2 Line (Sound Transit) Explained

2 Line
Other Name:
  • East Link Extension
  • Blue Line
Type:Light rail
System:Link light rail
Status:In service
Locale:Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Start:
  • (west)
  • (west, 2025)
End:
  • (east)
  • (east, 2025)
Stations:
  • 8 (2024)
    • 25 (2025)
Daily Ridership:3,900 (May 2024)
Open:April 27, 2024
Owner:Sound Transit
Character:At grade, elevated, and underground
Linelength:Initial segment: 6.6miles[1]
New segments: [2]
Tracks:2
Speed Mph:55
Map State:collapsed

The 2 Line, also known as the East Link Extension, is a light rail line serving the Eastside region of the Seattle metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Washington. It is part of Sound Transit's Link light rail system and runs for 6.6miles in the cities of Bellevue and Redmond. The initial segment serves eight stations between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology stations and opened on April 27, 2024. The full line is scheduled to open in 2025 and is planned to include 18miles from west to east and serve twelve stations in Downtown Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue, and Redmond. The 2 Line will continue through the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel and share stations with the 1 Line through to Lynnwood City Center station.

The East Link project was approved by voters in the 2008 Sound Transit 2 ballot measure, with construction costs projected at $3.7 billion. The line will use the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge, one of the Interstate 90 floating bridges, which was constructed in 1989 with the intent to convert its reversible express lanes to light rail. Early transit plans from the 1960s proposed an Eastside rail system, but preliminary planning on the system did not begin until Sound Transit's formation in the early 1990s.

The proposed alignment of the East Link project was debated by the Bellevue city council in the early 2010s, with members split on two different routes south of Downtown Bellevue; city funding for the downtown segment's tunnel was also debated and ultimately included in the final agreement. The alignment was finalized in 2013, after more than two years of debate, and delayed the beginning of construction to 2016 and the completion of the project several years beyond 2021. The full line will include the world's first railway constructed on a floating bridge and is expected to carry 50,000 daily riders by 2030.

History

Background and early proposals

The Eastside suburbs underwent rapid development into bedroom communities after the 1940 opening of the first Lake Washington floating bridge, which replaced a cross-lake ferry system as the main connection to Seattle.[3] [4] While private bus operators ran routes over the Lake Washington Floating Bridge from Seattle to Eastside towns, the municipal Seattle Transit System opted not to extend its routes.[5] The 1963 opening of the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge fueled further growth, leading to traffic congestion on both bridges during peak periods.[6] [7] By 1965, more than 150,000 people lived on the Eastside; the King County government predicted in 1965 that up to 550,000 people would live in Eastside cities by 1990.[8]

In the 1960s, the construction of a rapid transit system for the Seattle metropolitan area was explored by municipal and regional governments. The initial system, serving the city of Seattle, would be extended east to Bellevue via Mercer Island and an additional floating bridge in a later phase, to be built by 1990.[9] The state government amended its plans for a parallel floating bridge to Mercer Island to include exclusive right of way for rapid transit.[10] The Eastside section of the rapid transit system was expanded to include branches to Eastgate and the Bel-Red area, with provisions to extend the system to Redmond. Intermediate stations would be located at Rainier Avenue in Seattle, on Mercer Island, and in Downtown Bellevue.[11] [12] The proposal, funded with federal grants, was put to a public vote as part of the Forward Thrust referendums in 1968 and 1970, requiring a 60 percent majority in order to use increased property taxes. During both referendums, voters were unable to meet the required majority to approve the rapid transit plan; the first earned a simple majority, while the second failed due to local economic conditions.[13] [14]

Metro Transit was created by a 1972 referendum to operate a countywide bus system and resumed planning work for a Seattle–Eastside transit system to be built using the new Interstate 90 floating bridge.[15] A transit element for the new floating bridge was requested by the Puget Sound Council of Governments and a group of municipal leaders from Seattle and the Eastside, seeking to avoid additional traffic.[16] A memorandum of agreement signed by the Washington State Highway Commission, Metro Transit, and local governments in late 1976 designated the center two lanes of the eight-lane bridge for use by transit and Mercer Island residents,[17] with possible conversion to a fixed-guideway system in the future.[14] [18] The Puget Sound Council of Governments (PSCOG), a regional planning organization, determined in a 1981 study that light rail would be a feasible way to relieve traffic on the Interstate 90 corridor and recommended that Metro include it in their long-term plan.[19] A joint study by Metro and the PSCOG in 1986 explored several alternative routes for an Eastside light rail system, recommending a route across the Interstate 90 bridge and branching from Downtown Bellevue to Kirkland and Bothell, via the Eastside railway, and Downtown Redmond, via State Route 520.[20] [21] While the light rail plan was left unfunded, provisions were made to accommodate a future Eastside light rail connection in the Downtown Seattle bus tunnel that opened in 1990.[14]

In 1990, the state legislature called for the creation of a regional transit authority to fund the construction of a light rail system serving the Seattle metropolitan area.[22] A work group, known as the Joint Regional Policy Committee, drafted a transit plan in March 1993 that conceived of a 105miles rapid rail system with a line between Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond served by through-trains from Snohomish County.[23] [24] The plan recommended a hybrid rail and bus system, with rail serving as the primary form of high-capacity transit on the Interstate 90 corridor.[25] Later that year, the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, later renamed Sound Transit, was established and began planning a package of transit projects for a public referendum.[26] The committee's plan was downsized to 69miles of light rail, including a line from Seattle to Bellevue and Overlake, and submitted to voters on March 14, 1995.[27] [28] The $6.7 billion transit package was rejected by voters, in part due to an opposition campaign funded by Bellevue developer Kemper Freeman.[29] [30] A smaller, $3.9 billion system was proposed the following year, with a light rail line serving Seattle and Seattle–Tacoma International Airport instead of a system spanning the entire metropolitan area; express buses from Seattle to the Eastside would be funded by the package in place of light rail service.[31] The removal of the Eastside light rail line was opposed by politicians and business groups in the area, with prominent developers funding an opposition campaign.[31] [32] The package was approved by the Puget Sound region's voters on November 5, 1996, earning a majority of votes in Eastside cities.[33] [34] Express buses between Seattle and the Eastside, funded by Sound Transit, began operating in 1999.[35]

Planning and ballot measures

In the late 1990s, Sound Transit and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) co-led a study into congestion-relief measures on the State Route 520 corridor, including the use of light rail on either of the floating bridges.[36] [37] The final Trans-Lake Washington Study, published in 2002, recommended further development of a high-capacity fixed transit system on Interstate 90 to supplement a new floating bridge carrying State Route 520.[14] [38] While the Trans-Lake Washington Study was underway, Sound Transit formed a steering committee in 1998 to assess configuration options for Interstate 90 and its existing reversible express lane.[14] [39] The committee recommended the addition of high-occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV lanes) to both directions of Interstate 90 by narrowing the existing lanes, leaving the reversible lanes ready for future transit use.[14] [40] The lane conversion, coupled with additional HOV ramps on Mercer Island, was approved by Sound Transit, WSDOT, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 2004. An amendment to the 1976 memorandum signed by Metro and municipal governments to build the Interstate 90 bridge was drafted and signed, authorizing the conversion of the reversible lanes for high-capacity transit.[14]

Sound Transit added the Eastside high-capacity transit project to its preliminary long-range plan in 2004, exploring several conceptual corridors and modes that branched out from a main line on Interstate 90.[41] The Bellevue–Overlake corridor was chosen as the preferred routing of the Eastside line, which would be either light rail trains or a bus rapid transit system that could be converted to rail, in July 2005.[14] [42] Light rail was chosen as the preferred mode by Sound Transit in July 2006,[43] after receiving endorsements from the city councils of Bellevue, Kirkland, and Redmond.[44] The $3.9 billion light rail project, named "East Link", would be part of the next regional transit ballot measure and run from Seattle to Bellevue, the Microsoft campus, and downtown Redmond.[45] A 15miles segment of East Link was included as part of 50miles of light rail in the $47 billion Roads and Transit package, which combined Sound Transit projects with highway expansion. Under the plan, light rail service from Seattle to the Overlake Hospital Medical Center east of Downtown Bellevue would begin in 2021, followed by an extension to the Microsoft campus in Overlake by 2027; the segment between Overlake and downtown Redmond would be prioritized for future extension using additional funding, with engineering and property acquisition work covered by the Roads and Transit package.[46] [47] The package attracted opposition from environmentalists, developer Kemper Freeman, and Eastside elected officials,[46] and failed to pass in the November 2007 election.[48]

Sound Transit continued to hold public hearings and open houses on the design of East Link after the rejection of the Roads and Transit package as part of the environmental review process.[49] A smaller, transit-only package named "Sound Transit 2" with 34miles of light rail was passed by voters in November 2008, including funds for East Link.[50] The $18 billion plan projected that light rail trains would reach Bellevue in 2020 and Overlake Transit Center in 2021, and also included preliminary engineering for an eventual extension to downtown Redmond.[51] [52]

