Highly Anticipated Light Rail in Bellevue Opening This Spring 

Since the light rail’s first proposal in the previous century, Bellevue residents have been waiting a long time. Dreams will soon become a reality as the 2 Line soon opens. However, delays have affected the timeline of the opening, and compromises must be made.

In 1941, the last streetcar ceased to operate in the Puget Sound area and people were left with cars and a handful of bus routes as the only transportation options. This changed when, after multiple previous failed attempts, a transportation plan called Sound Move was implemented and included plans to bring rail transit back to the area. The first line, in Tacoma, opened in 2003, and the first line in Seattle opened in 2009. Since then, there have been multiple extensions to the new system, with the most recent one being in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma. 

Light rail service on the Eastside was part of Sound Move and was originally planned to open in two phases: the first one from Overlake Transit Center all the way to Chinatown, and the second one extending from Overlake into Downtown Redmond. After concrete quality issues were unearthed following the 2022 concrete workers’ strike, the timeline, already in jeopardy due to the pandemic, became unknown. 

In early 2023, Sound Transit Council Chair Claudia Balducci brought up an idea that a section from near Mercer Slough to the Microsoft tech hub in Redmond, unaffected by the concrete delays, could be opened early. Last August, it was confirmed that this will happen soon. Finishing touches, such as testing lighting and installing signage, were quickly finished up and the segment is almost ready to open. Light rail trains have been tested per the usual operating schedule, and train arrival boards, lights, and ticket machines are also being tested. 

When the light rail opens on April 27, 2024, there will be a ceremony at the Bellevue Downtown station starting at 10am, followed by the first train service ever. Normally, trains will come every 10 minutes from 5:30am to 9:30pm every day. Tickets will be free for people under 18 and will cost $2.25-$2.50 for adults, depending on distance. An end-to-end trip will take 20 minutes, with lots of important places on the way such as the Bellevue Collection, Microsoft Campus, Overlake Hospital, and more.

While it has been a long journey since the start of the idea, with many hiccups along the way, Bellevue residents will finally see their patience and money rewarded.