East Link is Sound Transit’s voter-approved project to build light rail between Seattle and Overlake. Sound Transit is also conducting environmental review on the future extension between Overlake and downtown Redmond. The Sound Transit Board of Directors recently identified a preferred East Link alternative with eastside stations serving Mercer Island, south Bellevue, downtown Bellevue, Bel-Red, Overlake, and downtown Redmond, connecting to Seattle via I-90.
By 2030, East Link light rail will connect the Eastside’s biggest population and employment centers, serving 40,000 – 45,000 daily riders on one of the region’s most congested travel corridors.
Get involved
Sound Transit Board and Bellevue City Council Workshop
Feb. 11
East Link Open House
February 18 , 2010
4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Bellevue City Hall
450 110th Avenue NE,
Bellevue, WA 98004
East Link: Downtown Bellevue Public Open House
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Contact Us
Sound Transit staff is available to talk or meet with community members either one-on-one, in small groups or at neighborhood meetings to ensure communities have the most current and accurate project information. For questions or additional information regarding the East Link project, please contact Katie Kuciemba at 206-398-5459 or katie.kuciemba@soundtransit.org.
What we've heard
Thank you to those who attended and/or commented during the Fall 2009 East Link public workshops. Your valuable feedback continues to guide the East Link project team as it moves forward with the preliminary design process. Sound Transit hosted workshops in south Bellevue, downtown Bellevue, the Bel-Red Corridor and Overlake/Redmond to share preliminary design information and gather ideas and comments from Eastside residents and stakeholders.
Sound Transit is committed to ensuring that communities are kept informed as the planning process unfolds. Current and background documents on the East Link project can be downloaded from the East Link Document Library >>>
Preferred Alternative
Seattle & Mercer Island (using I-90) Map
Light rail will run on the existing I-90 center roadway across Lake Washington with stations at Rainier Avenue in Seattle and Mercer Island. New HOV lanes will be constructed on the I-90 outer roadways adding 24-hour bus transit and HOV service both east and westbound while preserving the existing number of general purpose lanes.
South Bellevue Map
Trains will run from I-90 north along Bellevue Way Southeast and 112th Avenue Southeast with a station serving south Bellevue. Subject to further evaluation, the route will be on the east side of Bellevue Way and 112th Southeast.
Downtown Bellevue Map
Trains will run at-grade on 108th Avenue Northeast and 110th Avenue Northeast. However, the Sound Transit Board will consider a largely bored tunnel under 108th Avenue Northeast if additional funding is found. Sound Transit is working with the City of Bellevue to identify additional funding sources for the Board to consider prior to the completion of the Final Environmental Impact Statement. Additionally, in Fall 2009, the Sound Transit Board directed staff to further evaluate a new tunnel alternative and two at-grade alternatives recommended by recent peer review, and an elevated alternative requested for study by the City of Bellevue.
Bel-Red/Overlake Corridor Map
Trains will serve the Bel-Red corridor, Overlake Village and Microsoft’s campus in a combination of elevated and at-grade alignments located north of Bel-Red Road. Subject to further evaluation, the route will be on the north side of Northeast 24th Street in the Overlake Village area.
Redmond Map
Although funding has not been approved for construction of the segment between Overlake Transit Center and downtown Redmond, voters did fund preliminary design and environmental study. The Sound Transit Board identified a future route running along State Route 520 and the northern edge of Marymoor Park to a station in downtown Redmond. A terminal station near Redmond Town Center is under evaluation.
More Information About the Preferred Alternative