Floating bridge engineering and litigation

In 2005, WSDOT conducted a live load test on the Interstate 90 floating bridge using 650NaN0 flatbed trucks carrying concrete weights to simulate the weight of light rail trains and test its performance. Using the results, which matched those from an earlier computer simulation, WSDOT concluded that the bridge could carry the weight of light rail trains after minor changes to sections of the transition spans were made during construction.[53] Sound Transit later determined in an engineering study that rail joints could be designed to accommodate the multi-directional movement of the floating bridge, with special design considerations and speed restrictions.[54] [55] In 2008, the state legislature's Joint Transportation Committee commissioned an independent review of potential issues that would arise with light rail operations on the floating bridge. The panel identified 23 issues, including stray currents from the electrical system that could cause corrosion, the weight of the tracks and catenary on top of the deck, the design of the expansion joints, and a needed seismic upgrade for the bridge.[56] The panel recommended several mitigation measures for the identified issues, which were accepted for consideration by Sound Transit, and gave the preliminary go-ahead on the project.[57] [58]

Sound Transit authorized a $53 million budget for preliminary engineering work on the floating bridge segment in 2011, contracting out to a team led by Parsons Brinckerhoff and Balfour Beatty.[59] [60] Preliminary design on the track bridge system to be used over the bridge's expansion joints was completed in early 2012, following the development of computer models and prototypes tested at the University of Washington.[61] A 5000adj=midNaNadj=mid replica of the bridge's light rail tracks, complete with an electrified overhead line, was built for field testing at the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado, using two light rail vehicles from Central Link.[59] [60] The track bridge system was designed to accommodate the bridge's six ranges of motion, changes in lake level, and allow for trains to operate at the full speed of 55mph.[60] [61] The 43adj=midNaNadj=mid track bridges consist of curved steel platforms placed under the tracks, connected to the railroad ties by pivoting bearings that move independently of the tracks, allowing them to remain parallel; the pivoting bearings would also stabilize the railroad ties during an earthquake, moving slightly apart to accommodate the seismic waves.[61] Under the steel platforms, a series of flexible bearings would allow for the tracks to rise and fall by up to 3.6inches while following the motion of the bridge deck.[61] Trains would be halted from the bridge in the event of a major windstorm, with gusts of from the north or from the south.[61] The design of the system, which would make East Link the first railway over a floating bridge ever constructed,[61] was recognized by Popular Science magazine in their 2017 "Best of What's New" awards.[62] The design of the seismic system and steel frames to be installed inside the floating pontoons added $225 million in construction costs, increasing the construction budget by 46 percent, and was paid for using contingency funds.[63]

The use of the floating bridge for light rail service remained controversial after the passage of Sound Transit 2 in 2008. Bellevue developer Kemper Freeman filed a lawsuit against the state government in 2009, arguing that the 18th amendment of the state constitution prohibited the use of the gas tax-funded bridge for non-road uses.[64] The case was argued before the state supreme court,[65] who ruled in April 2011 that the case should be heard in a lower court first.[66] [67] Days later, Freeman re-filed the lawsuit in the Kittitas County Superior Court, naming Governor Christine Gregoire and Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond as defendants.[68] A judge in the Kittitas court issued a summary judgement in favor of Sound Transit and WSDOT, effectively halting the lawsuit.[69] A third lawsuit was filed by Freeman in the state supreme court, where a 7–2 decision in September 2013 deemed that the conversion of the express lanes for light rail was not unconstitutional.[70]

The city of Mercer Island sued Sound Transit and WSDOT in February 2017 over the loss of HOV lane access following the then-planned closure of the reversible express lanes on I-90. The city government expressed concerns over increased congestion, while Sound Transit and WSDOT stated that an exception for single-occupancy vehicles to use the lanes would violate federal regulations.[71] The city council voted to suspend development permits for light rail construction during the dispute; Sound Transit responded by seeking their own legal action to prevent the suspension, which was believed to be unlawful.[72] [73] A settlement was reached in June that allowed for the permits to be unsuspended in exchange for a Sound Transit payment of $10 million to mitigate traffic congestion and parking shortages expected to be caused by the closure of South Bellevue Park-and-Ride.[72] A second lawsuit was filed by Mercer Island in 2020 that alleged Sound Transit's plans to develop a regional bus interchange at Mercer Island station was in violation of the 2017 agreement.[74] The city council agreed to cease litigation in December 2022 in exchange for a new agreement with Sound Transit with a $2.1 million payment to fund additional traffic mitigation for the interchange.[75]

Route refinement in Bellevue

The Sound Transit 2 package did not include a specific route for East Link in Bellevue and Redmond, due to the time needed to evaluate alignment options.[76] The Sound Transit Board divided the line into five segments and identified 19 total potential alignments, including tunnel routes in Downtown Bellevue favored by the city's government, that were studied in the project's draft environmental impact statement in 2008.[77] [78] In southern Bellevue (named Segment B), the alternatives considered included an at-grade line along Bellevue Way, an at-grade or elevated alignment on 112th Avenue Southeast, and a route following Interstate 405 on the east side of Mercer Slough Nature Park. In Downtown Bellevue (Segment C), three alternatives called for tunnels, while two were elevated guideways along 110th or 112th avenues, and a sixth alignment consisted of an at-grade line split between 108th and 110th avenues. In the Bel-Red area (Segment D), the alignments traveled above or along new east–west streets proposed by the city, transitioning into an at-grade and retained cut alignment along State Route 520 to Overlake Transit Center. The Overlake to Redmond segment (Segment E), studied by the project but not funded for construction, diverged at West Lake Sammamish Parkway, generally serving stations at the Redmond Town Center mall and on the east side of Marymoor Park.[78]

The Bellevue City Council endorsed the 112th Avenue alignment, along with a tunnel in Downtown Bellevue under 106th Avenue, in February 2009.[79] Microsoft voiced its opposition to the tunnel alignment, which the company believed would jeopardize funding for the segment of the line serving its corporate headquarters in Overlake; the tunnel was estimated to add $600 million in costs to the project's budget.[80] On May 14, 2009, Sound Transit Board chose the two-street surface alignment on 108th and 110th avenues as its preferred alternative, but indicated that it would prefer a tunnel under 108th Avenue if $500 million in additional funding could be found.[81] [82] In September, the Bellevue City Council requested further review of the options in Downtown Bellevue, and together with Sound Transit proposed a short tunnel under 110th Avenue with one station that would be cheaper to construct and avoid disruptions to the existing Bellevue Transit Center and the 12th Street corridor.[83] [84] The composition of the Bellevue City Council was changed later in the year, with candidates backed by light rail opponent Kemper Freeman winning a majority in the November election.[85] [86] [87] New councilmember Kevin Wallace proposed the "Vision Line", an elevated alignment that followed Interstate 405 and the Eastside Rail Corridor, with its downtown station connected by skybridges and moving walkways.[88] [89]

Bellevue continued to consider four new downtown alignments, as well as options in the South Bellevue area.[90] The city council considered routing trains through the Mercer Slough and on the Eastside Rail Corridor until the National Park Service spoke out against the plan.[91] In March 2010, the city council unanimously endorsed the 110th Avenue tunnel alternative, which would cost an additional $285 million, and drafted a cost savings plan that would levy a local tax to pay for the tunnel.[92] A new alignment in the South Bellevue area using the east sides of Bellevue Way and 112th Avenue, along with the city covering the cost of street reconstruction and utility relocation, was also proposed in order to save $75 million in costs.[93] The Sound Transit Board made the revised tunnel and South Bellevue alignment its new preferred route in April and requested further study into the impacts of rail construction in the Surrey Downs area.[94] Sound Transit also approved the exploration of alternative designs for the Overlake Hospital station, the alignment through the Bel-Red area, and the Overlake Village station in Redmond.[95] An additional downtown option, using a shorter tunnel beginning at Northeast 2nd Street and an at-grade crossing of Main Street, was also proposed by Sound Transit to help reduce costs amid an expected shortfall in revenue.[96] [97]

In July, the Bellevue City Council voted 4–3 to reject Sound Transit's six proposed South Bellevue options, in favor of its preferred alternative ("B7") using the Eastside Rail Corridor.[98] The Sound Transit Board voted to continue studying the 112th Avenue alignment and identified the corridor as its preferred route ("B2M"), drawing criticism from Bellevue mayor Don Davidson, who spoke before the board.[99] The city council responded by approving $670,000 in funds towards study into the B7 alternative to provide an even comparison to Sound Transit's proposed 112th Avenue alignment.[100] The three councilmembers who voted against the study called it a hypocritical move, in the face of financial conservation during the Great Recession, and feared that it would extend the planning period by several years.[101] Sound Transit released its supplemental draft environmental impact statement in November, finding that the B7 alternative would be costlier to construct and require more wetland mitigation and displace more businesses.[102] A public hearing on the document later that month in Bellevue was filled by supporters of the B7 alternative, who outnumbered those arguing in favor of B2M.[103] The delays in deciding the Bellevue route moved the projected opening date for East Link from 2021 to 2022 for an at-grade alignment and 2023 for a tunneled line.[104] [105] A group of fourteen business executives representing Boeing, Microsoft, T-Mobile USA, and Symetra, among others, sent a letter to the Bellevue city council in May requesting it to cooperate with Sound Transit and expedite the planning process.[106]

