Huge Crowds Turn Out To Finally Ride Light Rail Across Lake Washington

Key Points:

• Sound Transit launched full service on the 2 Line light rail between Redmond and Lynnwood, drawing crowds much larger than expected, particularly at Seattle's Judkins Park station where boarding lines extended for blocks and the station remained closed until afternoon due to crowding.
• The new service marks a historic milestone with light rail now running across the I-90 floating bridge, a project decades in the making and fully funded by the 2008 Sound Transit 2 ballot measure, significantly improving transit connectivity between Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond.
• Key regional leaders, including Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, praised the project as a transformative improvement in transit accessibility, emphasizing the importance of affordable, reliable alternatives to car travel.
• The opening is expected to boost ridership to record levels, rivaling major events like the Super Bowl victory parade, and is seen as a catalyst for urban development, particularly in Bellevue and Redmond, where new housing and business expansions are planned near stations.
• While this opening concludes a rapid expansion phase, future station openings will slow due to budget constraints, with some projects potentially delayed beyond 2031; however, elected officials remain committed to advancing transit projects to meet regional demand and economic goals.