A new section of the Link light rail has opened to passengers, completing a connection across Lake Washington and extending rail services between Seattle and surrounding communities.
The project, known as the Crosslake Connection, finalises the 2 Line and introduces light rail services across a floating bridge for the first time in the region. The extension links the Eastside with central Seattle and connects to the wider network serving destinations including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Federal Way and Lynnwood.
Crosslake Connection completes the 2 Line
© Sound Transit
The final section of the route spans approximately seven miles and includes new stations at Mercer Island Station and Judkins Park Station. It also connects with the 1 Line at the International District Chinatown Station. With the addition of this segment, the network now extends to around 63 miles and includes 50 stations.
Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine said:
The milestone we celebrate today is possible because of a shared vision that began more than 60 years ago and has continued through the decades with resolve, innovation and hard work. We all share in this achievement – from the regional leaders who had the foresight to plan for future transit, to the voters who put their support behind those plans, to the thousands of people who have worked to bring the vision to life.
The new link is intended to improve connections between residential areas, employment centres and key transport hubs across the Puget Sound region.
Services on the 1 Line and 2 Line run daily from early morning until midnight. Trains on the new section are operating at intervals of around eight minutes during peak periods, with less frequent services at other times of the day.
The completion of the Crosslake Connection forms part of a wider expansion programme approved by voters in 2008. Recent developments have included extensions to Federal Way, Lynnwood and Redmond, which have been brought into service in stages since 2024.