East Link Extension

Connecting the Eastside with reliable light rail
Project map and surrounding area for East Link Extension

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Overview

Fourteen miles long, East Link includes 10 stations from Seattle's International District to Judkins Park, across I-90 to Mercer Island and South Bellevue, and through downtown Bellevue and the Bel-Red area to Redmond Technology Station. 

Facts

  • Open: 2024/2025*
  • Length: 14 miles; 10 stations
  • Service: Every 8 minutes in peak hours.
  • Projected travel times:
    • Mercer Island to University of Washington: 20 minutes
    • South Bellevue to Sea-Tac Airport: 50 minutes
    • Redmond Technology to Bellevue Downtown: 10 minutes
  • Projected ridership including downtown Redmond extension: 43,000 – 52,000 daily riders by 2026

*April 2023 update: Work is ongoing to identify new opening timelines for four light rail projects in construction, including East Link. Construction quality issues along the I-90 segment of the East Link alignment are expected to delay the full project opening into 2025.

In response, the Sound Transit Board has directed staff to study the feasibility of opening a significant portion of the 2 Line, which is not affected by quality issues, ahead of the I-90 segment. Later in 2023, the Board will determine whether to launch new 2-Line service between eight of East Link's 10 stations, from South Bellevue Station to Redmond Technology Station, as early as spring 2024.