The divided opinions of the Bellevue city council, led by B7 supporter Kevin Wallace and B2M supporter Claudia Balducci (also a Sound Transit Boardmember) resulted in heated debates, one of which devolved into a shouting match, and accusations of conflicting interests in decisions related to the light rail project.[107] In April 2011, the city council hired an independent investigator to probe for possible conflicts of interest related to the East Link decision. Balducci, through her involvement on the Sound Transit Board, and councilmember Grant Degginger, whose law firm represented Sound Transit in disputes over other projects, were investigated and cleared of any wrongdoing under state laws.[108] Wallace himself became the subject of a separate investigation by the City Attorney's Office after court documents revealed that his real estate company had negotiated with a freight railroad looking to use the Eastside Rail Corridor; he was later cleared by the independent investigator, having not sought to profit from city council activities.[109] The City of Bellevue adopted an ethics code in 2013 that banned specific conflicts of interest as a result of the investigation.[110] In the November 2011 city council election, Freeman and other anti-light rail developers funded challengers to Balducci and Chelminiak (themselves funded by Spring District developer Wright Runstad), as well as opposition messages and advertisements.[87] [111] Balducci and Chelminiak were re-elected and joined by newly elected councilmember John Stokes, replacing Degginger, in continuing the 4–3 makeup of the council.[112] [113]

The preliminary Bellevue city council report was released in May 2011, finding that the B7 alternative would be feasible, but cost up to $140 million more than Sound Transit's B2M alternative. The study received a mixed reaction from the council and members of the public, and the final version was cut after the cost of the study increased to $730,000.[114] [115] After the release of the study, high-level talks with Sound Transit were initiated by a delegation of Bellevue officials, including city manager Steve Sarkozy and councilmembers Degginger and Wallace.[116] The negotiations moved into public sessions in mid-July, focusing on design modifications to Sound Transit's B2M alternative on 112th Avenue that would lessen impacts on nearby homeowners.[117] A final environmental impact statement was published on July 15,[118] which excluded a modified version of the B7 alternative,[119] and the Sound Transit Board selected a modified version of its 112th Avenue route and the 110th Avenue tunnel as its preferred route on July 28. The new version included an HOV lane on Bellevue Way, grade separation on 112th Avenue, the replacement of a station at Southeast 8th Street with one at Main Street, and a noise wall and landscape buffer next to the tracks.[120] The Bellevue city council approved a preliminary agreement in August in support of the 112th Avenue alignment, and continued its negotiations with Sound Transit ahead of a memorandum of agreement due later in the year.[121] [122] Further modifications in September eliminated a retained-cut trench favored by the city council and moved the planned crossover from the east side of 112th Avenue to the west side from Southeast 6th Street to Southeast 15th Street.[123] The deadline for the memorandum was originally set for October, but it was extended into November while awaiting additional public comments solicited by the city council. The city council also asked for a grade-separated overpass for light rail trains crossing 112th Avenue at Southeast 15th Street.[124] [125] An umbrella memorandum of understanding between Sound Transit and the City of Bellevue was approved unanimously by the city council on November 15, placing East Link on 112th Avenue and funding the downtown tunnel with a $100 million contribution from the city.[126] After the signing of an agreement with WSDOT to use the Interstate 90 floating bridge, Sound Transit received a Record of Decision for the East Link project issued by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), formally ending the environmental review process.[127]

Sound Transit initiated design work on East Link in early 2012, commissioning a cost-savings analysis for the Bellevue segments to find elements where project costs could be reduced.[128] The analysis was released for public comment in April, proposing $60 million in savings by moving the downtown station out of the 110th Avenue tunnel, removing trenches from the 112th Avenue section, and moving the historic Frederick W. Winters House out of the planned guideway.[129] [130] Bellevue proposed an additional design change for the 112th Avenue corridor, moving the planned elevated flyover for trains into a trench under the raised road, after Surrey Downs residents complained of the potential visual and noise impacts.[131] A shortlist of design modifications was approved for further study by the Sound Transit Board in late June, with an endorsement from the city council.[132] After the publication of the final cost-savings analysis in September, the Sound Transit Board and Bellevue city council voted to endorse the proposed design modifications to the downtown station, 112th Avenue crossing, and Winters House trench.[133] [134] The design modifications to Bellevue Way and 112th Avenue were opposed by residents of the Enatai and Surrey Downs neighborhoods, who claimed that the changes would restrict road access and lower property values and quality of life.[135] After threatening to block property acquisition and delay the project further, a group representing Enatai residents agreed to changes in the city code that were approved by the city council in February 2013, giving homeowners a larger setback from the tracks and more time to negotiate property sales to Sound Transit.[136] The city council also approved a streamlined permitting process that would expedite planning within Bellevue.[137] The Enatai group had previously sued Sound Transit over impacts to the Mercer Slough and the Winters House,[138] but the lawsuit was rejected by the U.S. District Court in March 2013.[137]

A supplemental environmental impact statement was released in late March, incorporating the Bellevue design modifications and requesting further design of pedestrian bridges over State Route 520 near Overlake Village station in Redmond.[139] The Bellevue city council unanimously approved a final alignment for East Link on April 22, 2013, including up to $53 million in cost savings identified in the 2012 analysis.[140] [141] Days later, Sound Transit approved the same final alignment and design modifications.[141] [142] Public open houses on final design and property acquisitions began in May,[143] and an amended transitway agreement was signed by the City of Bellevue in June.[144] In July 2014, Sound Transit selected a former rail yard located west of the Spring District and its station as the site of the project's 25acres satellite operations and maintenance facility.[145] [146] The proposed site initially came as a surprise to the City of Bellevue, who had hoped to use it for transit-oriented development, and also attracted an offer from the Mars Hill Church to share the site, which was later rejected.[147] [148] After negotiations with the city, the design of the facility was amended to add 1.6e6sqft of commercial and residential development on part of the shrunken yard, and Sound Transit was asked to improve nearby pedestrian and bicycle connections.[149]

In 2015, Sound Transit adopted a $3.7 billion budget for the East Link project, funded primarily by tax revenue and bond proceeds from the Sound Transit 2 package.[150] The FTA agreed to contribute a $1.33 billion loan for the project, as well as $88.7 million in grants.[151] The City of Bellevue also contributed $100 million towards the construction of the downtown tunnel after signing an updated memorandum of understanding in 2015.[152] [153]

Construction and delays

Sound Transit broke ground on the project's Downtown Bellevue tunnel on April 22, 2016, beginning its construction with the demolition of homes in the Surrey Downs area.[152] [154] The tunnel was excavated using sequential mining, as opposed to tunnel boring machines used for Sound Transit's other light rail projects.[155] To prepare for East Link construction on the express lanes of the Interstate 90 floating bridge, which began in June 2017,[156] WSDOT added HOV lanes to the outer lanes of the freeway between Rainier Avenue in Seattle and Bellevue Way. The $283 million project was completed in stages from 2008 to 2012, reducing lane and shoulder widths on the floating bridge to accommodate the new lanes.[157] [158] The bridge's express lanes were closed to traffic on June 5, 2017, and will be rebuilt for light rail trains.[159] Construction was scheduled to move from the pontoons to the bridge deck in 2019.[160]

Demolition work in the South Bellevue, Bel-Red, and Overlake segments of the line also began in early 2017, including the closure of the South Bellevue Park and Ride, which was replaced with several temporary parking lots around the Eastside.[161] [162] By the end of the year, site grading and preparation was underway in Mercer Island and along State Route 520 in Overlake.[163] The first segment of elevated guideway was erected at the future Bellevue Downtown station in December 2017 and in Bel-Red in March 2018.[164] [165] Work on the line's crossing over Interstate 405 in Bellevue began in early 2018, with a falsework constructed under the arches for the bridge.[166] During installation of girders near Overlake Village in late May, a construction worker was killed after falling from a column near State Route 520 and 148th Avenue.[167] Excavation of the Bellevue tunnel was completed in July 2018, approximately five months ahead of schedule,[168] and substantial finishing work on the structure was declared complete in August 2020.[169] Construction on the entire project reached the halfway milestone in April 2019, including 2.86miles of elevated guideway and 1miles of tracks.[170]

Construction of the line's operations and maintenance facility in the Spring District began in April 2018 and is scheduled to be completed in 2020. It will include space for 96 light rail vehicles and integrate housing and office space.[171] The Rainier Freeway Station was closed in September 2018 and work on the Judkins Park station began shortly thereafter with the demolition of a freeway overpass.[172] By mid-November, installation of rails and ties began on Mercer Island had begun and work on the elevated guideway near South Bellevue had transitioned towards girder installation using a traveling form system.[173] [174] Construction was originally scheduled to conclude across all segments in 2020,[175] but was delayed by a work stop during the COVID-19 pandemic.[176]

Train testing on the section between Downtown Bellevue and Redmond Technology station began in November 2021.[177] Live wire tests at full speed with trainsets began between Bellevue Downtown and Spring District stations in February 2022.[178] Light rail service was anticipated to begin in June 2023, but was delayed after a series of concrete structures, mainly over 5,455 plinths under the tracks on the 4miles Interstate 90 segment, were found in early 2022 to be in need of replacement or reinforcement.[179] [180] Demolition of the faulty plinths began in September 2022 after repairs were deemed infeasible and was followed by rebuilding over several work zones. Service on the floating bridge section is anticipated to begin in 2025.[181]

South Bellevue–Redmond Technology launch

Balducci, several Eastside mayors, and other leaders endorsed a plan in 2022 to open a truncated Bellevue–Redmond version of the 2 Line in 2023 to serve local trips while awaiting the completion of the Seattle–Bellevue section with its extended timeline.[182] Sound Transit presented two operational scenarios in December 2022: a truncated 2 Line between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology stations that begins service in early 2024 and is followed by extensions in 2025; or a full opening of the initial line and Downtown Redmond extension in early 2025.[183] The 6.3miles "starter line" would run with 10-minute frequencies and would require service on the Lynnwood Link Extension to be halved until early 2025.[184] [185]

