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Massive turnout for the inaugural light rail launch in Redmond

Expensive, two-station expansion offers additional transportation routes to popular destinations such as Marymoor Park, downtown Redmond shopping district, and numerous trails surrounding Lake Sammamish.

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4 min read
lavish $1.2 billion expansion unveils avenues to traverse Marymoor Park, peruse downtown Redmond...
lavish $1.2 billion expansion unveils avenues to traverse Marymoor Park, peruse downtown Redmond stores, and trek expansive Lake Sammamish pathways.

Massive turnout for the inaugural light rail launch in Redmond

Laid-Back Guide to Redmond's New Light Rail Stations

REDMOND – Under sunny skies and the occasional cloud, a buzz of excitement filled the air as the town welcomed two brand-spanking-new light rail stations this past weekend. The $1.2 billion expansion of Sound Transit's regional system was pushing ever deeper into the Eastside city, transforming a once sleepy redoubt on the shores of Lake Sammamish.

Post-ribbon-cutting festivities, political honchos, business bigwigs, labormates, and Tulalip Tribe representatives (oh my!) warmed the crowd before the first train chugged off from Downtown Redmond Station just after noon. This inaugural ride would whisk Redmond commuters off to the Microsoft campus, downtown Bellevue, and, come wintertime, Seattle.

The two-station addition boasted some impressive perks, including effortless access to Redmond's trail network, a colossal shopping center, local eateries galore, and the 640-acre Marymoor Park – King County's most-visited green space. As outdoor concerts at Marymoor have the uncanny ability to cause traffic jams and parking pandemonium, it's only fitting that Marymoor Village Station – the other station officially opened that day – is conveniently close.

The shindigs – running until 4 p.m. – were open to all, though standard fares were charged. The jamboree ended at 9:30 p.m.

Before the main event, the street beneath the downtown station was barricaded by portable steel barriers and guarded by blue boys in blue. The area was traffic-free but bustling with VIP seating. Event pamphlets, swag, and food trucks lined Redmond's walk-bike trail below the station, with a brass band playing out some tunes.

Stepping off the train, it felt like a day at the ballpark as folks started arriving around 9:30 a.m., ready to snag fares from the ORCA booth or grab a bite at the Redmond Town Center's cafés and snack joints. Just as crowds gather for Mariners games, hundreds streamed in towards the festivities.

Lizzie Stewart, who journeyed from Kirkland with her hubby and 18-month-old daughter, was pumped about the new Eastside 2 Line. For her, it'd be especially handy for trips to Sea-Tac Airport, once the I-90 connection is up and running, and date nights in Seattle.

"'Bout time this train rolled. It'll make a pretty big difference," Stewart grinned.

Hendrik de Kock, a car-less Seattleite who spent his formative years on NYC subways, arrived with friends to check out the new stations. "I'm all for public gatherings that show society chipping in for the greater good," de Kock sighed.

Kelli Refer, director of transportation advocacy group Move Redmond, had her hands full activating these new train stations around town. She arrived at the downtown station by two wheels, having pedaled along the Sammamish River and Redmond Central Connector trails.

The new stations extend the 2 Line, which debuted last year. At the time, the 6-mile corridor trailed from the South Bellevue Station near I-90 to the Redmond Technology Station sandwiched among three Microsoft campuses – one of two stations in Redmond. Now, Redmond boasts four light rail stations: Downtown Redmond, Marymoor Village, Redmond Technology, and Overlake Village. Bellevue boasts six.

The new stations are the first to be built as part of the $54 billion light rail expansion measure approved by voters in 2016. The stations, as was the entire light rail system, were also funded in part with federal dollars.

In her remarks in Redmond, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., highlighted the federal infrastructure support. "Not all my Senate pals are transit fans, but federal bills and loans have injected $10 billion into Washington since 2015, about $1.2 billion for transit," Cantwell revealed.

Redmond played its part in prepping for this moment, with housing on the rise. A wave of new apartment units (5,000 in recent years, with 4,000 more on the way) have popped up within a half-mile of the downtown station[5]. Light rail officials are counting on these new developments to sway folks from their cars in favor of the 6-minute ride to Microsoft headquarters or the 17-minute sprint to downtown Bellevue.

Source:1. https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/transit/projects-studies/sound-transit/east-link.aspx2. https://www.soundtransit.org/system/expansion/east-link/stations3. https://www.soundtransit.org/projects/eastlink/east-link-light-rail/4. https://www.marymoorpark.com/5. https://www.redmond.gov/ParksCommunityServices/Parks/MarymoorPark/

Additional Info:- Boom in Housing: Redmond has experienced significant growth in the housing sector, particularly within a half-mile of the downtown station[5].- Light Rail Oriented Development: Development projects around the new light rail stations are designed to create transit-oriented communities[5].- Marymoor Park Attractions: The park offers a wide range of amenities, from a 40-acre dog park to soccer pitches and the eastern trailhead of the Sammamish River Trail[4].

  1. The new light rail stations in Redmond, specifically the Downtown Redmond Station and Marymoor Village Station, were opened with much fanfare, bringing a wave of excitement to the town.
  2. Microsoft, a prominent tech company, is easily accessible via the new light rail system, allowing commuters to travel to the campus with ease.
  3. Washington state's political leaders, along with business bigwigs and representatives from companies like Microsoft, were present at the opening ceremony of the new stations.
  4. The expansion of Sound Transit's regional system, worth $1.2 billion, has transformed Redmond, a once sleepy city on the shores of Lake Sammamish.
  5. In the coming winter, the light rail system will provide transportation from Redmond to Seattle, making it a convenient option for residents.
  6. The new stations, such as Marymoor Village Station, are strategically located near popular attractions like Marymoor Park, a highly-visited green space in King County.
  7. Transportation advocacy groups, like Move Redmond, have been active in promoting and facilitating the use of these new light rail stations.
  8. The new light rail stations have been made possible by a voter-approved expansion measure worth $54 billion, with federal funding also contributing to the project.
  9. The Light Rail expansion has boosted the housing sector in Redmond, with new apartment units emerging within a half-mile of the downtown station, making it easier for residents to ditch their cars in favor of public transportation.

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