Sound Transit breaks ground on Stride S3 Line
Project will deliver faster and more reliable bus service for north Lake Washington communities
Publish Date
Today, Sound Transit and project partners celebrated the groundbreaking of Sound Transit’s Stride S3 line. S3 will connect communities along SR 522 with fast, reliable, battery electric bus service from Shoreline South Station to Bothell via Kenmore and Lake Forest Park.
The project will deliver 14 new stations featuring real-time arrivals information and large, comfortable shelters. The S3 line will be operated by a fleet of 15 60-foot battery electric buses. The project will also feature new BAT lanes, sidewalks, plantings, and intersection improvements along the corridor. S3 will operate every 10-15 minutes up to 19 hours a day with transit signal priority and infrastructure improvements that will cut travel times from up to 59 minutes today to as low as 35 minutes when the project is complete.
“Stride represents the next generation of multimodal transit, connecting communities and people across the region,” said Snohomish County Executive and Sound Transit Board Chair Dave Somers. “We know a truly effective mass transit system must go to where people are and take them where they need to go. Stride, Link, Express buses, and Sounder service all work together to get people out of their cars and off to work, play, home, or just explore.”
“Breaking ground on the Stride S3 line is an exciting step forward for regional mobility and providing fast, reliable transit to our growing North King County communities,” said King County Executive and Sound Transit Board Member Girmay Zahilay. “Transit is becoming more multimodal as Sound Transit and King County Metro work together to expand service, and Stride S3 will further enhance east-west connections. We are proud to work together closely with Sound Transit as we continue to raise the bar on transit service in this area and across our county.”
“Today’s groundbreaking delivers on our promise to connect the growing, flourishing area of north King County with our regional transit network. What began with neighbors in ‘522 Transit Now!’ shirts has become a shared vision of fast, frequent, and reliable transit that connects people throughout our region to opportunities and each other,” said King County Councilmember and Sound Transit Board Member Claudia Balducci. “I especially want to thank the strong leadership of Kenmore, Bothell, and other cities embracing land use and transportation plans that support the walkable, livable communities our residents deserve.”
"It's going to be a great ride," said Seattle Mayor Katie B. Wilson. "The Stride 3 line will connect communities, improve safety, and move North Seattle a big step closer to a future of irresistibly good transit."
“We are excited to see this next phase in regional transit begin construction,” stated Shoreline Mayor Betsy Robertson. “BRT service across the north end of Lake Washington strengthens the connections between our communities and expands access to opportunity. This investment reflects our shared commitment to faster, more reliable transit that supports residents, businesses, and our region’s future.”
“Today’s groundbreaking for the Stride S3 bus rapid transit marks the culmination of more than a decade of community advocacy and vision along SR 522, building on Kenmore’s thoughtful planning and early investments in transit-ready infrastructure,” said Kenmore Mayor Nigel Herbig. “This new service will strengthen connections to light rail and to the eastside, and make transit a reliable, everyday option while supporting new housing, local businesses, and sustainable economic growth right here in Kenmore.”
“The launch of the S3 line is a major milestone for Bothell and for the entire SR 522 corridor,” said Bothell Mayor Mason Thompson. “This investment brings faster, more dependable transit to our residents while supporting safer streets, cleaner air, and stronger connections to the region. We’re grateful to our partners and our community for moving this vision forward, and we’re excited for the benefits this project will bring to Bothell for decades to come.”
“The Seattle-King County Building Trades are honored to partner with Sound Transit, regional leaders, City of Kenmore officials and staff as we create economic opportunity for generations of working people and better connect communities. The Stride S3 line will create hundreds of family-wage jobs for skilled craftspeople and pathways out of poverty for women, people of color, veterans and others who are disadvantaged into construction careers. Through apprenticeships and strong training programs, we are working as a region to help build the next generation of construction workers, many from local communities here in Kenmore and King County. Getting to this significant step on this important element of our regional transit system took vision and persistence – and it will build better lives. Let’s keep building!” said Monty Anderson, Executive Secretary, Seattle Building & Construction Trades Council.
“This investment in fast, reliable, zero-emission bus rapid transit meets the moment for north Lake Washington communities,” said Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine. “Stride will provide a consistent connection between all the cities along the rapidly developing 522 corridor, and to our regional light rail system.”