026: Draft EIS release and public comment period
- 2027: Final EIS and Board decision on preferred route and stations
- 2030–2036: Construction phase
- 2037: Target service opening to SW Everett Industrial Center
- 2041: Projected full service to Everett Station
The Six Planned Stations — What We Know
The Everett Link Extension adds six new stations to the regional Link light rail network, connecting riders from the Lynnwood City Center terminus northward into Snohomish County. Here are the six stations currently planned:
West Alderwood — Connects to the area between Lynnwood and southwest Snohomish County neighborhoods currently underserved by rail.
Ash Way — Positioned near the Ash Way Park-and-Ride on I-5, already a major transit hub for express bus commuters heading to Seattle.
Mariner — Serves the Mariner community in south Everett near the I-5 and Highway 526 interchange.
SW Everett Industrial Center — Located near Boeing’s primary Everett manufacturing campus. This is the station that puts light rail walking distance from one of the region’s largest employment sites. Targeted as the first endpoint of service in 2037.
SR 526/Evergreen — Near Everett’s southern approaches, serving Paine Field-area commuters.
Everett Station — The northern terminus, connecting Link directly to Everett’s Amtrak Cascades and Sounder commuter rail hub downtown. Full service here is targeted for 2041.
A seventh provisional station at SR 99 and Airport Road is also being studied, though it is not currently funded and would need additional financial support to be included.
The $500 Million Funding Gap — What It Actually Means
We’re not going to bury the hard part: Sound Transit has a $500 million affordability gap on this project. That’s a real number from Sound Transit’s own project documents — not a rounding error or a worst-case scenario.
In practice, Sound Transit is pursuing increased local, state, and federal funding while simultaneously exploring cost-reduction options — different construction approaches, phasing strategies, or station design changes that could bring the price down without cutting service quality.
The ST3 System Plan — the broader 25-year transit expansion voters approved in 2016 — is also up for a structural review by the Sound Transit Board in summer 2026. The board is evaluating “different approaches to updating the ST3 System Plan,” which could include new ways to build, phase, or sequence projects, including the Everett extension.
What this means practically: if the board decides to phase the project and build to the SW Everett Industrial Center station by 2037 first, then complete the final stretch to Everett Station later, the shape of the project changes significantly. If new funding closes the gap, the 2037/2041 timeline firms up. We’ll be tracking whatever comes out of those board discussions as they develop.
What the Draft EIS Will Tell Us
When Sound Transit releases the Draft EIS this year, it will contain:
- The preferred alignment — the exact route the tracks follow
- Station designs and footprint maps for all six locations
- Property acquisition requirements
- Environmental impact analysis: noise, traffic, wetlands, neighborhood effects
- Community benefit assessments
- The preferred location for the Operations and Maintenance Facility North (OMF North), a critical piece of system infrastructure targeted for a 2034 opening
The public comment period following the Draft EIS release is the moment for Snohomish County residents to officially weigh in. Station design concerns, community impacts, park-and-ride configurations — all of that input gets recorded in the official planning record during this window.
Why This Matters for Everett’s Development Boom
We’ve spent a lot of time covering Everett’s physical transformation — the waterfront, the stadium project, the housing surge. Light rail sits underneath all of it as a long-term infrastructure bet.
When Everett Station connects to the regional Link network, the entire corridor from downtown Everett to Seattle becomes a roughly 45-minute commute without a car. That changes the math on living in Everett for people working Seattle-based jobs. It changes what downtown Everett can support in terms of retail, restaurants, and density.
The Port of Everett’s Millwright District, the new downtown stadium, the apartments going up near the transit center — every one of these projects is betting on a future where Everett is a complete city, not a staging area for a Seattle commute. The $500M funding gap and the 2037-2041 window is the biggest variable in that long-term calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Everett Link Extension open?
Sound Transit is targeting 2037 for service to the SW Everett Industrial Center station and 2041 for full service to Everett Station. Both timelines are contingent on closing a $500 million funding gap.
How many stations will the Everett Link Extension have?
Six stations are planned: West Alderwood, Ash Way, Mariner, SW Everett Industrial Center, SR 526/Evergreen, and Everett Station. A seventh station at SR 99/Airport Road is being studied but is not currently funded.
What is the Everett Link Extension Draft EIS?
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be released in 2026. It identifies the preferred route alignment, station locations, and environmental and community impacts. There will be a public comment period after its release.
How long is the Everett Link Extension?
Approximately 16 miles of new light rail, running from the Lynnwood City Center terminus north to Everett Station.
What is the $500 million funding gap?
Sound Transit has identified a $500 million shortfall between current projected revenues and the estimated cost of the Everett Link Extension. The agency is pursuing additional local, state, and federal funding as well as cost-reduction options.
What is the ST3 System Plan review?
The Sound Transit Board is evaluating different approaches to updating the ST3 System Plan in summer 2026. This could include new ways to build, phase, or sequence projects — potentially affecting the Everett extension timeline.
Will there be park-and-ride access at Everett Link stations?
Yes. The Ash Way station connects to an existing major Park-and-Ride facility. Specific configurations at each station will be detailed in the Draft EIS.
How does this connect to existing Everett transit?
The extension terminates at Everett Station, which serves Sounder commuter rail and Amtrak Cascades. It will also connect with Community Transit bus routes throughout the corridor.
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