The “Crosslake Connection”: Light Rail Finally Bridges the Gap Between Seattle and the Eastside

After years of construction hurdles and technical delays, Sound Transit is officially launching its “Crosslake Connection” this Saturday, March 28. This milestone marks the first time in history that light rail will travel across a floating bridge, finally linking downtown Seattle directly to Mercer Island, Bellevue, and Redmond.

The opening of this final segment of the 2 Line is a major victory for regional transit, completing a vision first pitched to voters nearly two decades ago.

What Commuters Need to Know:

• The Route: The full 2 Line now spans 35 miles, running from Lynnwood in the north, through the downtown Seattle transit tunnel, and across Lake Washington to the Microsoft campus in Redmond.
• Increased Frequency: The expansion effectively doubles the number of trains serving the system’s busiest core. In the “interlined” section between Lynnwood and the International District/Chinatown, trains from the 1 Line and 2 Line will combine to arrive every four minutes during peak hours.
• New Stations: Two major new stops are joining the network: Judkins Park in Seattle and a dedicated station on Mercer Island.
• Technological First: To make this possible, engineers had to solve the unique challenge of running heavy electric trains over the moving, flexible joints of the I-90 floating bridge—a feat of engineering that is the first of its kind in the world.

Opening Day Festivities

Service is scheduled to begin at approximately 10 a.m. on Saturday following a ribbon-cutting ceremony. To celebrate the launch, several local partners are offering perks for new riders:

• Microsoft is distributing 3,000 commemorative ORCA cards pre-loaded with a round-trip fare.
• Lime is offering free electric bike and scooter rides to and from stations using the promotional code “CROSSLAKE26.”
• Community Events: Stations along the route—including Judkins Park and Marymoor Village—will host various celebrations featuring local sports mascots, live entertainment, and food.

With the 2 Line fully operational, Sound Transit expects to serve upwards of 50,000 daily riders, significantly easing the “chokepoint” of cross-lake commuting on I-90.