On August 24, 2023, the Sound Transit Board approved a new operating plan for the 2 Line that included the starter line.[186] The line would debut with two-car trainsets that run at 10-minute frequencies for 16 hours per day between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology stations. The remaining sections to Seattle and Downtown Redmond are planned to open in 2025, along with the full length of the 2 Line to Lynnwood.[186] [187] Pre-revenue service testing on the starter line began on November 1,[188] followed by a 40-day period of simulated service that began January 22, 2024.[189]

Regular passenger service began on April 27, 2024, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Bellevue Downtown station and launch parties at all eight stations.[190] The event had a total cost of $370,000 that was fully covered by private sponsorships in addition to $152,500 contributed by Amazon to produce commemorative ORCA cards with preloaded fares.[191] An estimated 35,000 boardings were counted on the inaugural day of service.[192] The line had an average of 3,900 boardings on weekdays and 4,300 boardings on Saturdays during May, its first full month of service.[193]

Downtown Redmond Extension

The 3.7miles Overlake to downtown Redmond segment of East Link was granted engineering and design funding in Sound Transit 2, passed by voters in 2008, leaving a future ballot measure to fund construction.[51] During a funding shortfall in 2010, Sound Transit suspended engineering work on the downtown Redmond segment, which was later restored in 2016.[194] The Sound Transit Board studied several alternative alignments in the downtown Redmond area and selected a route through Marymoor Park and on a disused railroad, terminating at the Redmond Town Center mall.[120] The project was included in the Sound Transit 3 ballot measure, passed by voters in 2016,[195] and preliminary design work began the following year.[196] The project began construction in 2019 and is expected to open in 2025, several months later than the original late 2024 schedule.[179] [197] Sound Transit filed a lawsuit against Microsoft in March 2020 for access to land in the future right of way on State Route 520, after a dispute over payment for the property and easement.[198]

, the project is 85 percent complete and scheduled to open in early 2025.[189]

Route

East Link diverges from the 1 Line at International District/Chinatown station, located near the end of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel. The tracks ascend on an existing ramp, used by buses leaving the tunnel, and turn east to follow Interstate 90 over Interstate 5.[199] The line will use the freeway's former express lanes, which weave under the westbound lanes and onto the roadway's median as I-90 passes around the north side of Beacon Hill. East Link then stops at Judkins Park station near the freeway's interchange with Rainier Avenue before entering the Mount Baker Tunnel.[25] The tracks travel onto the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge, a floating bridge that will be renovated to accommodate light rail, towards Mercer Island. On the island, East Link travels under Aubrey Davis Park and stops at a station at the center of the city's central business district. After traversing the East Channel Bridge, the light rail tracks leave I-90 and cross over to the east side of Bellevue Way, traveling north on an elevated guideway through South Bellevue station. The tracks descend into a trench running along the west edge of Mercer Slough Nature Park, with lids near the historic Frederick W. Winters House and other intersections.[199] [200] East Link then turns northeastward to follow 112th Avenue Southeast, crossing under the street to its west side near Surrey Downs Park, and stops at East Main station before turning sharply westward into a tunnel.[199] The 1985adj=midNaNadj=mid tunnel travels under 110th Avenue Northeast in Downtown Bellevue and makes a sharp turn to the east at Bellevue Downtown station, adjacent to Bellevue Transit Center at the eastern edge of Downtown Bellevue.[201] [202]

The tracks continue onto an elevated viaduct that travels over Interstate 405 and turn north over the Eastside Rail Corridor. Trains reach Wilburton station, on the north side of Northeast 8th Street, and follow the Eastside Rail Corridor while descending to ground level near Lake Bellevue.[199] At Northeast 12th Street, the tracks turn east, while the Eastside Rail Corridor continues north along another set of tracks leading to Link's East operations and maintenance facility. Trains continue into a trench with a station at 120th Avenue, in the center of the Spring District development.[199] The tracks cross over Kelsey Creek and return to street level at BelRed station, traveling northeast in the median of Northeast Spring Boulevard and 136th Place Northeast. After crossing Northeast 20th Street, trains ascend onto an elevated guideway that follows the south side of State Route 520, crossing over the 148th Avenue Northeast interchange and stopping at Overlake Village station. East Link descends to ground level and turns north along the freeway and approaches its initial terminus at Redmond Technology station, located at Northeast 40th Street on the Microsoft Redmond campus.[199] [202] The Downtown Redmond Extension will continue along State Route 520 towards downtown Redmond, stopping at a station northeast of Marymoor Park. The extension then turns west, crossing under the freeway, and terminates at Downtown Redmond station near the intersection of Cleveland Street and 166th Avenue Northeast.[196] [203]

Stations

StationCityclass=unsortable LocationOpening[204] Typeclass=unsortable Connections and notes
Seattle5th Avenue S and S Jackson Street2025 (planned)UndergroundTransfer to Sounder commuter rail, Amtrak, First Hill Streetcar
Interstate 90 and Rainier Avenue S2025 (planned)Surface
Mercer IslandInterstate 90 and 80th Avenue SE2025 (planned)SurfacePark and ride: 447 stalls
Bellevue2700 Bellevue Way SEElevatedPark and ride: 1,500 stalls
112th Avenue SE and Main StreetSurface
NE 6th Street and 110th Avenue NERetained cutTransfer to RapidRide B Line
116th Avenue NE and NE 8th StreetElevatedTransfer to RapidRide B Line
NE 15th Street and 120th Avenue NERetained cut
NE Spring Boulevard and 130th Avenue NESurfacePark and ride: 300 stalls
Redmond152nd Avenue NE and NE Shen StreetSurfaceTransfer to RapidRide B Line
156th Avenue NE and NE 40th StreetSurfaceTransfer to RapidRide B Line
Park and ride: 300 stalls
State Route 520 and NE 70th Street2025 (planned)SurfacePark and ride: 1,400 stalls
Cleveland Street and 166th Avenue NE2025 (planned)ElevatedTransfer to RapidRide B Line

Service

The initial starter line, opened in 2024, serves eight stations between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology. Trains run every 10 minutes for 16 hours a day on weekdays and weekends between 5:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m.[186] [205] It takes 20 minutes to travel between the termini at South Bellevue and Redmond Technology stations.[205]

Future plans

When fully opened in 2025, the 2 Line (formerly known during planning as the Blue Line) is planned to operate between Lynnwood and Redmond, serving all stations on the East Link Extension and sharing tracks with the 1 Line from Lynnwood to Downtown Seattle.[186] [206] The Seattle–Redmond section, to open fully in 2025,[186] would have trains every eight minutes at peak and ten minutes mid-day and on weekends, with a combined frequency of four minutes at peak and five minutes off-peak on the Lynnwood–Seattle section shared with the 1 Line.[207] The 2011 final environmental impact statement had initially assumed three-car operations with a headway of eight minutes during peak, twelve minutes during the day on weekdays and weekends, and fifteen minutes during early morning and late evening service.[208]

East Link trains are anticipated to carry 50,000 daily passengers by 2030, and take 20 minutes to travel from International District/Chinatown station to Downtown Bellevue, and 10 minutes from Downtown Bellevue to Redmond Technology station.[209] Sound Transit's current bus service on the west half of the corridor, Sound Transit Express Route 550, carries over 10,000 daily passengers and takes 35 minutes to travel from Seattle to Bellevue.[210] [211] King County Metro's RapidRide B Line operates on the east half of the corridor, traveling between Bellevue and Overlake at a frequency of 10 to 15 minutes.[212] [213]

The 2 Line is planned to be extended to the Mariner area of Everett by 2037, while 3 Line trains (replacing the 1 Line) would continue on to Downtown Everett.[214] [215] Sound Transit plans to expand light rail service to Kirkland and Issaquah by 2044, as part of the Sound Transit 3 program. The preliminary design for the 4 Line includes tracks shared with East Link through Downtown Bellevue, between East Main and Wilburton stations.[214] [216]

