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A map of the Link light rail system and its future extensions

The Link light rail system serves the Seattle metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Washington and is operated by Sound Transit. It consists of 43 stations on three unconnected light rail lines in King and Pierce counties: the 1 Line from Seattle to SeaTac; the 2 Line from Bellevue to Redmond; and the T Line in Tacoma.[1][2]

The first Link segment began service on August 23, 2003, with the opening of five stations on the 1.6-mile-long (2.6 km) Tacoma Link (now the T Line).[3] The initial, 14-mile-long (23 km) segment of Central Link (now the 1 Line) with 12 stations was opened from Seattle to Tukwila on July 18, 2009, and was later extended 1.7 miles (2.7 km) to the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport on December 19, 2009.[4][5] The first infill station of the Link system was Commerce Street/South 11th Street station on the T Line, which opened on September 15, 2011.[6] The 1 Line was extended north 3.15 miles (5.07 km) to the University of Washington on March 19, 2016, and 1.6 miles (2.6 km) south to Angle Lake station on September 24, 2016.[7][8] A northern extension to Northgate station with three stations opened on October 2, 2021.[9] The T Line was extended 2.4 miles (3.9 km) in September 2023 with six new stations and one relocated stop.[10] The first section of the 2 Line opened on April 27, 2024, with eight stations in Bellevue and Redmond.[11] Four stations were added to the 1 Line on August 30, 2024, as it was extended to Lynnwood.[12]

As of 2024, Sound Transit is building extensions of the Link network that will open between 2025 and 2027 with 12 new stations.[13][14] Among these are extensions of the 2 Line to Seattle and Downtown Redmond and an extension of the 1 Line south to Federal Way.[15] These extensions are planned to add an additional 30 miles (48 km) to the light rail network, carrying an estimated 280,000 daily riders by 2030.[16][17]

Further expansions approved by Sound Transit 3 in 2016 are planned to expand the light rail network by 58 miles (93 km) and 39 stations to a total of 116 miles (187 km) of track and 83 stations by 2044, carrying 500,000 daily passengers.[18][19] The light rail network will include lines to Ballard and West Seattle in Seattle in 2039 and 2032, respectively; Kirkland and Issaquah on the Eastside in 2044; and extensions to Everett and Tacoma in 2041 and 2032, respectively. Three infill stations in Seattle and Tukwila will also be built as part of the Sound Transit 3 program.[13][19]

All 1 Line and 2 Line stations are built with 380-to-400-foot-long (120 to 120 m), 14-inch-high (0.36 m) platforms, arranged in the center or sides of the two tracks, with capacity to handle a four-car train with 95-foot-long (29 m) vehicles;[20][21][22] T Line stations are built with 90-foot-long (27 m), 8-inch-high (0.20 m) platforms that can accommodate a one-car train measuring 66 feet (20 m) in length.[23] The majority of stations are built at-grade on the surface, with the platform elevated slightly above street level; there are also elevated stations and underground stations that include mezzanines (with the exception of Mount Baker station) with access the platform from the surface as well as ticket vending machines and bicycle facilities.[24][25] Only four current stations (Angle Lake, Northgate, Tacoma Dome Station, and Tukwila International Boulevard) have public park and rides;[26][27][28] planned stations on the suburban extensions of Link will incorporate new or existing park and rides.[17][29]

All stations include works of public art as part of the "STart" program, which requires one percent of station construction funds go to art installations.[30] The stations are named in accordance to facility naming guidelines that include using surrounding neighborhoods and street names, avoiding words used by existing facility names, and being limited to 30 characters in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.[31] Stations are also required by state law to be identified by simple pictograms,[32][33] known as "Stellar Connections", that are used in station signage, maps and other printed materials as a wayfinding aid; the icons are composed of points that correspond with local landmarks near Link stations, while also forming a picture that represents the station's identity.[34][35]

