Sound Transit Light Rail: A New Era of Transportation in Bellevue and Beyond

Bellevue is on the cusp of a major transportation revolution with the completion of the Sound Transit Light Rail project. This ambitious endeavor has transformed the city's public transportation system, providing residents and commuters with faster, more efficient, and convenient travel options.

The East Link light rail segment, which spans approximately 20 miles, includes multiple stations along its route. The Judkins Park Station in Seattle marks the starting point of this journey, while the Mercer Island Station serves as a key stop before continuing into Bellevue.

Within Bellevue city limits, five miles of trackway are being built, with several major construction projects completed by the third quarter of 2022. One notable segment is the BelRed/130th Station, which includes a 300-stall park-and-ride lot for easy access to public transportation.

The Overlake Village Station and Redmond Technology Center Station serve as key stops along the I-90/Seattle-Mercer Island Segment, while the Northeast 20th Street to Northeast 40th Street route at Overlake Transit Center marks the beginning of the SR 520/Overlake Segment. Further south, the BelRed Segment stretches from 124th Avenue Northeast to the intersection of Northeast 20th Street and 136th Avenue Northeast.

The Central Bellevue Segment runs along Southeast Fourth Street on 112th Avenue Southeast, featuring construction of the South Bellevue Station with a new parking garage now open for use. The South Bellevue Segment extends from I-90 East Channel Bridge to Southeast Fourth Street on 112th Avenue Southeast, with the tunnel section completed in September 2020.

A notable feature of this project is its downtown tunnel in Bellevue, approximately one-half mile long and stretching from Main Street to Northeast Sixth Street. Sound Transit continues to evaluate and improve control systems, safety measures, and signal technology along East Link throughout 2023.

With all major construction complete, the six East Link stations and the downtown tunnel are now substantially finished. This monumental achievement paves the way for a more connected and sustainable future in Bellevue and beyond, with the Sound Transit Light Rail serving as a beacon of innovation and progress.

Sound transit light rail