External links

Notes and References

  1. April 27, 2024 . Light rail opens on the Eastside . Sound Transit . April 27, 2024.
  2. April 22, 2010 . Sound Transit updates East Link preferred route . . January 26, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180127053029/https://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/News-release-archive/East-Link . January 27, 2018 . mdy-all .
  3. News: Reynolds . Peggy . November 26, 1990 . 'The biggest thing afloat' . A5 . . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170901112048/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19901126&slug=1106244 . September 1, 2017 . mdy-all .
  4. News: Whitely . Peyton . April 16, 1998 . Before the Bridge: From 1870 to 1950, most Eastsiders who wanted to cross Lake Washington traveled by ferry . B3 . The Seattle Times . February 19, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170901115101/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19980416&slug=2745498 . September 1, 2017 . mdy-all .
  5. News: June 30, 1940 . Four Bus Lines Will Use Floating Bridge . 2 . The Seattle Times.
  6. News: Barr . Robert A. . July 27, 1970 . Evergreen Bridge Congestion Under Study . A7 . The Seattle Times.
  7. News: Whitely . Peyton . November 26, 1972 . Reversible lane tops ideas for Evergreen Point bridge . A5 . The Seattle Times.
  8. News: Moody . Dick . November 28, 1965 . East Side May Have 550,000 in 1990 . 1 . The Seattle Times.
  9. News: Moody . Dick . November 3, 1965 . More Answers Due On Rapid Transit . 12 . The Seattle Times.
  10. News: Robinson . Herb . June 27, 1967 . New Bridge Plan Tied To Transit . 2 . The Seattle Times.
  11. News: Lane . Bob . April 26, 1970 . Rapid Transit: How It Will Serve . B1 . The Seattle Times.
  12. News: Moody . Dick . November 9, 1966 . City Moving Toward System of Subways . 37 . The Seattle Times.
  13. News: Cohen . Josh . October 14, 2016 . How Seattle blew its chance at a subway system . . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170917000729/http://features.crosscut.com/seattle-forward-thrust-sound-transit . September 17, 2017 . mdy-all .
  14. March 2006 . Past and Present I-90/East Corridor HCT Alternatives Studies . 8–14 . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170912023351/https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/projects/seis/past-presenti-90ecorridorhctaltstudies.pdf . September 12, 2017 . mdy-all .
  15. News: Lane . Bob . June 17, 1975 . Study weighs transit substitutes for I-90 bridge . A14 . The Seattle Times.
  16. News: Lane . Bob . January 25, 1976 . A safe guess: New I-90 won't be a miracle . D4 . The Seattle Times.
  17. News: Pryne . Eric . November 10, 1976 . Mercer Is. view of I-90: Negotiators slugged it out with the 'giant' . H1 . The Seattle Times.
  18. News: January 16, 1976 . Metro re-emphasizes its 2-transit-lanes support . E4 . The Seattle Times.
  19. News: Lane . Bob . March 22, 1981 . 'Light-rail' system might solve transit problems, says study . A16 . The Seattle Times.
  20. News: Corsaletti . Louis T. . January 29, 1986 . Hub plan is answer to transportation woes; but some suburban areas say it overlooks needs . D3 . The Seattle Times.
  21. November 1986 . Multi-Corridor Project Summary Report . LRT Trunk Route Schematic . 44 . . 15608855.
  22. News: Bergsman . Jerry . August 21, 1990 . Everett's OK may speed regional transit . C2 . The Seattle Times.
  23. News: Williams . Marla . Schaefer . David . May 30, 1993 . Transit plan paves costly road to future . B1 . The Seattle Times.
  24. March 1993 . Regional Transit System Plan: Final Environmental Impact Statement . Alternatives . 35 . https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/projects/seis/220alternatives.pdf . Regional Transit Project . 27723634 . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20151001015857/http://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/projects/seis/220alternatives.pdf . October 1, 2015 . mdy-all .
  25. July 2011 . East Link Project: Final Environmental Impact Statement . Sound Transit . 740478022 . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170227062917/http://www.soundtransit.org/Projects-and-Plans/East-Link-Extension/East-Link-Extension-document-archive/East-Link-Documents/East-Link-document-collections/East-Link-Final-EIS-document-collection . February 27, 2017 . mdy-all .
  26. News: Schaefer . David . July 7, 1993 . Regional transit unit gets go-ahead . B3 . The Seattle Times.
  27. News: Schaefer . David . February 12, 1995 . On the right track? Questions, answers to the $6.7 billion proposal . A1 . The Seattle Times.
  28. Web site: February 1995 . The Regional Transit System Proposal: East King County . 5–6 . Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority . January 25, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150930200958/http://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/projects/planning/1995_plan_subarea_proposals.pdf . September 30, 2015 . mdy-all .
  29. News: Schaefer . David . Murakami . Kery . March 15, 1995 . Transit plan derailed: Pierce, Snohomish county voters say no to $6.7 billion proposal . A1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180119063248/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19950315&slug=2110262 . January 19, 2018 . mdy-all .
  30. News: Schaefer . David . Ervin . Keith . March 6, 1995 . A long road to opposition: Kemper Freeman Jr. vs. the RTA . A1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20081007220138/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19950306&slug=2108601 . October 7, 2008 . mdy-all .
  31. News: Schaefer . David . October 6, 1996 . Looking at the new transit proposal . A1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170918154404/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19961006&slug=2352937 . September 18, 2017 . mdy-all .
  32. News: Ervin . Keith . May 6, 1996 . New transit plan has 'friends' jumping track . A1 . The Seattle Times.
  33. News: Schaefer . David . November 7, 1996 . Transit plan can trace surprise success to suburbs . B1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170105235304/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19961107&slug=2358432 . January 5, 2017 . mdy-all .
  34. News: Schaefer . David . November 6, 1996 . Voters back transit plan on fourth try . A1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215211/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19961106&slug=2358535 . March 3, 2016 . mdy-all .
  35. News: Whitely . Peyton . September 17, 1999 . Buses ready to roll . B1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050713/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19990917&slug=2983670 . March 4, 2016 . mdy-all .
  36. News: Whitely . Peyton . November 22, 1997 . Lake Washington traffic study would involve variety of groups . A11 . The Seattle Times.
  37. News: Whitely . Peyton . November 5, 1998 . Cross-lake traffic solutions trimmed . B3 . The Seattle Times.
  38. News: Whitely . Peyton . January 31, 2002 . 12 options get go-ahead on Highway 520 . B1 . The Seattle Times.
  39. News: Whitely . Peyton . August 23, 2000 . 2 options offered for I-90's future . B1 . The Seattle Times.
  40. News: Hadley . Jane . July 16, 2003 . Eastside, Seattle bridge the gap . B1 . . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180127053030/http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Eastside-Seattle-bridge-the-gap-1119414.php . January 27, 2018 . mdy-all .
  41. News: Pryne . Eric . November 19, 2004 . Eastside transit proposals unveiled . B1 . The Seattle Times.
  42. July 2005 . Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on the Regional Transit Long-Range Plan . Executive Summary . 16 . https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/projects/seis/final_6-05/chapters/1-execsumm.pdf . Sound Transit . 60557791 . January 25, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180127053029/https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/projects/seis/final_6-05/chapters/1-execsumm.pdf . January 27, 2018 . mdy-all .
  43. News: Chiu . Lisa . Lindblom . Mike . July 14, 2006 . Sound Transit's board endorses light-rail link between Seattle, Eastside . A1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180110174532/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20060714&slug=soundtransit14m . January 10, 2018 . mdy-all .
  44. News: Chiu . Lisa . July 6, 2006 . Eastside sounds off about Sound Transit's new plans . B3 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180127053030/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20060706&slug=ltrail06e . January 27, 2018 . mdy-all .
  45. News: Chiu . Lisa . September 13, 2006 . Light-rail options on the table: Sound Transit to unveil East Link plans . B1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180127053029/http://o.seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/eastsidenews/2003256532_eastlink13e.html . January 27, 2018 . mdy-all .
  46. News: Bach . Ashley . October 16, 2007 . Transit package's Eastside benefits debated . B1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180127053029/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/politics/2003952771_elexprop1east16e.html . January 27, 2018 . mdy-all .
  47. May 23, 2007 . Board adopts Sound Transit 2 Plan proposing 50 miles of light rail expansions . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180127053029/https://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/News-release-archive/ST2PlanAdoption . January 27, 2018 . mdy-all .
  48. News: Garber . Andrew . November 7, 2007 . Huge roads-transit plan gets trounced . A1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160827223727/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20071107&slug=elexroadsandtransit07m . August 27, 2016 . mdy-all .
  49. News: January 5, 2008 . Light-rail input sought at meeting . B3 . The Seattle Times.
  50. News: Lange . Larry . November 5, 2008 . Sound Transit's package is passing; I-985 falling short . A14 . Seattle Post-Intelligencer . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120416181516/http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Sound-Transit-s-package-is-passing-I-985-falling-1290519.php . April 16, 2012 . mdy-all .
  51. Web site: July 2008 . Sound Transit 2, A Mass Transit Guide: The Regional Transit System Plan for Central Puget Sound . 7 . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161202004249/http://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/st2/transitexapansion/st2_plan_web.pdf . December 2, 2016.
  52. News: Lindblom . Mike . July 25, 2008 . Sound Transit sending voters $17.9 billion rail-and-bus plan . A1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180127053030/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2008072045_soundtransit25m.html . January 27, 2018 . mdy-all .
  53. News: Pryne . Eric . December 16, 2005 . Test shows I-90 bridge can take light rail . B4 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180127053030/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2002686631_sound16m.html . January 27, 2018 . mdy-all .
  54. Web site: . March 2006 . East Corridor HCT – Summary of I-90 Floating Bridge (Homer Hadley) Studies . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180120080039/https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/projects/seis/railjointstudiessummaryi-90_032806_final_report.pdf . January 20, 2018 . mdy-all .
