When the 2 Line Crosslake Connection opens in early 2026, 2 Line trains will run from Downtown Redmond to Lynnwood City Center via downtown Seattle every 8-10 minutes during the day, and every 12-15 minutes in the evening and early morning.
If you currently ride ST Express in east King County, your trip could look different as soon as fall 2026. Changes could include:
- Improved nighttime bus service.
- Buses that integrate with the growing Link light rail network.
- Bus routes that have updated schedules.
- A more frequent and reliable service throughout the day – Link trains will arrive about every 8-10 minutes between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
- More seats and overall capacity.
- More connections to more places throughout the region.
| New routes | Improved service | Revised service | Eliminated service | No change to service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight service (Redmond-Downtown Seattle) | 556 | 532 542 545 560** 566** |
*Routes 522, 532, and 535 also serve North King County
**Routes 560 and 566 also serve South King County
Rail changes
2 Line service between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology Station began on April 27, 2024. On May 10, 2025, the 2 Line expanded to Downtown Redmond and Marymoor Village.
In early 2026, the Crosslake Connection will bridge the 2 Line between downtown Seattle and Bellevue across I-90 and Lake Washington through two new stations at Judkins Park and Mercer Island.
2 Line trains will run every 8-10 minutes during the day, and every 12-15 minutes in the evening and early morning, serving 26 stations in east King County, Mercer Island, Seattle, and Snohomish County.
2 Line riders looking to access SeaTac/Airport or other stations south of downtown Seattle must transfer to the 1 Line at International District/Chinatown. Riders can expect a 13-minute trip from Redmond Technology Station to Bellevue Downtown, and a 25-minute trip from Bellevue Downtown to Symphony Station in Seattle.
*All travel times presented are estimates
Current service
Sound Transit currently provides ST Express service to Redmond, Bellevue, Issaquah, and Bothell in east King County. The following ST Express routes, excluding Route 560 and 566, serve just under 15,000 riders daily; about 75% are served by routes 545 and 550. All routes except Route 556 operate all day, all week in both directions, with Route 556 providing weekday, peak-only supplemental service.
- 522 // Bothell/Woodinville – Roosevelt
- 542 // Redmond – University District
- 545 // Redmond – Seattle 5th Avenue
- 550 // Bellevue – Seattle
- 554 // Issaquah – Seattle
- 556 // Issaquah – University District
- 560 // Bellevue – West Seattle
- 566 // Auburn – Redmond
Overnight service (Redmond - Downtown Seattle)
The implementation of this proposal is subject to operational capacity at our partner agencies and may be partially implemented or deferred.
Add new overnight route to the regional network
When Link is not running, a new ST Express route, would provide service between Redmond and Downtown Seattle, with stops in Bellevue and Mercer Island.
What does it mean for passengers?
Passengers would have access to the new overnight service when Link is not operating. Passengers who currently travel at night between destinations on the 2 Line between Redmond and Downtown Seattle would be able to get to their destinations using ST Express bus.
The span of service and frequency of this new service is to be determined.
522
The implementation of this proposal is subject to operational capacity at our partner agencies and may be partially implemented or deferred.
Reroute to Shoreline South Station and enhance service
Route 522 would be rerouted to Shoreline South Station. This change would match the future Stride S3 Line. Service frequency would be improved to about every 15 minutes all day between UW Bothell and Shoreline South, and about every 30 minutes all day from Woodinville.
What does it mean for passengers?
Passengers who board Route 522 north of NE 145th Street would transfer to the 1 or 2 Line at Shoreline South Station instead of Roosevelt Station. Passengers travelling south of NE 145th Street can board new King County Metro Routes 72 or 77 for service to Roosevelt Station or the University District.
Approximate frequency (in minutes)
| Early AM Start of service - 6 a.m. | AM Peak 6 - 9 a.m. | Midday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. | PM Peak 3 - 6 p.m. | Evening 6 p.m. - End of service | Hours of service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday | 15* | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15-30* | 5 a.m. - 1 a.m. |
| Saturday | 15* | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15-30* | 5 a.m. - 1 a.m. |
| Sunday | 15* | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15-30* | 7:15 a.m. - 10:15 p.m. |
* Service increase
535
The implementation of this proposal is subject to operational capacity at our partner agencies and may be partially implemented or deferred.
Improve Route 535’s service on weekends
Responsive to community feedback and consistent with previous planning, Route 535 would offer more frequent Saturday service and operate on Sundays. Weekend service would operate every 30 minutes during the day and every 60 minutes during the evening.
What does it mean for passengers?
Riders would have more frequent service on weekends.
Approximate frequency (in minutes)
| Early AM start of service - 6 a.m. | AM Peak 6 - 9 a.m. | Midday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. | PM Peak 3 - 6 p.m. | Evening 6 p.m. - end of service | Hours of service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 60 | 4:45 a.m. - 10:15 p.m. |
| Saturday | 30* | 30* | 30* | 60 | 5 a.m. - 1 a.m. | |
| Sunday | 30* | 30* | 30* | 60* | 7:15 a.m. - 10:15 p.m. |
* Service increase
556/554
The implementation of this proposal is subject to operational capacity at our partner agencies and may be partially implemented or deferred.
Eliminate Route 554; shorten and enhance Route 556
Eliminate Route 554 and replace it with an enhanced Route 556. Route 556 would be shortened to Bellevue Transit Center. Route 556 would provide passengers with more frequent service (about every 15 minutes) between Bellevue and Issaquah, and local stops would be added in Issaquah.
What does it mean for passengers?
Passengers who currently ride the 554 can use improved Route 556 frequency to connect with the 2 Line for service to Seattle or Redmond at South Bellevue and Bellevue Downtown stations. Route 556 would arrive about every 15 minutes for most of the day; the 2 Line would provide service every 8-15 minutes.
Riders taking Route 556 to the University District could transfer at South Bellevue to the 2 Line, or at Bellevue Downtown to King County Metro Route 270 to continue to the University District. 2 Line trains would arrive about every 8-15 minutes. Route 270 would arrive about every 15 minutes between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Route 556 would also serve new stops in Issaquah, including on Sunset Way and Gilman Boulevard. Specific stops are shown on the map.
Approximate frequency (in minutes)
Early AM start of service - 6 a.m. | AM Peak 6-9 a.m. | Midday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. | PM Peak 3 - 6 p.m. | Evening 6 p.m. - end of service | Hours of service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday | 30* | 15* | 15* | 15* | 15-30* | 5 a.m. - 1 a.m. |
| Saturday | 30* | 15* | 15* | 15* | 15-30* | 5 a.m. - 1 a.m. |
| Sunday | 30* | 15* | 15* | 15* | 15-30* | 5 a.m. - 1 a.m. |
*Service increase
550
Eliminate Route 550
Since the 2 Line will serve destinations between downtown Seattle and Bellevue in 2026, Route 550 would be eliminated.
What does it mean for passengers?
Passengers currently riding Route 550 can take the 2 Line to reach downtown Seattle, Judkins Park, Mercer Island, Bellevue, and beyond. Passengers who use stops along Bellevue Way can use an improved Route 556 for travel on the Eastside, or transfer to the 2 Line at Bellevue Downtown or South Bellevue for service to Seattle.
