The voter-approved East Link project is an 18-mile light rail system that is being evaluated in the environmental review process.
The final East Link alignment will be a composite of one alternative from each of the five geographic segments. The five segments as laid on in the draft Environmental Impact Statement are as follows:
Start Exploring East Link: Select the segments from the map below to compare the route options being studied.
The East Link light rail system undergoing environmental review would connect with Sound Transit’s Central Link light rail line at the International District/Chinatown Station in Downtown Seattle. It would then travel east across Lake Washington via Interstate 90 (I-90) to Mercer Island, downtown Bellevue, and Bel-Red with an interim terminus at the Overlake Transit Center in Redmond. The environmental review is also assessing the future extension to downtown Redmond. For assessment purposes, the East Link study area is divided into five segments along distinct geographic boundaries with 19 alternative alignments being evaluated in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
The final East Link alignment will be a composite of one alternative from each of the five geographic segments.
The five segments are as follows: Segment A Segment B Segment C Segment D Segment E
Segment A: Interstate -90.
Travels from the downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel to South Bellevue, where I-90 touches land in Bellevue. Segment A has one alternative: the I-90 Alternative (A1).
Segment B: South Bellevue.
Travels from where I-90 touches land in Bellevue to SE 6th Street, including the south boundary of Surrey Downs Park. Segment B has five alternatives:
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The Bellevue Way Alternative (B1)
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The 112th SE At-Grade Alternative (B2A)
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The 112th SE Elevated Alternative (B2E).
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The 112th SE Bypass Alternative (B3)
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The BNSF Alternative (B7)
Segment C: Downtown Bellevue.
Travels from SE 6th Street north to NE 12th Street, encompassing downtown Bellevue and the area east of I-405 to the BNSF Railway corridor. Segment C has six alternatives:
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The Bellevue Way Tunnel alternative (C1T)
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The 106th NE Tunnel Alternative (C2T)
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The 108th NE Tunnel Alternative (C3T)
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The Couplet Alternative (C4E)
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The 112th NE Elevated Alternative (C7E)
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The 110th NE Elevated Alternative (C8E)
Segment D: Bel-Red/Overlake.
Travels from downtown Bellevue to the Overlake Transit Center at the intersection of NE 40th Street and State Route 520 (SR-520). Segment D has four alternatives:
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The NE 16th At-Grade Alternative (D2A)
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The NE 16th Elevated Alternative (D2E)
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The NE 20th Alternative (D3)
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The SR 520 Alternative (D5)
Segment E: Downtown Redmond.
Travels from, the Overlake Transit Center to downtown Redmond, with two potential project terminus locations. Segment E has three alternatives:
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The Redmond Way Alternative (E1)
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The Marymoor Alternative (E2)
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The Leary Way Alternative (E4)