  55. News: Lindblom . Mike . July 21, 2006 . I-90 floating bridge can be made safe for rail, officials say . B1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110311063457/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20060721&slug=lightrail21m . March 11, 2011 . mdy-all .
  56. News: Lange . Larry . June 19, 2008 . Panel studies adding trains to I-90 bridge . B5 . Seattle Post-Intelligencer . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171107090207/http://www.seattlepi.com/local/transportation/article/Panel-studies-adding-trains-to-I-90-bridge-1277018.php . November 7, 2017 . mdy-all .
  57. News: Slovan . Margie . August 13, 2008 . Light rail on I-90 bridge gets a preliminary OK . . subscription . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180127053030/http://www.djc.com/news/ae/11203567.html . January 27, 2018 . mdy-all .
  58. Web site: February 12, 2009 . Independent review team confirms that light rail can run on I-90 floating bridge . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100613135335/http://soundtransit.org/Documents/pdf/projects/eastlink/QuickFact_IRT_021209.pdf . June 13, 2010 . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018.
  59. Harrison . John A. . Cooper . Thomas R. . Lawrence . Lina . Williams . Bryan . Duran Ketchum . Charity . Sleavin . John . 2017 . Integration of Light Rail on the I-90 Floating Bridge Across Lake Washington . 74–81 . Transportation Research Record . . 2607 . 10.3141/2607-10 . 117185460 . 0361-1981 . 723878893 . January 25, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171107182219/http://docs.trb.org/prp/17-04773.pdf . November 7, 2017 . mdy-all .
  60. Cooper . Thomas . Sleavin . John . Foan . Andy . Thonstad . Travis . March 2014 . Unprecedented Connections . 56–76 . Civil Engineering . . 84 . 3 . 10.1061/ciegag.0000483 . 2381-0688 . 1010682357 . January 25, 2018.
  61. News: Lindblom . Mike . May 14, 2017 . World's first light rail on a floating bridge: For I-90, Sound Transit had to invent 'a brilliant solution' . A1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170902142331/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/light-rail-track-floating-bridge-i-90-sound-transit/ . September 2, 2017 . mdy-all .
  62. News: November 1, 2017 . Sound Transit floating bridge tech for light rail wins award . . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171101235539/http://www.metro-magazine.com/technology/news/726139/sound-transit-floating-bridge-tech-for-light-rail-wins-award . November 1, 2017 . mdy-all .
  63. News: Lindblom . Mike . March 24, 2017 . I-90 light-rail cost estimate takes a $225 million jump . A1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170928205458/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/225-million-more-needed-to-build-light-rail-across-i-90-bridge/ . September 28, 2017 . mdy-all .
  64. News: Long . Katherine . May 2, 2010 . Kemper Freeman is suing to stop light-rail expansion to Eastside . A1 . The Seattle Times . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180226062347/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2011228474_bellevuelightrail02m.html . February 26, 2018 . January 25, 2018.
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  66. News: Lindblom . Mike . April 22, 2011 . I-90 light-rail opponents led by Kemper Freeman lose case at high court . B1 . The Seattle Times . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180226062347/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2014835731_kemper22m.html . February 26, 2018 . January 25, 2018.
  67. News: Lindblom . Mike . March 10, 2012 . Kemper Freeman loses lawsuit; light-rail can be built on I-90 bridge . B1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  68. News: June 1, 2011 . I-90 lawsuit moves east to Ellensburg . . January 25, 2018.
  69. News: March 9, 2012 . Kittitas County judge rules against Kemper Freeman light rail case . . January 25, 2018.
  70. News: Ervin . Keith . Lindblom . Mike . September 13, 2013 . High court rejects Kemper Freeman attempt to stop I-90 light rail . B1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150923003636/http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2013/09/state-supreme-court-rejects-kemper-freeman-attempt-to-stop-i-90-light-rail/ . September 23, 2015 . mdy-all .
  71. News: Thompson . Lynn . February 13, 2017 . Mercer Island council votes to sue Sound Transit over access to HOV lanes this summer . The Seattle Times . May 20, 2024.
  72. News: Gutman . David . June 1, 2017 . Sound Transit plans to pay Mercer Island $10M to settle I-90 dispute . The Seattle Times . May 18, 2024.
  73. Web site: February 17, 2017 . Motion No. M2017-20 . Sound Transit . May 20, 2024.
  74. News: Nystrom . Andy . October 26, 2020 . City files lawsuit against Sound Transit regarding terms of 2017 Settlement Agreement . Mercer Island Reporter . May 18, 2024.
  75. News: Nystrom . Andy . May 3, 2023 . City representatives tour Mercer Island Station . Mercer Island Reporter . May 20, 2024.
  76. News: Chiu . Lisa . September 30, 2006 . Path for light rail to wait after vote . B1 . The Seattle Times . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180226062848/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2003282386_eastlink30e.html . February 26, 2018 . January 25, 2018.
  77. News: Bach . Ashley . December 15, 2006 . Panel: Tunnel won't be only option studied for light rail . B3 . The Seattle Times . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180226062347/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2003478665_eastlink15e.html . February 26, 2018 . January 25, 2018.
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  79. News: Tsong . Nicole . February 25, 2009 . Bellevue envisions tunnel for light rail . B1 . The Seattle Times . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190719020454/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2008782776_bellevuecouncil25m.html . July 19, 2019 . January 25, 2018.
  80. News: Lindblom . Mike . May 4, 2009 . Bellevue eyes Sound Transit train tunnel; Microsoft wants surface route . A1 . The Seattle Times . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190719020453/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2009168122_bellevuetunnel04m.html . July 19, 2019 . January 25, 2018.
  81. Web site: May 14, 2009 . Sound Transit Motion No. M2009-41 . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170806101547/https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/about/board/motions/2009/Motion_M2009-41.pdf . August 6, 2017 . mdy-all .
  82. News: Cohen . Aubrey . May 13, 2009 . Surface route chosen for Eastside light rail . Seattle Post-Intelligencer . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180121065426/http://www.seattlepi.com/local/transportation/article/Surface-route-chosen-for-Eastside-light-rail-1303935.php . January 21, 2018 . mdy-all .
  83. News: Larin . Lindsay . October 16, 2009 . Sound Transit updates Bellevue City Council on latest light rail tunnel option . Bellevue Reporter . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170806100518/http://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/sound-transit-updates-bellevue-city-council-on-latest-light-rail-tunnel-option/ . August 6, 2017 . mdy-all .
  84. News: September 24, 2009 . Sound Transit presenting another routing alternative for light rail in Downtown Bellevue . Bellevue Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100218081742/http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/61240837.html . February 18, 2010 . January 25, 2018.
  85. News: Barnett . Erica C. . September 15, 2009 . Freeman Backs Anti-Light Rail Slate on Eastside . . January 25, 2018.
  86. News: Lloyd . Sarah Anne . January 28, 2010 . Why Don't Rich Eastside Developers Want Light Rail in Downtown Bellevue? . . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161004183136/http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/why-dont-rich-eastside-developers-want-light-rail-in-downtown-bellevue/Content?oid=3304540 . October 4, 2016 . mdy-all .
  87. News: Ervin . Keith . October 25, 2011 . Bellevue council elections divide developers . A1 . The Seattle Times . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180219104217/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2016600157_bellevue25m.html . February 19, 2018 . January 25, 2018.
  88. News: Hicks . Joshua Adam . November 17, 2009 . New light-rail plan avoids downtown core . Bellevue Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091120220305/http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/70249167.html . November 20, 2009 . January 25, 2018.
  89. News: Lindblom . Mike . February 8, 2010 . Light-rail 'vision' elevated track would run along I-405 . A1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180122125736/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2011011433_visionline08m.html . January 22, 2018 . mdy-all .
  90. News: January 14, 2010 . Bellevue City Council will consider changing preferred light-rail routes . Bellevue Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100123164430/http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/81613712.html . January 23, 2010 . January 25, 2018.
  91. News: Tsong . Nicole . March 2, 2010 . Bellevue drops Mercer Slough light-rail route . B2 . The Seattle Times . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180226062347/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2011228474_bellevuelightrail02m.html . February 26, 2018 . January 25, 2018.
  92. News: Hicks . Joshua Adam . March 23, 2010 . Bellevue City Council unanimous on new downtown light-rail tunnel . Bellevue Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100328140259/http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/88915807.html . March 28, 2010 . January 25, 2018.
  93. News: Lindblom . Mike . April 22, 2010 . Bellevue council's offer keeps light-rail tunnel alive . B1 . The Seattle Times . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180126184952/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2011668714_lightrail22m.html . January 26, 2018 . January 25, 2018.
  94. News: Hicks . Joshua Adam . April 22, 2010 . Sound Transit names preferred light-rail routes for Bellevue . Bellevue Reporter . January 25, 2018.
  95. Web site: April 22, 2010 . Sound Transit Motion No. M2010-44 . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170806022336/https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/about/board/motions/2010/Motion_M2010-44.pdf . August 6, 2017 . mdy-all .
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  98. News: Tsong . Nicole . July 21, 2010 . Bellevue council sticks with light-rail route Sound Transit opposes . B1 . The Seattle Times . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180126125808/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2012405969_bellevuelightrail21m.html . January 26, 2018 . January 25, 2018.
  99. News: Hicks . Joshua Adam . July 23, 2010 . Sound Transit board makes light-rail decision, exchanges barbs with Bellevue mayor . Bellevue Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100730023014/http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/99086224.html . July 30, 2010 . January 25, 2018.
  100. News: Levy . Nat . October 4, 2010 . Bellevue council votes for more study of its preferred light-rail route . Bellevue Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111008054431/http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/104323914.html . October 8, 2011 . January 25, 2018.
