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Officials break ground at a ceremonial ceremony to celebrate the start of the downtown Redmond Link Extension.
Media Caption
Shovels ready as officials celebrate the ceremonial groundbreaking for the Downtown Redmond Link Extension.

Breaking ground on the Downtown Redmond Link Extension

Publish Date

Today, we celebrated a big milestone on the eastern expansion of the region’s light rail system: the start of construction on the Downtown Redmond Link Extension

In partnership with Design/Build contractor Stacy and Witbeck/Kuney and regional leaders, we put shovels to the ground on our commitment to connect more people to more places in our region. 

The ground-breaking ceremony was held the terminus of the future Blue Line, which will extend to Southeast and Downtown Redmond from the Redmond Technology Station currently under construction in Overlake.

As part of the Downtown Redmond Link Extension, two new stations and 3.4 miles of new light rail will open in in 2024 – just one year after East Link in 2023

Blue Line riders will enjoy fast, frequent and reliable service between the Eastside and Seattle, the University of Washington and south Snohomish County. 

Trains will run every eight minutes during peak weekday commutes. 

A concept sketch from 2017 showing a design for Downtown Redmond Station. The elevated station will the final stop of the Blue Line.
A concept sketch from 2017 showing a design for Downtown Redmond Station. The elevated station will the final stop of the Blue Line.

Travel times

From downtown Redmond:

  • 18 minutes to downtown Bellevue
  • 42 minutes to downtown Seattle
  • 56 minutes to Northgate
  • 45 minutes to stadiums and 72 minutes to Sea-Tac Airport (after transferring to the Red Line). 

More expansion on the way

In five years, light rail will extend not only to downtown Redmond, but also to Federal Way and Lynnwood. 

We predict that by 2026, between 43,000 and 52,000 daily riders will use light rail to travel to and from Eastside destinations.

More information

Get updates: soundtransit.org/subscribe 

Project info: soundtransit.org/redmondlink 

Contact us: redmondlink@soundtransit.org or 206-398-5300

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