May 9, 2025

Downtown Redmond Link Extension opens tomorrow

Photos courtesy of Sound Transit [enlarge]

A 2 Line test train passes by Marymoor Park on the new Downtown Redmond Link Extension. Marymoor Village Station can be seen in the far background.

After more than five years of construction, the next phase of Sound Transit's 2 Line (also known as East Link) opens to riders tomorrow. This phase, called the Downtown Redmond Link Extension, adds 3.4 miles of track and two stations to the line.

As the DJC has previously reported, the new stations are Marymoor Village Station and Downtown Redmond Station. The former is located at 17520 N.E. 70th St., adjacent to the north end of King County's 640-acre Marymoor Park. The downtown station is an elevated station that straddles 166th Avenue Northeast. It is close to city parks, housing and retail.

The new stations bring the 2 Line to its eastern terminus. Trains will start running from noon tomorrow, following the conclusion of a speaking program and ribbon cutting at the downtown station. The speaking program will begin at 10.30 a.m. From Sunday onwards, trains will run every 10 minutes between 5:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m., seven days a week.

Hewitt Architects designed both stations, which were built by the joint venture of Stacy and Witbeck/Kuney. That joint venture also built the new 3.4-mile track segment, designed by the H-J-H joint venture comprising HNTB, Jacobs Engineering and Hatch Mott McDonald.

[enlarge]

The elevated Downtown Redmond Station straddles 166th Avenue Northeast.

Marymoor Village Station is at surface level and has been designed to provide a comfortable and safe experience. Approaching patrons are greeted by a welcoming plaza, and Hewitt's design maximizes views to Marymoor Park. The station is served by a new 1,400-stall parking garage.

Artwork by Yegizaw Michael adorns the walls of Marymoor Village Station. Called “Point of Connection,” Michael's piece features a mix of organic forms and vibrant colors selected to speak to “Redmond's past, present, and future.” Depictions include birds, symbolizing freedom, and the mandala, which is a symbol of unity and interconnectedness, added to evoke Redmond's growing, diverse community. The artwork was installed last fall.

Riders are welcomed to the downtown Redmond station via enclosed glass entrances. A large plaza at the west entrance provides a new gathering space for the city and community.

Downtown Redmond Station features 50 art installations including 27 glass mosaic murals and 23 porcelain enamel murals, each 12 feet by 6 feet. Sound Transit collaborated with Redmond's art program on the pieces.

Map via Wikimedia Commons [enlarge]

Once completed, the 2 Line will connect Seattle’s International District to downtown Redmond. The line’s final segment, crossing Interstate 90, should open later this year.

The Seattle Times reports that the Downtown Redmond Link Extension has cost $1.2 billion.

The first segment of the 2 Line opened last April. That 6.5-mile segment connects riders between the South Bellevue Station at 2700 Bellevue Way S.E. and Redmond Technology Station at 15590 N.E. 36th St.

The first segment opened to much fanfare, with Sound Transit calculating first-day ridership at 35,000 people. According to Sound Transit's dashboard, after opening day ridership peaked last June, with an average of 6,668 boardings per day. The latest average boardings per day figure, for March 2025, was 3,240.

Come tomorrow, the 2 Line will serve the following stations: South Bellevue, East Main, Bellevue Downtown, Wilburton, Spring District, BelRed, Overlake Village, Redmond Technology, Marymoor Village, and Downtown Redmond.

Eventually, the 2 Line will connect these stations to the International District/Chinatown Station in Seattle, which is on the 1 Line. The final phase of the 2 Line is slated to open later this year. It will cross Lake Washington across Interstate 90 and includes two additional stations at Judkins Park and on Mercer Island. Those stations look to be completed. Hewitt designed both.

A host of Downtown Redmond Link Extension opening day activities are planned at both Marymoor Village and Downtown Redmond Station. Festivities will run until 4 p.m. More information is at http://www.soundtransit.org/helloredmond/events