Skip to main content

KingCounty.gov is an official government website.

Official government websites use .gov
Website addresses ending in .gov belong to official government organizations in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Only share sensitive information on official, secure websites.
King County Washington home

Cross Lake Connection media ride will mark Balducci vision come to life

March 25, 2026

Sound Transit will host a media preview ride Thursday for the Cross Lake Connection ahead of its public opening Saturday. The connection marks a historic milestone not just for regional light rail and for light rail in general – the first light rail service in the world to operate on a floating bridge – but also a two-decade vision come to life for King County Councilmember and Sound Transit Board member Claudia Balducci.

"Building light rail has been a two-decade journey, and it hasn't been easy. We’ve arrived at this transformational moment through the persistent efforts of hundreds of people who share a common vision for affordable, high-quality transit connecting the Eastside to our broader region,” Balducci said.  “Saturday's opening proves that with sustained commitment, we can achieve big things, transform a region, and create real opportunity for people."

**More background on this transformative journey below**

Balducci will join the media preview ride Thursday morning, departing from South Bellevue Station, stopping at Mercer Island Station, and crossing Lake Washington on the 2 Line to Judkins Park Station before hopping the opposite train and heading back. Reporters who haven’t already RSVP’d can do so by contacting Rachelle Cunningham with Sound Transit: 925-216-0755 or rachelle.cunningham@soundtransit.org.

WHEN: 10 a.m. Thursday, March 26

WHERE: South Bellevue Station, 2704 Bellevue Way SE, Bellevue, WA 98004

 

Balducci's two-decade vision becomes reality: the Cross Lake Connection opens on March 28

This Saturday, March 28, Sound Transit will complete a vision Balducci has championed since the late 2000s: a light rail system connecting the Eastside to fast, frequent, and reliable transit service, giving residents access to jobs, education, and economic mobility across the region.

As a Bellevue City Councilmember, Balducci led efforts to overcome well-funded opposition and political resistance to bring transit across Lake Washington. And when a serious construction mishap in 2022 added a years-long delay to opening the I-90 bridge segment, she pivoted, proposing an Eastside-only starter line during the interim. Because of her advocacy, the line connecting Bellevue with the Microsoft Campus in Redmond opened in April 2024.

Now, almost two years later, ridership data and the opening of a light rail extension to Downtown Redmond last year prove the case: Eastside residents want this infrastructure. The effort took longer and faced more obstacles than anticipated, but Balducci maintained focus on the long-term benefit to the region.

Saturday’s opening of the final two-station, 7.4-mile segment of East Link light rail running for the first time ever across a floating bridge culminates the almost 20-year push to connect the Eastside to Sound Transit's transit network. Eastside residents will now have genuine, high-capacity transit connecting to the region, and the region will have access to the Eastside. It demonstrates what sustained advocacy and political resolve can achieve. 

Key Project Milestones & Timeline:

Early Planning & Approval 

  • Early 2000s – East Link concept development begins. 
  • 2007 – Initial regional ballot measure fails. 
  • 2008 – Voters approve ST2, including East Link. 

Design & Engineering 

  • 2011–2017 – Final design, environmental review, and engineering of the world’s first floating bridge light rail system. 
  • Engineering breakthroughs include custom track bridges, expansion joints, and systems designed to accommodate bridge movement. 

Construction & Testing 

  • 2015–2025 – Major civil construction across Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue, and Redmond. 
  • 2022–2023 – Completion of guideway and station structures; systems installation. 
  • 2025–2026 – Full line testing, including powered train operations across the floating bridge. 

Phased Opening of East Link/Downtown Redmond 

  • April 27, 2024 – East Link “Starter Line” opens between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology Station. 
  • May 10, 2025 – Downtown Redmond Extension (Redmond Technology–Downtown Redmond) 
  • Saturday, March 28, 2026 (upcoming) – Crosslake Connection opens, completing the 2 Line and enabling full regional integration.