Over the weekend, Seattle's Sound Transit launched its latest expansion of the 2 Line. 

The 3.4-mile extension, which includes a 1,400-space parking garage at Marymoor, marks a significant step forward in the region’s decades-long vision to unite communities through sustainable transit.

The new segment is the first Sound Transit 3 (ST3) project to open and the fourth major expansion in 18 months. It follows the Lynnwood Link extension last August, the initial Eastside 2 Line segment in April 2023, and the Hilltop T Line in Tacoma that debuted last September. 

Two more openings are planned over the next year, including completing the Eastside’s 2 Line and a 1 Line extension to Federal Way.

“With the opening of Downtown Redmond Link, Sound Transit now operates 46 miles of light rail across all three counties we serve,” said Dave Somers, Sound Transit board chair. “This system creates more connections and economic opportunities for people who live, work in, and visit our region.”

A Vision Decades in the Making

Voters approved the Downtown Redmond extension in 2016 as part of ST3. 

The opening was hailed as a significant win for sustainability, equity, and regional growth from elected officials to labor leaders and tech executives. 

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell noted, "Redmond builds half the world’s satellites — now it’s also building great transportation systems to move people to where they work, play, and innovate.”

The new Marymoor Village Station, located off SR 520, offers access to Marymoor Park and includes parking and Metro bus connections. The Downtown Redmond Station, the terminus of the 2 Line, sits near parks, retail, and the Sammamish River Trail and has access to multiple Metro routes, including the RapidRide B Line.

Trains will run every 10 minutes from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., seven days a week, connecting passengers to South Bellevue and the regional transit network. Bike parking, seamless transfers, and proximity to the Eastrail corridor reinforce the extension’s multimodal focus.

Delivered on Time, On Budget, and with Purpose

The project, led by Stacy Witbeck/Kuney JV, remained on schedule and within its $1.5 billion budget. Jacobs and Hatch provided design leadership, and Mass Electric and Modern Rail Systems integrated systems. WSP served as the owner’s representative, as well as program manager for the design-build project.

The new stations reflect Sound Transit’s commitment to design excellence, engineering innovation, and community-driven transit planning.

As Sound Transit eyes future openings and system-wide integration, the agency said the Downtown Redmond Link Extension stands as a model for how public transportation can reshape cities, support economic growth, and meet the moment on climate and equity.