Light rail now runs from Redmond through Bellevue and over I-90 to Seattle. How to think about living near a station, and which cities are still off the line.
On March 28, 2026, Sound Transit’s 2 Line began crossing Lake Washington on I-90, connecting Seattle, Mercer Island and Bellevue. On the Eastside it runs north through Bellevue to Redmond, where the Downtown Redmond station opened in May 2025. For the first time, light rail runs all the way from downtown Redmond to downtown Seattle.
What it changes
It changes the question buyers ask. Before, a home in Bellevue or Redmond meant a commute by car or bus across a bridge. Now some addresses sit a short walk from a station that reaches both downtowns. For a household with one car, or a teenager who wants independence, that matters.
What to check before you pay for it
- Walk it. “Near the station” on a map can mean a steep hill, a freeway crossing or a missing sidewalk. Walk the route at the hour you would use it.
- Listen. Homes right on the line or beside a station hear trains, buses and drop-offs. Some people never notice. Some do. Visit at rush hour.
- Ask what is coming. Station areas are being rebuilt with apartments and offices. A parking lot next door today may be a construction site tomorrow.
Where the line does not go
Kirkland, Sammamish, Issaquah, Bothell and Woodinville have no Link station inside the city. They connect by bus and by car. That is not a flaw; it is a trade-off, usually for more space, more trees or a quieter street. Our community comparison shows rail, roads and the rest side by side.
Service and opening dates: Sound Transit.