East Link Extension
Connecting the Eastside with reliable light rail

Timeline and milestones

  • Voter approval (2008)

  • MilestoneTarget
    Feasibility study and public comment

     

    Checkmark - Complete
    Preferred route alternative selected

     

    Checkmark - Complete
    Board selects route and final project to be built

    2011 

    Checkmark - Complete
    Record of decision

     

    Checkmark - Complete

  • Sound Transit completes the design of the trackway, stations and art installations as well as determining construction methods, including sequencing and mitigation.

    MilestoneTarget
    Sound Transit and Bellevue City Council finalize tunnel design

    2011 

    Checkmark - Complete
    City of Bellevue cost-savings plan completed

    2013

    Checkmark - Complete
    State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) Addendum to final EIS

    2016

    Checkmark - Complete
    Second SEPA Addendum for I-90 HOV lane use between Seattle and Mercer Island

    2017

    Checkmark - Complete
  • MilestoneTarget
    Construction starts on the Operations and Maintenance Facility: East (OMF East) in Bellevue

     

    Checkmark - Complete
    Elevated rail guideway is placed over I-405 in Bellevue

    2018

    Checkmark - Complete
    The Rainier Freeway station and D2 bus roadway from I-90 into downtown Seattle close in the fall for construction of Judkins Park Station

     

    Checkmark - Complete
    Undercrossing on 112th Avenue Southeast in Bellevue gets started

     

    Checkmark - Complete
    Work proceeds on station construction and guideway placement along the route 
    Safety testing and pre-operations checks complete 

     

  • Start of service*

* Sound Transit began offering 2 Line service between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology stations in April 2024.
The 2 Line, which is not affected by quality issues related to construction, opened before the I-90 segment. The remainder of East Link, that crosses I-90 and includes Judkins Park and Mercer Island Stations, is trending toward an early 2026 opening.