Long-awaited Bellevue-to-Redmond light rail line opens for riders

On April 27, residents, city and county officials, as well as Sound Transit staff, convened at the Downtown Bellevue Light Rail station to celebrate the opening of the East Link starter line, also called the 2 Line — some of whom having dedicated 15 years to advancing the expansive light rail project.

“I‘m beyond excited, I’m giddy,” said Claudia Balducci, King County Councilmember for District 6. “Riding [the light rail] is going to be quite a trip.”

As of now, the eight-station light rail travels from the South Bellevue Station to the Redmond Technology Station in 10-minute increments, from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. A ride from end to end takes 20 minutes. Along the ride, travelers get panoramic views of the green landscapes and cityscapes throughout the Eastside.

Expanding the light rail into Redmond, initially a contentious decision, became an opportunity for the city to “take advantage of the idea of what a train station can bring,” said Redmond Mayor Angela Birney.

She explained the station has brought a surge in housing in the last few years, along with trail connections, density and other infrastructure that has made the area vibrant and beneficial for the whole community.

The recent opening of the Overlake Village Pedestrian Bridge and the Redmond Technology Station Pedestrian Bridge, which connects to East Link stations and spans over State Route 520, is a testament to new infrastructure inspired by the new transit that will amplify accessibility to jobs, shopping, parks and more opportunities.

Balducci, who began advocating for the East Link extension 15 years ago as a Bellevue City Council member and then mayor, witnessed similar growth in Bellevue since the light rail construction began.

“The light rail has spurred the largest redevelopment that Bellevue has seen … since downtown,” she said. “That’s all because we have this high-capacity transit coming.”

Permanent and reliable transit closely correlates with upward economic mobility, Balducci added.

While stations include multiple elements of practicality, a collaboration between Sound Transit and the Eastside cities ensured each station possessed a distinct character through art and design.

“We worked with Sound Transit, our community, our arts and culture commission to really find something indicative of that station and where that station is planned for,” Birney said.

Some station art includes murals reflecting the seasonal colors of the Mercer Slough, glass sheets with raindrop motifs, and a cut-metal mural blending Coast Salish and Chinese designs.

Although the East Link extension is not fully completed as portions experienced setbacks, Balducci has been advocating for the early opening of the Bellevue to Redmond line.

While opening the transit line that was ready for the public was a logical step, Balducci underscored the reason she pushed to open the Bellevue to Redmond line was to deliver on a long-awaited promise.

“We made a promise to the voters to provide light rail service in East King County…and I think it’s important to deliver on your promises as best you can,” she said. “Obviously, this isn’t the full thing we promised, but it’s something meaningful.”

Once complete, the Eastside Link will travel from the Downtown Redmond Station to the Seattle International District/Chinatown Station. The last two legs — Downtown Redmond Station to Redmond Technology Station and South Bellevue Station to the International District/Chinatown Station — are anticipated to open in 2025.

What to know before you ride

Hours: 7 days a week from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Stations: Bellevue Downtown, Wilburton, Spring District, BelRed, Overlake Village and Redmond Technology Station.

Fees:

Adults: range from $2.25 to $2.50 depending on length of ride.

Seniors (65+) or disabled and low-income passengers with Orca card: $1

Youth (18 and under): Free

Parking: Ample on-site parking is provided at three stations South Bellevue (1,500), BelRed (300) and Redmond Technology Station (300)

A metal-cut mural depicting a Dragon and Phoenix lines the Spring District Station, situated between the Wilburton and RedBell stations. This mural, created by Chinese-indigenous artist Louie Gong, is a mixture of Coast Salish and Chinese paper-cutting designs. According to Gong, this art represents the experience of mixed-race people. (Cameron Sires/Sound Publishing)

South Bellevue Station. Mural depicting the seasonal colors of the Mercer Slough by artist Vicki Scuri. (Cameron Sires/Sound Publishing)

Downtown Bellevue Station. (Cameron Sires/Sound Publishing)

The track crosses over I-405 to and from Redmond. (Cameron Sires/Sound Publishing)

The South Bellevue Station provides ample parking with 1,500 parking stalls. The station also offers bus transfer facilities and connections to bike and pedestrian trails. (Cameron Sires/Sound Publishing)