Crosslake Connection opens Saturday Celebrate opening day with community partners at events throughout the expanded Link system

This Saturday, March 28, the Crosslake Connection will open with Link light rail carrying passengers across Lake Washington for the first time. Crosslake trains will begin running at around 10 a.m. following a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The opening day celebration will start at 9 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting and street fair at Sam Smith Park, in partnership with the Northwest African American Museum. At 10 a.m., festivities begin at the new Mercer Island Station, in partnership with the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce, as well as at nine more stations throughout the expanded Link system, until 2 p.m.

Get information about opening day activities at https://www.soundtransit.org/crosslake.

Explore the new parts of the 2 Line, from International District to South Bellevue, and play Discover. Stamp. Win! for a chance to win exciting prizes donated by event sponsors. Information about prizes and how to play is at https://www.soundtransit.org/crosslake/dsw. The first 1,000 people to turn in their completed ticket at the Welcome Tent at Sam Smith Park will receive a 1 and 2 Line reversible bucket hat provided by presenting sponsor Microsoft.

Microsoft also is donating 3,000 commemorative ORCA cards, loaded with the value of one light rail round-trip. The cards will be available at the Welcome Tent and from Sound Transit and Microsoft ambassadors while supplies last.

People are encouraged to walk, roll and take transit to opening day celebrations. Shuttles from Mount Baker and South Bellevue stations to the ribbon cutting will run every 15 minutes from 7-10 a.m. Lime is offering free rides on opening day with the code CROSSLAKE26.

Bicycle parking is available at all stations. The new Judkins Park Station has racks for 36 bikes, a bike room for 32 bikes, and 4 individual BikeLink lockers available on demand. On opening day, the Cascade Bicycle Club will be providing a bike valet at Judkins Park.

The new Mercer Island Station has bike racks with capacity for 50 bikes, a bike room with capacity for 20 bikes and 24 individual BikeLink lockers, available on demand.

Service on both the 1 Line and 2 Line will run from about 5 a.m. to 12 a.m. seven days a week. Trains will run approximately every eight minutes at peak at the new stations, and between 10-15 minutes the rest of the day. Between Lynnwood City Center and International District/Chinatown stations, combined 1- and 2-Line headways will mean trains arrive every four to five minutes.

 Schedule and reliability adjustments accompany Crosslake 2 Line service, new Night Bus 

This month, Sound Transit is introducing several service changes that will take effect beginning March 28. These changes include the opening of the Crosslake Connection, the introduction of Night Bus service between SeaTac/Airport and Downtown Seattle, and scheduling adjustments to Link, Sounder, and ST Express service. 

Link 1 Line – Small schedule adjustments to accommodate 2 Line service.  

Link 2 Line – Judkins Park and Mercer Island stations open. 2 Line service extended across Lake Washington. 

Night Bus – Introduction of pilot Night Bus service between SeaTac/Airport, Tukwila International Boulevard, and Downtown Seattle. The Night Bus will operate as ST 570. 

Sounder S Line – Train 1507 will now depart King Street Station at 2:25 PM and will operate to Lakewood instead of terminating in Tacoma. Northbound Train 1520 will operate from Lakewood, providing a new afternoon northbound connection from Lakewood to Tacoma and on to Seattle. 

Sounder N Line – Small schedule adjustments to trains 1700, 1702, and 1706. 

ST Express – Small schedule and routing adjustments. ST Express routes will operate on existing routes and schedules until October 2026. 

For more information, including schedules and details, visit us online. Changes that affect my ride | Service changes | Sound Transit.