Seattle Sound Transit Sets Launch Date for Crosslake Connection
This final component of the 2 Line will cross Lake Washington and connect with the 1 Line at International District/Chinatown Station, creating a fully integrated regional light rail system.
by Staff
January 23, 2026
The 2 Line will operate between Lynnwood and Redmond, in addition to the 1 Line between Federal Way and Lynnwood. Trains will run approximately every eight minutes during peak times at the new stations and between 10 and 15 minutes the rest of the day.
Credit: Sound Transit
2 min to read
Seattle’s Sound Transit announced the Crosslake Connection will open for passenger service on March 28.
This final component of the 2 Line will cross Lake Washington and connect with the 1 Line at International District/Chinatown Station, creating a fully integrated regional light rail system.
Ad Loading...
The final segment of East Link includes new stations at Mercer Island and Judkins Park. It completes the regional transit system expansion approved by voters in 2008 under ST2, increasing the light rail system from 55 to 63 miles.
The 2 Line
The 2 Line will operate between Lynnwood and Redmond, in addition to the 1 Line between Federal Way and Lynnwood. Trains will run approximately every eight minutes during peak times at the new stations and between 10 and 15 minutes the rest of the day.
Combined 1 and 2 Line headways between Lynnwood and the International District/Chinatown will be every four minutes, providing additional capacity through the system's busy core.
“This extension connects east and west, connects the 1 and 2 Lines, vastly improving mobility and quality of life in our region,” said Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine. “It’s a transformational achievement that took grit, persistence, and ingenuity, and it fulfills a generational promise of uniting both sides of Lake Washington with high-capacity transit.”
To complete the 2 Line and connect to the Eastside, Sound Transit engineers had to do something that had never been done before — design light rail on a floating bridge.
Credit: Sound Transit
Path to Completion
To complete the 2 Line and connect to the Eastside, Sound Transit engineers had to do something that had never been done before — design light rail on a floating bridge.
Ad Loading...
The world-first achievement was made possible by innovative engineering that addressed the unique challenges of operating electric trains across a moving body of water.
With the opening of the full 2 Line, Sound Transit has begun operating six new light rail expansions in five years. Pinehurst Station is expected to open later this year.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
In this edition, we cover recent appointments and announcements at HDR, MCTS, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.
Expected to enter service in 2029, these locomotives support the agency’s commitment to offer reliable and efficient rail transportation across South Florida.
Transit agencies depend on safe, reliable vehicles to deliver consistent service. This eBook examines how next-generation fleet software helps agencies move from reactive processes to proactive operations through automated maintenance, real-time safety insights, and integrated data. Learn how fleets are improving uptime, safety outcomes, and operational efficiency.