Sound Transit’s Link 2 Line Crosslake Connection opened for passengers on March 28, 2026. It carries light rail across Lake Washington, adds Mercer Island and Judkins Park stations, and connects the 2 Line with the 1 Line at International District/Chinatown. The opening is a new transit option between Seattle and the Eastside, but it does not guarantee a particular commute time or eliminate the need to check trip-specific schedules.
What opened, and where can you transfer?
The Crosslake Connection is the final segment of the 2 Line between Seattle and the Eastside. It adds two stations: Mercer Island and Judkins Park. At International District/Chinatown, riders can transfer between the 2 Line and the 1 Line. Sound Transit described the completed 2 Line as serving 26 stations over more than 35 miles; the agency reported that the Link system totaled 63 miles and 50 stations after the Crosslake opening. Sound Transit’s March 28 opening announcement and its January 2026 project announcement provide those network figures.
In its opening announcement, Sound Transit described the 1 Line as running between Federal Way and Lynnwood and the 2 Line between Lynnwood and Redmond. These are useful descriptions of the network at opening, not a substitute for checking the agency’s current route and service information when planning a trip.
How often do trains run?
Sound Transit’s March 28, 2026 opening release said the 1 and 2 Lines would operate approximately 5 a.m. to midnight daily. At Mercer Island and Judkins Park, the agency described trains as arriving about every eight minutes at peak and every 10–15 minutes during the rest of the day. Between Lynnwood City Center and International District/Chinatown, it said combined 1 and 2 Line trains would arrive every four to five minutes. These are opening-period service figures, not permanent guarantees; check the opening release and Sound Transit’s current trip planner for schedules and connections for a specific journey.
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How can riders pay?
Seattle Department of Transportation’s March 16, 2026 rider guide lists ORCA cards, contactless credit or debit cards, digital wallets, Transit GO Ticket, and station ticket machines as payment options. It also says people 18 and younger ride free on Seattle-area public transit. Because payment rules and youth-fare policies may change and can vary by service or geography, confirm current details with the transit agency before travelling. See the Seattle DOT rider guide for the options it reported ahead of the opening.
Why is the Lake Washington crossing unusual?
The rail line crosses Lake Washington on the Homer M. Hadley floating bridge. Sound Transit says the project required adapting the bridge for an electrified rail system and electrically isolating rail equipment to protect the bridge structure. The agency described the crossing as a world first; Washington Governor Bob Ferguson likewise called it the first metro line to carry commuters across a floating bridge in the world. Those superlatives are attributed to the agency and governor, rather than presented here as independently verified. Sound Transit’s May 2025 construction update explains the technical challenge, while its opening release records the announcement.
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What the connection means for a Seattle–Eastside trip
The Crosslake Connection makes the 2 Line a continuous rail link between the Eastside and Seattle, with the 1 Line interchange at International District/Chinatown. For riders, the practical benefit depends on origin, destination, departure time, and transfers: compare a complete trip in the current trip planner rather than assuming the new rail segment is faster for every journey. The March 2026 announcements establish the connection and opening-period service details, but do not establish a universal travel-time saving or a particular commute outcome.
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