Light Rail Crosses Lake Washington as East Link Opens, Reshaping Regional Transit

Seattle’s transit map changed in a big way this weekend.

On Saturday, Sound Transit opened the long-awaited East Link extension, allowing light rail trains to run between Seattle and Bellevue across the Interstate 90 floating bridge for the first time. The new segment connects the Eastside directly into the broader regional system, creating a roughly 60-mile network stretching from Lynnwood through Seattle to Redmond and Federal Way.

A Milestone Decades in the Making

The 7-mile connection over Lake Washington has been nearly two decades in development since voters first approved funding. The line includes a new Mercer Island station and completes the cross-lake segment of the 2 Line.

Transit leaders say the opening is expected to dramatically boost ridership. Projections estimate daily boardings on the completed East Link corridor could reach tens of thousands, significantly increasing cross-lake commuting options without relying on Interstate 90 traffic.

Economic and Development Impacts

The extension is more than a transportation upgrade. City planners and business groups have long pointed to East Link as a catalyst for housing and commercial growth near stations on both sides of the lake.

In Seattle, improved access to Judkins Park and downtown strengthens connections to job centers and supports transit-oriented development goals outlined in long-range city planning documents. On the Eastside, stations in Bellevue and Redmond are expected to continue attracting mixed-use projects and workforce housing.

Financial Pressures Remain

The celebratory opening also comes as Sound Transit faces a multibillion-dollar funding gap across its broader expansion program. Agency leaders and lawmakers continue to debate financing tools and project timelines to keep voter-approved extensions on track.

For now, though, riders can focus on the immediate change: a one-seat ride across Lake Washington by rail. After years of construction, testing and delays, the region’s most ambitious transit investment is finally carrying passengers.

Sources

https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/03/26/seattle-bellevue-east-link-light-rail-lake-washington-i90-floating-bridge
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_Line_(Sound_Transit)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercer_Island_station