Award: Operations and maintenance facility construction
Value: $350 million
Location: Federal Way, Washington
Client: Sound Transit
A Pacific Northwest contractor will soon begin early work on a new light-rail maintenance hub south of Seattle, according to a March 26 news release.
Sound Transit, the Seattle public transit agency, awarded Lake Oswego, Oregon-based Hoffman Construction a $350 million progressive design-build contract for its Operations and Maintenance Facility South. The award covers final design, site preparation, roadway improvements, long-lead material procurement and construction staging and support facilities, according to the release.
“Advancing this project through progressive design-build is another example of how Sound Transit is responding to the Board’s directive to leverage best practices from our peers and industry to deliver cost-effective projects on schedule,” said Terri Mestas, Sound Transit deputy CEO and chief capital delivery officer. “This delivery method will help us better collaborate with our industry partners to manage risks, control costs and streamline decision-making.”
Hoffman plans to complete the project in 2032, according to the release. When complete, the facility will house maintenance and operations equipment, in addition to staff in support of the existing and future light-rail vehicle fleet.
The 70-acre hub will ultimately provide space to store, test, commission and maintain at least 72 new 95-foot-long Series 3 light-rail vehicles, according to Sound Transit. Plans also include a maintenance-of-way building and other support facilities. The mainline track will provide access to the OMF South facility building and yard.
The win tacks onto recently awarded work packages from the Seattle public transit agency.
For example, in February, Dallas-based AECOM secured three multiple-award task order contracts for the expansion of Seattle’s regional transit network. Scope of work will cover civil and structural engineering work, including preliminary engineering and full design development, according to the contractor.
In late December 2025, Sound Transit also awarded Chantilly, Virginia-based Parsons a position on the $1 billion ceiling multiple-award task order contracts. The projects form part of the Sound Transit 3 capital program, one of the largest transportation initiatives in North America, according to Parsons.
Costs for ST3, a voter approved expansion plan, have skyrocketed recently due to cost overruns, according to the Seattle Times. The total for the initiative has ballooned up to $185 billion.
