For the second time in recent days, copper wire thieves have disrupted Sound Transit’s 1 Line near Federal Way, underscoring growing concerns about the vulnerability of the region’s light rail system.
Thieves snatched copper wiring Thursday night, triggering service disruptions that lasted into Friday morning. Sound Transit was forced to run bus shuttles between affected stations until just before 11 am, when full rail service was finally restored, allowing trains to resume normal operations for riders heading into the late morning commute.
The incident comes on the heels of an earlier theft that temporarily knocked out power to a stretch of the line ahead of the Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory parade, a high-profile disruption that raised broader questions about system resilience.
In a statement following the latest theft, Sound Transit said it continues to add cameras and increase monitoring along the 1 Line corridor around Federal Way. “Some recent incidents have been extremely brazen, including tampering with wires while trains are in service,” the agency said. Transit spokesperson Amy Enbysk confirmed police have an “open investigation” in one of the Federal Way cases.
Copper wire theft has increasingly targeted public infrastructure across Washington. In early 2025, at least 30 theft incidents were reported on state freeways. In September, thieves knocked out streetlights on the West Seattle Bridge for weeks. Utilities have described the problem as a crisis. Lumen reported more than 350 wire theft incidents in Washington last year, the highest total of any state in which it operates.
Sound Transit has faced similar problems beyond the 1 Line. After copper thefts disrupted the Eastside’s 2 Line last June, CEO Dow Constantine pledged “increased security along the alignment, including the use of technology.” The agency has since added security measures, but thefts continue.
The public doesn’t always know when theft is the cause. Rider alerts often cite vague “signal issues” or “power issues,” leaving taxpayers unaware that criminal activity may be behind the disruption.
Lawmakers are attempting to address the resale market that fuels the crime. Rep. Cindy Ryu, D-Shoreline, is sponsoring House Bill 2213 this session. The proposal would require metal recyclers to upload photos of wire they purchase to a database accessible to law enforcement and impose a 10-day holding period before resale.
Meanwhile, Sound Transit has yet to release findings from a Feb. 7 inspection closure between Angle Lake and Federal Way Downtown stations, conducted to check for power-system damage, including possible theft.
The Sound Transit Board is scheduled to meet Feb. 26, where members are expected to discuss the recent string of copper wire incidents and what more can be done to keep the region’s rail system running.
