Mayor Ralph: nearly $80 million in federal funding announced for RapidRide E Line expansion serving Kent

Mayor Dana Ralph said last week that federal officials announced nearly $80,000,000 in funding to King County Metro to expand the RapidRide E Line, a project she said will increase bus frequency serving Kent.

The funding was highlighted during Ralph’s weekly update. She said, “we are gonna get increased bus service here in the city of Kent on on a more frequent, time schedule along that Rapid Ride line.” The expansion, she said, would improve connections between Auburn and Renton down to the Kent transit station. Ralph credited the city’s federal delegation and said the projects are currently in permitting phases.

Why it matters: increased RapidRide service can change transit frequency and connections for commuters and transit riders across south King County. The mayor identified the funding amount and said the work is in permitting; she did not give a construction timeline or a date service would change.

Details reported by the mayor: the announced funding total was described as “nearly $80,000,000.” The mayor said the announcement came from Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Adam Smith and that the money is directed to King County Metro for the RapidRide E Line expansion. Ralph said the project remains in permitting and asked residents to “stay tuned” for progress updates.

No formal action or local ordinance was recorded in the update. The mayor framed the announcement as a federal funding milestone and noted next steps are permitting and project planning.