All articles tagged with #sound transit
Sound Transit opened the full 2 Line, running trains across the I-90 floating bridge from Redmond to Lynnwood, drawing massive crowds at Judkins Park and marking a major regional transit milestone with planned future expansions amid budget considerations.
Sound Transit opens the Crosslake Connection, extending the 2 Line across Lake Washington to Lynnwood and adding Mercer Island and Judkins Park stations. The project, which connects with the 1 Line at Chinatown-International District, brings roughly 10-minute service along a new floating-bridge route and is hailed as a decades-long milestone that significantly improves Eastside access to downtown Seattle and major destinations, with accompanying celebrations and public events.
GeekWire rode the world’s first floating-bridge segment of Sound Transit’s Link 2 Line across Lake Washington, finding a quiet, smooth ride at 55 mph that could transform Seattle–Eastside commutes.
Sound Transit is weighing three illustrative options to shorten, phase, or delay ST3 light-rail expansions to West Seattle and Ballard to close a $34.5 billion funding gap. The plans would cap certain segments (West Seattle to Alaska Junction with Avalon removed; Ballard to Seattle Center) or delay both and phase other projects, with blends likely. Cost estimates could drop by about $2.1-$2.6B to roughly $4.9-$5.3B (2025 dollars), but long-term affordability remains a challenge into the 2030s. Local leaders push to keep West Seattle shovel-ready and pursue Ballard and the regional spine, while Ballard's EIS remains on track for 2026. The neighboring ST2 project’s I-90 link is opening next week, six years behind schedule.
Sound Transit will open the Crosslake Connection on March 28, completing the 2 Line and linking Redmond to Lynnwood with new Mercer Island and Judkins Park stations, using the floating I-90 bridge to connect the Eastside and Seattle and integrating with the 1 Line at International District/Chinatown. The expanded system will reach 63 miles of light rail, with frequent peak service and closely spaced headways on the busiest stretch, after years of delays and budget overruns; additional opening details will be announced as the date approaches.
Sound Transit says the Crosslake Connection of the 2 Line will open March 28, linking South Bellevue and International District/Chinatown across Lake Washington and expanding Seattle–Bellevue light-rail coverage to 63 miles with 50 stations; after years of delays due to I-90 floating-bridge plinth issues and a partial starter line that opened in 2024, officials still aim to beat a May 31 target and support World Cup travel in mid-2026.
Sound Transit says the Crosslake Connection, completing the East Link 2 Line, will open for passenger service March 28, linking the Lynnwood–Redmond corridor with the 1 Line at International District/Chinatown via new Mercer Island and Judkins Park stations on a floating bridge over Lake Washington, with service roughly 5 a.m.–1 a.m. weekdays and Saturdays, 6 a.m.–midnight Sundays, and high-frequency core headways.
Light rail service between Capitol Hill and Stadium stations in Seattle will be temporarily suspended overnight from Saturday 11 p.m. to Sunday 10 a.m. for signaling upgrades, with buses replacing trains and additional travel time expected.
The newly opened Redmond Link light rail segment experienced temporary closures due to heat-related issues with overhead wires, causing service disruptions and a bus bridge replacement. Repairs are underway, with expectations of partial reopening soon, as the agency investigates the heat's impact on the infrastructure and prepares for future hot weather conditions.
The Sound Transit Board of Directors rejected a proposal from Amazon and Vulcan Real Estate to shift the future South Lake Union station, citing increased costs and delays. Despite concerns that Mayor Bruce Harrell might side with Amazon, he ultimately supported the staff's recommendation to maintain the current plan, prioritizing transit riders and cost efficiency. Transit advocates continue to push for better-connected stations, particularly in the Chinatown-International District.
The Sound Transit Board rejected alternative station proposals for the Ballard Link light rail line in South Lake Union, despite lobbying from the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and major stakeholders like Amazon. The board cited significant delays and additional costs as reasons for sticking with the existing plan, which aims to minimize construction impacts on Westlake Avenue. The project, part of the 2016 Sound Transit 3 vote, is already four years behind schedule with a revised opening date of 2039.
Sound Transit announced that the Link 1 Line will extend to Lynnwood on August 30, adding four new stations and increasing train frequency during peak hours. Bus service upgrades originally planned for August 31 will now take place on September 14 to ensure a smooth transition. The extension is seen as a major milestone in the growth of light rail, connecting two counties and providing increased transit options for riders. The project budget includes federal funding and a low-interest loan, and the extension will serve stations with multiple transit connections.
The new 2 Line Eastside Link light rail is set to open on April 27, connecting east King County to Seattle with eight stops between South Bellevue and Redmond. Sound Transit aims to improve mobility and access for residents, with trains running every 10 minutes during operating hours. The project, costing approximately $3.7 billion, will eventually expand to include stations at Judkins Park and Mercer Island in 2025. Security measures are in place, and parking will be available at select stations.
Sound Transit announced the opening of the initial segment of the Link 2 Line, a 6.5-mile extension with eight new stations in Bellevue and Redmond, on April 27. The two-car trains will run every 10 minutes, 16 hours a day, connecting major employers, neighborhoods, and destinations. The full 2 Line is expected to open in 2025, with the I-90 segment delayed due to quality issues. Opening day celebrations will include a ribbon cutting ceremony and various activities at all eight stations.
Sound Transit closed the Chinatown International District Station for a protest, with shuttle buses replacing the 1 Line between Pioneer Square Station and Stadium Station during the closure. The station reopened around 6:40 p.m. Some protesters were seen carrying Palestinian flags.