Stations

Key
† Terminal station
Current Link light rail stations
Station Line[2] Location[36] Opened Weekday ridership[n 1]
6th Avenue T Line Hilltop, Tacoma September 16, 2023[10] —
Angle Lake † 1 Line SeaTac September 24, 2016[8] 3,809
Beacon Hill 1 Line Beacon Hill, Seattle July 18, 2009[4] 3,151
Bellevue Downtown 2 Line Downtown Bellevue April 27, 2024[39] —
BelRed 2 Line Bel-Red, Bellevue April 27, 2024[39] —
Capitol Hill 1 Line Capitol Hill, Seattle March 19, 2016[40] 8,408
Columbia City 1 Line Columbia City, Seattle July 18, 2009[4] 2,961
Convention Center/S 15th St T Line Downtown Tacoma August 23, 2003[3] 564
East Main 2 Line Surrey Downs, Bellevue April 27, 2024[39] —
Hilltop District T Line Hilltop, Tacoma September 16, 2023[10] —
International District/Chinatown[n 2] 1 Line Chinatown-International District, Seattle July 18, 2009[4][n 3] 7,461
Lynnwood City Center † 1 Line Lynnwood August 30, 2024[12] —
Mount Baker 1 Line Mount Baker, Seattle July 18, 2009[4] 2,718
Mountlake Terrace 1 Line Mountlake Terrace August 30, 2024[12] —
Northgate 1 Line Northgate, Seattle October 2, 2021[9] —
Old City Hall T Line Downtown Tacoma September 16, 2023[10] —
Othello 1 Line NewHolly, Seattle July 18, 2009[4] 2,940
Overlake Village 2 Line Overlake, Redmond April 27, 2024[39] —
Pioneer Square 1 Line Pioneer Square, Seattle July 18, 2009[4][n 3] 4,764
Rainier Beach 1 Line Rainier Beach, Seattle July 18, 2009[4] 2,235
Redmond Technology † 2 Line Overlake, Redmond April 27, 2024[39] —
Roosevelt 1 Line Roosevelt, Seattle October 2, 2021[9] —
SeaTac/Airport 1 Line SeaTac December 19, 2009[5] 5,640
Shoreline North/185th 1 Line Shoreline August 30, 2024[12] —
Shoreline South/148th 1 Line Shoreline August 30, 2024[12] —
SODO 1 Line SoDo, Seattle July 18, 2009[4] 2,552
South 4th T Line Stadium District, Tacoma September 16, 2023[10] —
South 25th T Line Tacoma August 23, 2003[3] 878
South Bellevue † 2 Line Bel-Red, Bellevue April 27, 2024[39] —
St. Joseph † T Line Hilltop, Tacoma September 16, 2023[10] —
Stadium 1 Line SoDo, Seattle July 18, 2009[4] 1,287
Stadium District T Line Stadium District, Tacoma September 16, 2023[10] —
Symphony[n 4] 1 Line Downtown Seattle July 18, 2009[4][n 3] 6,241
Tacoma Dome † T Line Tacoma August 23, 2003[3] 2,110
Tacoma General T Line Hilltop, Tacoma September 16, 2023[10] —
Theater District[n 5] T Line Downtown Tacoma September 15, 2011[6] 1,051
Tukwila International Boulevard 1 Line Tukwila July 18, 2009[4] 2,819
U District 1 Line University District, Seattle October 2, 2021[9] —
Union Station/S 19th St T Line Downtown Tacoma August 23, 2003[3] 1,433
University of Washington 1 Line University District, Seattle March 19, 2016[40] 11,200
Westlake 1 Line Downtown Seattle July 18, 2009[4][n 3] 12,594
Wilburton 2 Line Wilburton, Bellevue April 27, 2024[39] —

Former stations

Former and closed Link light rail stations
Station Line[2] Location[36] Opened Closed Weekday ridership[n 1]
Theater District/S 9th St[n 6] T Line Downtown Tacoma August 23, 2003[3] August 1, 2022[45] 995

Stations under construction

As of 2024, Sound Transit has two light rail projects under construction that will expand the network to 62 miles (100 km) by 2026:[14] the western segment of the 2 Line scheduled to open in 2025 with two new stations; the Downtown Redmond Link Extension, scheduled to open in 2025 with two stations in Redmond on the 2 Line;[15] and the Federal Way Link Extension, scheduled to open in 2026 with three stations on the 1 Line.[46]

Key
† Terminal station
Link light rail stations under construction
Station Line/Extension Location[36] Began construction Projected completion
Downtown Redmond † 2 Line – Downtown Redmond Extension Downtown Redmond 2019[47] 2025[48]
Federal Way Downtown † 1 Line – Federal Way Extension Federal Way 2020[49] 2026[50]
Judkins Park 2 Line Central District, Seattle 2016[16] 2025[48]
Kent Des Moines 1 Line – Federal Way Extension Midway, Kent 2020[49] 2026[50]
Marymoor Village 2 Line – Downtown Redmond Extension Redmond 2019[47] 2025[48]
Mercer Island 2 Line Mercer Island 2016[16] 2025[48]
NE 130th Street 1 Line – Lynnwood Extension Pinehurst, Seattle 2019[51] 2026[52]
Star Lake 1 Line – Federal Way Extension Federal Way 2020[49] 2026[50]

Planned and funded stations

The Sound Transit 3 program, approved by voters in 2016, will expand the Link light rail network to over 116 miles (187 km) and 70 stations when completed in 2044. Other sections of the Sound Transit 2 program, approved by voters in 2008, are anticipated to be complete by 2024.[19]