  101. News: Levy . Nat . September 14, 2010 . Council continues analysis on railway corridor route for Bellevue light-rail . Bellevue Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111008061710/http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/102895984.html . October 8, 2011 . January 25, 2018.
  102. News: November 4, 2010 . Sound Transit releases East Link SDEIS . Bellevue Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111008055236/http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/106726683.html . October 8, 2011 . January 25, 2018.
  103. News: Levy . Nat . November 30, 2010 . Debate between south Bellevue light-rail alignments dominates public hearing . Bellevue Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111008053459/http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/111098874.html . October 8, 2011 . January 25, 2018.
  104. News: Lindblom . Mike . May 27, 2011 . The cost of dithering: Bellevue rail delayed to 2023 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  105. News: Levy . Nat . May 26, 2011 . Sound Transit ready to 'pull the trigger' on East Link . Bellevue Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111008055410/http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/122704514.html . October 8, 2011 . January 25, 2018.
  106. News: Ervin . Keith . May 20, 2011 . Execs urge Bellevue council to settle on light-rail route . B1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  107. News: Tsong . Nicole . January 12, 2011 . Light-rail squabble fractures Bellevue council . A1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  108. News: Ervin . Keith . June 7, 2011 . Bellevue council probe narrowed to Wallace . B2 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  109. News: Ervin . Keith . July 26, 2011 . Bellevue official had no conflict of interest, investigator finds . B1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  110. News: Ervin . Keith . May 27, 2013 . Bellevue council can't agree on proposed ethics code . B4 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  111. News: Ervin . Keith . November 3, 2011 . Light-rail views drive Bellevue council races . B2 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  112. News: Ervin . Keith . November 29, 2011 . Recount due in Bellevue's Stokes-Laing race . B1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  113. News: December 13, 2011 . Pro-light-rail group is fined . B2 . The Seattle Times.
  114. News: Levy . Nat . May 17, 2011 . Council gets look at consultant's light-rail report . Bellevue Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111008054627/http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/122035139.html . October 8, 2011 . January 25, 2018.
  115. News: Levy . Nat . June 14, 2011 . Council wraps up East Link study . Bellevue Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111008054539/http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/123862449.html . October 8, 2011 . January 25, 2018.
  116. News: Levy . Nat . July 7, 2011 . Bellevue, Sound Transit, engaged in 'high-level' discussions over light-rail route . Bellevue Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111008053528/http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/125155729.html . October 8, 2011 . January 25, 2018.
  117. News: Levy . Nat . July 19, 2011 . Bellevue, Sound Transit down to the wire on light-rail deal . Bellevue Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111008053718/http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/125799418.html . October 8, 2011 . January 25, 2018.
  118. July 7, 2011 . Sound Transit issues Final Environmental Impact Statement for East Link . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018.
  119. News: Levy . Nat . July 12, 2011 . Bellevue, Sound Transit to meet over light-rail route . Bellevue Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111008054237/http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/125455063.html . October 8, 2011 . January 25, 2018.
  120. News: Ervin . Keith . July 29, 2011 . Sound Transit approves East Link light-rail route . A1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180122181626/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2015760617_soundtransit29m.html . January 22, 2018 . mdy-all .
  121. News: Ervin . Keith . August 9, 2011 . Bellevue keeps light-rail plan, talks with Sound Transit going . B2 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  122. News: Levy . Nat . August 9, 2011 . Bellevue OKs outline of light-rail talks with Sound Transit over route . Bellevue Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111008055434/http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/127292958.html . October 8, 2011 . January 25, 2018.
  123. News: Ervin . Keith . September 20, 2011 . Bellevue seeks views on light rail as deadline nears . B1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  124. News: October 25, 2011 . Bellevue council wants more time for light-rail negotiations, sets public hearing . Bellevue Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130115155316/http://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/132511343.html . January 15, 2013 . January 25, 2018.
  125. News: Ervin . Keith . October 25, 2011 . Bellevue council backs elevated light-rail crossing . B4 . The Seattle Times.
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  127. November 27, 2011 . FTA issues Record of Decision approving East Link light rail alignment . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160517230852/http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/News-release-archive/East-Link-Record-of-Decision . May 17, 2016 . mdy-all .
  128. Web site: April 2012 . East Link Light Rail: Cost Savings Ideas Open House . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150910093943/http://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/projects/eastlink/CostSavings/Boards_042512_final.pdf . September 10, 2015 . mdy-all .
  129. News: Ervin . Keith . April 25, 2012 . Officials work to cut costs on Bellevue light-rail project . B3 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  130. News: Ervin . Keith . June 4, 2012 . Different site for light-rail station in Bellevue could save millions . B1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  131. News: Ervin . Keith . June 6, 2012 . Bellevue considers raising road instead of elevated light-rail tracks . B1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  132. News: Ervin . Keith . June 29, 2012 . Light-rail plan moves ahead in Bellevue; UW-Northgate project OK'd . B1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160924140129/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2018555970_eastlink29m.html . September 24, 2016 . mdy-all .
  133. Web site: October 25, 2012 . Sound Transit Motion No. M2012-76 . Sound Transit . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180126125540/https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/about/board/motions/2012/Motion_M2012-76.pdf . January 26, 2018 . January 25, 2018.
  134. News: Ervin . Keith . October 17, 2012 . Bellevue City Council votes to keep studying surface light rail . B2 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  135. News: Groves . Kaitlin . October 5, 2012 . City faces emotional opposition to light rail savings plan . Bellevue Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130114222514/http://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/172521021.html . January 14, 2013 . January 25, 2018.
  136. News: Kareiva . Celina . February 27, 2013 . Light-rail winners: Council, Sound Transit, neighbors all happy with city's new land use code . Bellevue Reporter . January 25, 2018.
  137. News: Ervin . Keith . March 16, 2013 . Bellevue, Sound Transit, judge keep light-rail plan on track . B1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  138. News: Ervin . Keith . June 14, 2012 . 2 groups sue over Bellevue light-rail plan as it moves ahead . B1 . The Seattle Times . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120616213517/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018426908_bellevueraill14m.html . June 16, 2012 . January 25, 2018.
  139. Web site: March 2013 . East Link Extension: 2013 SEPA Addendum . 22 . Sound Transit . 833166559 . January 25, 2018.
  140. News: Lindblom . Mike . April 22, 2013 . In historic step, Bellevue approves light-rail route . B1 . The Seattle Times . May 15, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160920181523/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020839687_bellevuelightrailxml.html . September 20, 2016 . mdy-all .
  141. April 25, 2013 . Sound Transit Board approves cost-saving refinements to East Link alignment . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018.
  142. News: Lindblom . Mike . April 26, 2013 . Sound Transit signs off on Bellevue's light-rail route . B1 . The Seattle Times . May 15, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140517122346/http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2013/04/sound-transit-signs-off-on-bellevues-light-rail-route/ . May 17, 2014 . mdy-all .
  143. News: May 11, 2013 . Bellevue: Sound Transit hosts open house . B2 . The Seattle Times.
  144. Web site: June 14, 2013 . First Amendment to the Transit Way Agreement Between the City of Bellevue and the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority . City of Bellevue . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125024905/https://transportation.bellevuewa.gov/UserFiles/Servers/Server_4779004/File/pdf/Transportation/Transit_Way_Agreement_CoB_CPSRTA_Amendment_1.pdf . January 25, 2018 . mdy-all .
  145. July 24, 2014 . Sound Transit identifies Bellevue site as preferred alternative for new light rail operations base . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018.
  146. News: Vaughn . Alexa . June 30, 2014 . Potential rail-yard sites threaten Bellevue's businesses, vision . A1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  147. News: Ervin . Keith . November 24, 2012 . Plan for Bellevue light-rail yard stuns city officials . A1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  148. News: Ervin . Keith . October 25, 2013 . Mars Hill wants to move Bellevue church to Sound Transit-owned site . A1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018.
  149. News: Thompson . Lynn . April 10, 2015 . Bellevue mayor on revised light-rail deal: 'Lemonade with sweetener' . B1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160106214920/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/eastside/bellevue-mayor-on-revised-light-rail-deal-lemonade-with-sweetener/ . January 6, 2016 . mdy-all .
  150. Web site: April 23, 2015 . Sound Transit Resolution No. R2015-04 . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018.
  151. January 16, 2015 . U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $1.33 Billion Loan for Sound Transit's Link Light Rail Extension from Seattle to Redmond . . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170524182523/https://www.transit.dot.gov/about/news/us-department-transportation-announces-133-billion-loan-sound-transit%E2%80%99s-link-light-rail . May 24, 2017 . mdy-all .
  152. April 22, 2016 . Sound Transit kicks off East Link light rail construction . Sound Transit . April 22, 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160425172412/http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/sound-transit-kicks-east-link-light-rail . April 25, 2016 . mdy-all .
  153. April 23, 2015 . Sound Transit, Bellevue moving forward with East Link . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150907053230/http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/ST-Bellevue-East-Link-agreement- . September 7, 2015 . mdy-all .
