As Sound Transit spearheads an unparalleled expansion to meet the needs of an exponentially growing commuter population in the Puget Sound region, the $4-billion East Link Extension marks a transformative addition that brings light rail to Seattle’s Eastside for the very first time.
At 14 miles long, the East Link Extension includes 10 new stations starting at Seattle’s International District and connects to Judkins Park, across I-90 to Mercer Island and South Bellevue, and through downtown Bellevue and the Bel-Red area to Redmond. The 2 Line Starter Line unveiled eight of these 10 stations, linking South Bellevue Station to Redmond Technology Station near Microsoft’s headquarters, enhancing connectivity and reducing travel time for Seattle’s Eastside communities.
STV, in joint venture with Mott MacDonald, oversaw the systems construction for this light rail project. The team, known as Northwest Transit Systems Partners, provided technical review, construction management, quality assurance and inspection services for the extension’s traction power, communications, signaling and train control systems.
The East Link Extension was approved by voters alongside the Northgate Link Extension in 2008, marking a key component in Sound Transit’s comprehensive 25-year system expansion plan. The agency estimates that at least 50,000 people a day will use East Link by 2030. The extension will be the world’s only passenger light rail service operating over a floating bridge within the I-90 section linking Mercer Island and Seattle across Lake Washington.
10
new stations
10 minutes
between Redmond Tech and Bellevue Downtown
50,000
daily passengers estimated by 2030
