Dive Brief:
- Sound Transit on Saturday opened the final 7-mile segment of its light rail line across Lake Washington, connecting downtown Seattle with Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond, Washington.
- The $3.82-billion project included the construction of the world’s first light rail floating bridge, spanning the lake adjacent to Interstate 90.
- The opening ceremony drew dignitaries and enthusiastic crowds to celebrate completion of the project, which began construction in 2017.
Dive Insight:
With the opening of the Crosslake Connection, Sound Transit’s Link 2 Line now runs more than 35 miles end-to-end. A 2008 voter-approved ballot measure authorized Sound Transit to build the line along with adding regional express bus and commuter rail services.
“The Crosslake Connection not only completes the 2 Line, but it also truly knits our region together with fast, frequent and reliable transit,” Snohomish County Executive and Sound Transit Board Chair Dave Somers said in a statement.
The connection added stations at Mercer Island and Judkins Park and connects with the Link 1 Line at the International District/Chinatown station. Sound Transit anticipates about 50,000 daily riders, with service operating from approximately 5 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, according to a spokesperson.
“The completion of light rail across Lake Washington is a historic moment for the region,” U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said in a statement. “In 40 minutes, commuters will be able to get from downtown Seattle to a job in Redmond and it will provide an affordable traffic-free option for getting to the [Seattle-Tacoma International Airport].”
Labor groups also commended the transit agency for completing the project. “Sound Transit’s investments throughout the region have created thousands of family-wage jobs for skilled craftspeople and pathways out of poverty for women, people of color, veterans and others who are disadvantaged into construction careers,” Monty Anderson, executive secretary for the Seattle Building and Construction Trades Council, said in a statement.
The line opens in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Seattle will host in June and July along with other U.S. cities. It’s one of 13 transit projects expected to open this year in the U.S.
