South Kirkland-Issaquah Link

Project updates

Like many agencies nationwide that are balancing transit operations and mega-project capital expansions, Sound Transit faces rapidly escalating costs in nearly every area of its work.

The “Enterprise Initiative” is Sound Transit’s comprehensive effort aimed at delivering the maximum benefits of ST3 within available financial resources. As part of this effort, the Sound Transit Board is evaluating different approaches to updating the ST3 System Plan in summer 2026, which may include new ways to build, phase, or sequence projects.

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Overview

South Kirkland-Issaquah Link will connect growing communities on the eastside of Lake Washington. Beginning near the current South Kirkland Park-and-Ride, the route will serve three East Link stations — Wilburton, Bellevue Downtown and East Main stations — before heading further east through Eastgate to downtown Issaquah.

Project schedule

On Aug. 5, 2021, the Sound Transit Board adopted a realigned capital plan to address steeply rising construction and real estate costs affecting many voter-approved regional transit expansion projects.

Following this Board action, Sound Transit it managing the South Kirkland-Issaquah Link project toward a 2041 delivery target by working to close a project affordability gap most recently forecasted at $90 million. We’re seeking to reduce or eliminate this gap by increasing funding and support at the local, state and national levels, and by reducing costs as the Board considers and adopts project alignment options with input from partners and the public.

If it is not possible to close the gap, current financial assumptions reflect Sound Transit’s ability to affordably open South Kirkland-Issaquah Link service in 2044.