  154. News: Whittenberg . Jake . April 13, 2016 . Home demolitions begin Monday in Bellevue for East Link light rail . . April 22, 2016.
  155. News: Lindblom . Mike . February 25, 2017 . Bellevue transit tunnel underway, but no giant drill for this job . B2 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170317055636/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/bellevue-transit-tunnel-underway-but-no-giant-drill-for-this-job/ . March 17, 2017 . mdy-all .
  156. News: Zhou . Nuoya . June 29, 2017 . Sound Transit begins to install light rail on floating bridge . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170703234006/http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2017/06/29/sound-transit-begins-to-install-light-rail-on.html . July 3, 2017 . mdy-all .
  157. News: Metzger . Katie . June 5, 2017 . I-90 center lanes closed as of June 4 for light rail construction . Mercer Island Reporter . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170917213527/http://www.mi-reporter.com/news/i-90-center-lanes-to-close-june-3-for-light-rail-construction/ . September 17, 2017 . mdy-all .
  158. March 29, 2012 . New I-90 HOV lane from Mercer Island to Bellevue opens today . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150919083658/http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/News-release-archive/new-I-90-HOV-lane-opens- . September 19, 2015 . mdy-all .
  159. News: Lindblom . Mike . June 1, 2017 . Mercer Island braces for new I-90 bottlenecks as light-rail work begins . A1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170619084855/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/mercer-island-interstate-90-light-rail-express-lanes/ . June 19, 2017 . mdy-all .
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  161. News: Lindblom . Mike . May 5, 2017 . Park-and-ride closure in Bellevue: Commuters angry, feeling stranded . A1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170831225321/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/huge-park-and-ride-closure-in-bellevue-leaves-angry-commuters-feeling-stranded/ . August 31, 2017 . mdy-all .
  162. Web site: June 2017 . June 2017 Progress Report: Link Light Rail Program . 45 . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018.
  163. News: October 27, 2017 . From the Boardroom: East Link Update, 2018 Financial Plan and more . The Platform . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018.
  164. December 12, 2017 . First elevated section of East Link extension under construction in downtown Bellevue . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018.
  165. March 29, 2018 . Light rail guideway construction underway in BelRed . Sound Transit . April 5, 2018.
  166. News: Banner . Ellen . June 6, 2018 . The rail link from Seattle to Bellevue takes shape . The Seattle Times . June 14, 2018.
  167. News: Crowe . Michael . May 22, 2018 . Construction worker dies after fall at Bellevue light rail site . KING 5 News . May 22, 2018.
  168. July 20, 2018 . Sound Transit completes East Link Bellevue tunnel excavation . Sound Transit . July 20, 2018.
  169. August 19, 2020 . Sound Transit completes construction of East Link Bellevue tunnel . Sound Transit . August 19, 2020.
  170. April 5, 2019 . East Link construction reaches 50-percent completion milestone . Sound Transit . April 5, 2019.
  171. News: Kunkler . Aaron . April 5, 2018 . Construction underway at Sound Transit's Operations and Maintenance Facility East . Redmond Reporter . April 4, 2018.
  172. News: Sullivan . Chris . October 11, 2018 . East Link project hits 30 percent completion as Seattle construction begins . KIRO Radio . November 15, 2018.
  173. News: Gray . Bruce . November 15, 2018 . East Link light rail line already transforming Eastside skyline . The Platform . Sound Transit . November 15, 2018.
  174. News: Newcomb . Tim . January 7, 2019 . East Link Rail Installation Underway with Ballasted Trackbed . . January 7, 2019.
  175. Web site: East Link Light Rail . City of Bellevue . January 25, 2018.
  176. News: Hockett . Charlie . February 1, 2021 . East Link: You asked, we answer . The Platform . Sound Transit . February 2, 2021.
  177. News: November 9, 2021 . Test trains now running on East Link light rail from Bellevue to Redmond . KING 5 News . November 14, 2021.
  178. News: Cunningham . Rachelle . February 8, 2022 . East Link train testing moves into live wire stages . The Platform . Sound Transit . February 8, 2022.
  179. News: Lindblom . Mike . August 18, 2022 . More delays for light rail to Bellevue, Redmond, Federal Way, Lynnwood . The Seattle Times . August 18, 2022.
  180. News: Lindblom . Mike . April 28, 2022 . Sound Transit's light-rail project to the Eastside is running late . The Seattle Times . May 2, 2022.
  181. News: Lindblom . Mike . Banner . Ellen . April 14, 2023 . Bad light-rail ties on I-90 bridge can't be fixed, must be rebuilt . The Seattle Times . April 19, 2023.
  182. News: Lindblom . Mike . November 9, 2022 . An Eastside-only light-rail line? Here's why it might happen . The Seattle Times . November 9, 2022.
  183. News: Timm . Julie . December 8, 2022 . An update on Link projects in construction . The Platform . Sound Transit . December 10, 2022.
  184. News: Lindblom . Mike . January 13, 2023 . Lynnwood or Bellevue: Which city should get light-rail service first? . The Seattle Times . January 17, 2023.
  185. Web site: July 2023 . 2024 Service Plan Proposal – East Subarea . Sound Transit . https://archive.today/20230713070604/https://2024serviceplan-east.participate.online/ . July 13, 2023 . July 13, 2023.
  186. News: Lindblom . Mike . August 24, 2023 . Eastside-only light rail should open in March, Sound Transit says . The Seattle Times . August 24, 2023.
  187. News: Belman . Brooke . August 24, 2023 . Get ready for new Link service on the Eastside next spring . The Platform . Sound Transit . August 24, 2023.
  188. News: Lindblom . Mike . November 1, 2023 . Look both ways! Eastside light-rail trains begin practice runs . The Seattle Times . November 1, 2023.
  189. News: Lindblom . Mike . February 9, 2024 . Trains in training: Sound Transit powers up its future Eastside light rail route . The Seattle Times . February 9, 2024.
  190. News: Lindblom . Mike . Kroman . David . April 27, 2024 . Eastside light rail line opens as huge crowds try out the ride . The Seattle Times . April 27, 2024.
  191. News: Lindblom . Mike . April 30, 2024 . Here's how many people celebrated Eastside light rail opening . The Seattle Times . May 3, 2024.
  192. News: May 2, 2024 . Thousands celebrate the opening of the 2 Line . The Platform . Sound Transit . May 3, 2024.
  193. News: Nelson . Jim . June 14, 2024 . Despite relatively low ridership, Sound Transit says Eastside light rail is meeting expectations . KING 5 News . June 16, 2024.
  194. News: Stiles . Marc . February 26, 2016 . Light rail may reach Federal Way, downtown Redmond after all . . January 25, 2018.
  195. News: Lindblom . Mike . November 14, 2016 . Where Sound Transit 3 projects could speed up or slow down . B1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170828005549/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/where-sound-transit-3-projects-could-speed-up-or-slow-down/ . August 28, 2017 . mdy-all .
  196. June 23, 2017 . Sound Transit to study elevated light rail in downtown Redmond . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018.
  197. News: October 24, 2019 . ST breaks ground on $1.5B Redmond Link extension . Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce . subscription . October 24, 2019.
  198. News: Lindblom . Mike . March 24, 2020 . Sound Transit sues longtime ally Microsoft in effort to condemn land for Redmond light rail . The Seattle Times . March 24, 2020.
  199. Web site: April 25, 2013 . Sound Transit Resolution No. R2013-09 . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018.
  200. News: Thompson . Lynn . August 15, 2016 . Neighbors worry about Mercer Slough amid East Link light-rail construction . A1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170711233526/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/eastside/neighbors-worry-about-mercer-slough-amid-east-link-light-rail-construction/ . July 11, 2017 . mdy-all .
  201. News: Murray . Ryan . January 14, 2016 . Sound Transit gives tunnel presentation to emotional crowd . Bellevue Reporter . January 25, 2018.
  202. Web site: Location & stations . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180121075325/https://www.soundtransit.org/Projects-and-Plans/East-Link-Extension/Location-and-stations . January 21, 2018 . mdy-all .
  203. Web site: Locations and stations — Downtown Redmond Link Extension . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018.
  204. February 15, 2024 . Link 2 Line service between South Bellevue Station and Redmond Technology Station begins April 27 . Sound Transit . February 15, 2024.
  205. News: Lindblom . Mike . April 26, 2024 . Your how-to guide for the new Eastside light rail line . The Seattle Times . April 27, 2024.
  206. Web site: March 2018 . 2018 Service Implementation Plan . 64–66 . Sound Transit . February 5, 2023 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180119063248/https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/2018-service-implementation-plan.pdf . January 19, 2018 . mdy-all .
  207. Web site: February 2023 . Lynnwood Link Extension: Northgate to Lynnwood City Center . Lynnwood Link Connections . King County Metro . February 3, 2023.
  208. Book: July 2011 . East Link Project: Final Environmental Impact Statement . Appendix E: Operating Plan Summary . E-1 . Sound Transit . 740478022 . https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/projects/eastlink/eis_2011/13_appe_energyoperplan.pdf . January 25, 2018.
  209. Web site: October 2016 . East Link Extension Overview Folio . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170902134820/https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/project-documents/201610-east-link-extension-project-overview-folio-final.pdf . September 2, 2017 . mdy-all .
  210. News: Lindblom . Mike . June 25, 2017 . Reprieve for bus riders in Seattle's transit tunnel, but cascading projects to multiply traffic challenges . B1 . The Seattle Times . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170728104226/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/reprieve-for-tunnel-riders-but-cascading-projects-to-multiply-seattles-traffic-challenges/ . July 28, 2017 . mdy-all .
  211. Web site: Route 550 . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180107014444/https://www.soundtransit.org/550 . January 7, 2018 . mdy-all .
  212. News: Christianson . Bill . September 30, 2011 . RapidRide bus service begins this weekend . Bellevue Reporter . January 25, 2018.
  213. September 2017 . Metro Transit System: Northeast Area . . January 25, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180126185018/https://kingcounty.gov/~/media/depts/transportation/metro/maps/system/09232017/metro-system-map-northeast.pdf . January 26, 2018 . dead .
  214. March 2022 . Sound Transit future service . Sound Transit . November 17, 2022.
  215. News: Shaner . Zee . April 9, 2020 . New line names coming in 2021 . The Platform . Sound Transit . April 9, 2020.
  216. Web site: July 1, 2016 . South Kirkland to Central Issaquah via Bellevue Light Rail . Sound Transit . January 25, 2018.

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