Rep. Smith, Senator Murray Announce Nearly $80 Million for RapidRide I Line Expansion Project in South King County

Senator Murray secured major funding boost for Capital Investment Grants Program-which funded this award-in 2022 government funding package and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

South King County, WA - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Representative Adam Smith (D, WA-09) announced nearly $80 million in federal funding for King County Metro's RapidRide I Lineexpansion project, which will upgrade Metro Route 160 and connect residents of Renton, Kent, and Auburn to communities throughout the region.

The RapidRide I Lineexpansion will mean more frequent buses, better connections, and an easy-to-use service for riders in South King County. The project includes sidewalk improvements, crossing and signal improvements, and easy-to-board buses to make RapidRide I Line more efficient-with buses that come every 10 minutes at peak, and most stations will provide real-time arrival information and lighting, as well as a dry place to wait for the bus. The I Line expansion is estimated to connect 14,000 residents to the places they want to live, work, shop, and play every day-approximately 6,000 more daily riders than the routes the I Line will be upgrading served before the pandemic. The project is the result of extensive community engagement throughout Renton, Kent, and Auburn. More information on the RapidRide I Line expansion project is HERE.

"I'm thrilled to announce nearly $80 million in federal funding for the RapidRide I Line expansion project-this is going to make a big difference for people across South King County, delivering more reliable public transit to help people get where they need to go," said Senator Murray. "As South King County continues to grow, the need for better and more efficient public transit grows too-that's why I work hard every year to secure as much funding as I can for programs like Capital Investment Grants, which is making the I Line expansion project a reality. I look forward to watching these funds be put to work so that folks in Renton, Kent, and Auburn have more options to get around-and as the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, I'll keep fighting for more investments in public transit, which folks across Washington state continue to make clear is a top priority."

"Transportation and infrastructure are the backbone of our local economy," said Rep Adam Smith (D, WA-09). "I'm thrilled to hear that King County Metro's RapidRide I Line will receive this funding to provide better transit access to many in our community, increasing economic opportunity and connectivity."

"RapidRide is a critical part of the future of high-capacity transit in this region, and it keeps getting better with every route we add to the network," said King County Executive Dow Constantine. "The new Rapid Ride I Line will deliver fast, reliable service, connecting our South King County residents to key destinations with more flexibility, comfort, and convenience. I want to thank Senator Patty Murray and our King County congressional delegation for their ongoing support of transit and helping to secure this crucial grant, bringing us a big step closer toward better transit for South King County."

"Metro's RapidRide I Line will make it easier to board, easier to pay and easier to ride with amenities customers want and more buses per hour to support riders in Renton, Kent and Auburn," said King County Metro General Manager Michelle Allison. "We know this will encourage even more people to climb on board. We are very excited to expand our transit options in South King County."

"Today's announcement of $79 million in federal funding for King County Metro's I-Line is a significant victory for the City of Renton. This investment in public transportation connects Renton with services, jobs, and opportunities across South King County. It will make connecting to our neighboring cities and communities much more possible," said Renton Mayor Armondo Pavone. "We're grateful for Senator Murray's support and commitment to improving public transportation and economic growth in South King County. The new I-Line will make it easier for people who live or work in Renton to travel within the city and beyond. Supporting the monumental growth and development here in the Puget Sound region is a great move."

"As Kent continues to grow, we to invest in a brighter, more connected future for our residents," said Kent Mayor Dana Ralph. "With Senator Patty Murray's leadership, full funding has been secured for the CIG Small Starts Grant. This $79.7 million grant will accelerate the rapid transit expansion along the I Line, between Renton, Kent and Auburn creating new opportunities for Kent's families, workers, and students to move more efficiently and sustainably. We are grateful for Senator Murray's unwavering commitment to our community, and we look forward to seeing this project come to life."

"This grant represents a remarkable investment in King County Metro and public transportation as a whole in South King County," said Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus. "As our region continues to grow, access to public transportation, especially frequent transit like the RapidRide system, continues to be an important cornerstone for our city, and King County's expansion of services illustrates a promise to our riders, both current and future."

###