For the first time, light rail riders can travel between Seattle and the Eastside by train, crossing Lake Washington on a floating bridge in a historic expansion that reshapes how the region connects.
The newly opened Crosslake Connection completes Sound Transit’s 2 Line, linking communities from Downtown Redmond to Seattle and beyond while uniting the region’s broader light rail system into a single network spanning 63 miles and 50 stations.
The final seven-mile segment includes new stations at Judkins Park and Mercer Island, creating the first direct light rail connection between Seattle and the Eastside and significantly improving access to jobs, housing and regional destinations.
“After years of wondering, ‘When is light rail coming to Bellevue,’ families finally have their answer, about every eight minutes,” said U.S. Sen. Patty Murray. “We are building the best light rail system in America.”
At peak service, trains will arrive approximately every eight minutes, with even more frequent service in areas where the 1 Line and 2 Line overlap. Trips between downtown Seattle and Redmond are expected to take about 40 minutes, offering a faster and more reliable alternative to driving.
U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell said the expansion reflects years of federal investment and will help make transportation more affordable for residents across the region.
“All the young innovators want one thing: They want to be close to Sound Transit,” Cantwell said. “Mass transit is now making life more affordable.”
Sound Transit has received billions in federal funding over the past decade to support major expansion projects, helping make the Crosslake Connection and other extensions possible.
Gov. Bob Ferguson called the project a major milestone for both commuters and the state’s economy.
“I cannot overstate the significance of this connection for commuters and our economy,” Ferguson said.
Local leaders say the expansion will do more than improve commute times. It is also expected to expand access to opportunity across the region, particularly for communities that rely on transit.
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay said the new connection will help link neighborhoods like the Central District to the broader regional economy, reflecting decades of planning and community advocacy.
Transit advocates say expansions like the Crosslake Connection can play a critical role in improving access to opportunity, particularly for communities that rely on public transportation. In Seattle, neighborhoods such as the Central District and Rainier Valley have historically faced barriers to reliable transit and have also experienced displacement as housing costs have risen. Improved connections to job centers, schools and services can help reduce those gaps, though advocates note that transit investments must be paired with affordable housing strategies to ensure longtime residents can remain in the communities they serve.
The Crosslake Connection is also a major engineering achievement, marking the first time in the world that a light rail system operates across a floating bridge.
The opening completes a key phase of the voter-approved Sound Transit 2 expansion plan, which has been rolled out in stages over the past several years, including extensions to Lynnwood, Federal Way and Redmond.
Service on both the 1 Line and 2 Line will run daily from about 5 a.m. to midnight, with trains arriving every eight to 15 minutes depending on the time of day. In shared segments between Seattle and Lynnwood, trains are expected to arrive every four to five minutes.
For many riders, the expansion represents a shift in how people move across the region, offering a more affordable, reliable and traffic-free option for daily travel.
