East Link Connections: Community input needed for future integrated bus and light rail service in East King County

Survey links: English | Spanish | Simplified Chinese | Traditional Chinese | Korean | Russian | Vietnamese | Hindi | Tagalog

As the region’s light rail network expands to serve new stations by 2024, King County Metro and Sound Transit are teaming up to ask residents and riders what changes are needed to improve transit service and connections.

The East Link Connections transit needs survey is open through April 25, 2021. This project gives riders in a widespread area the ability to weigh in on revising and integrating 42 bus routes to create a customer-focused transit network. The goal also is to create a network that works for more people, with a focus on improving access to opportunities for historically underserved residents.

As part of the East Link Connections Mobility Project, Metro and Sound Transit will evaluate and consider changes in 2023 and 2024 to routes that serve Bellevue, Bothell, Clyde Hill, Duvall, Issaquah, Judkins Park, Kenmore, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Medina, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, Seattle (Chinatown/International District, Central District, Mount Baker, and Rainier Valley), Woodinville, Yarrow Point.

Routes under consideration for changes include: 8, 111, 114, 167, 204, 212, 214, 216, 217, 218, 219, 221, 224, 225, 226, 232, 237, 240, 241, 245, 246, 249, 250, 252, 257, 268, 269, 271, 311, 342, 541, 542, 544, 545, 550, 554, 555, 556, 630, RapidRide B Line, 930, 931.

Bus improvements as light rail grows

King County Metro and Sound Transit have upgraded and revised the transit network with each new phase of light rail expansion to better connect people to the regional network and within local communities.

In 2023, East Link, or the Link 2 Line, will connect to the existing alignment at Seattle’s Chinatown/International District, and will expand to Judkins Park, across I-90 to Mercer Island and South Bellevue, through downtown Bellevue and the Bel-Red area to Redmond Technology Station. In 2024, the Downtown Redmond Link Extension will add two more light rail stations to the 2 Line serving Marymoor Village near Marymoor Park in southeast Redmond, and the downtown Redmond residential and retail core. More information about the East Link and Downtown Redmond Link extensions is available on the Sound Transit website.

In 2019, Metro and Sound Transit served an estimated 20 million weekday rides annually in the East Link service area that is under evaluation. An estimated 850,000 residents live in the area, which also is home to an estimated 855,000 jobs.

The work to update transit networks is key to making improvements for customers and make progress in the region. After completing community conversations in the North Link Connections area, King County Metro and Sound Transit are reviewing and finalizing planned bus network changes that will be launched this fall as three new Sound Transit light rail stations open in Seattle.

The East Link Connections transit needs survey is available in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Hindi and Tagalog, and is open until April 25, 2021. More information is available on the East Link Connections project website.