Key
† Terminal station
* Infill station
Planned Link light rail stations
Station[n 7] Line/Extension Location[36] Projected completion[53]
Ainsworth T Line – TCC Extension Tacoma 2041
Alaska Junction † 3 Line – West Seattle Extension West Seattle Junction, Seattle 2032[54]
Ash Way 3 Line – Everett Extension Lynnwood 2037[55]
Avalon 3 Line – West Seattle Extension West Seattle, Seattle 2032[54]
Ballard † 1 Line – Ballard Extension Ballard, Seattle 2039[54]
Boeing Access Road * 1 Line Tukwila 2031
Central Issaquah † 4 Line Issaquah 2044[56]
Delridge 3 Line – West Seattle Extension Delridge, Seattle 2032[54]
Denny 1 Line – Ballard Extension Denny Triangle, Seattle 2037[54]
East Tacoma 1 Line – Tacoma Dome Extension Tacoma 2032[57]
Eastgate 4 Line Eastgate, Bellevue 2044[56]
Everett † 3 Line – Everett Extension Downtown Everett 2041[55]
Fife 1 Line – Tacoma Dome Extension Fife 2032[57]
Graham * 1 Line Brighton, Seattle 2031
Interbay 1 Line – Ballard Extension Interbay, Seattle 2039[54]
Lakemont[n 8] 4 Line Issaquah 2044[56]
Mariner 3 Line – Everett Extension Everett 2037[55]
Midtown 1 Line – Ballard Extension Downtown Seattle 2037[54]
Pearl T Line – TCC Extension Tacoma 2041
Richards Road 4 Line Factoria, Bellevue 2044[56]
Seattle Center 1 Line – Ballard Extension Lower Queen Anne, Seattle 2037[54]
Smith Cove † 1 Line – Ballard Extension Interbay, Seattle 2037[54]
South Federal Way 1 Line – Tacoma Dome Extension Federal Way 2032[57]
South Kirkland † 4 Line Kirkland 2044[56]
South Lake Union 1 Line – Ballard Extension South Lake Union, Seattle 2037[54]
Sprague T Line – TCC Extension Tacoma 2041
SR 99/Airport Road[n 8] 3 Line – Everett Extension Everett 2041[55]
SR 526/Evergreen 3 Line – Everett Extension Everett 2041[55]
Stevens T Line – TCC Extension Tacoma 2041
SW Everett Industrial Center † 3 Line – Everett Extension Everett 2037[55]
Tacoma Community College † T Line – TCC Extension Tacoma 2041
Tacoma Dome † 1 Line – Tacoma Dome Extension Tacoma 2032[57]
Union T Line – TCC Extension Tacoma 2041
West Alderwood 3 Line – Everett Extension Lynnwood 2037[55]

Deferred and unbuilt stations

Deferred and unbuilt Link Light Rail stations
Station[n 9] Line/Extension Location[36] Deferred/Deleted
220th Street SW 1 Line – Lynnwood Extension Mountlake Terrace April 23, 2015[58][59]
First Hill 1 Line – University Extension First Hill, Seattle July 28, 2005[60]

Notes

  1. ^ a b 1 Line ridership is calculated from Q4 2019 (the last data gained before the COVID-19 Pandemic), while T Line ridership is calculated from 2015.[37][38]
  2. ^ International District/Chinatown station was renamed from International District station by the Metropolitan King County Council on October 19, 2004.[41]
  3. ^ a b c d Stations in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel opened on September 15, 1990 to bus service and were rebuilt for light rail from 2005 to 2007.[42] Light rail service to these stations began with the rest of Central Link on July 18, 2009.[4]
  4. ^ Symphony station was renamed from University Street station on August 30, 2024.[43]
  5. ^ Originally named Commerce Street/South 11th Street until 2023.[44]
  6. ^ Theater District/South 9th Street station was closed in 2022 as part of a planned extension of the T Line, which relocated the platform to Old City Hall station.[45]
  7. ^ Station names are for planning purposes and subject to change.
  8. ^ a b Provisional station that is not funded under the Sound Transit 3 plan.
  9. ^ Stations were not given official names by the Sound Transit Board prior to their deferral.

References

  1. ^ "Modes of service". Sound Transit. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Sound Transit current service (PDF) (Map). Sound Transit. August 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  3. ^ Beekman, Daniel (March 19, 2016). "Capitol Hill, UW light-rail stations open to big crowds". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on January 1, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Light rail service to Angle Lake starts Sept. 24" (Press release). Sound Transit. August 24, 2016. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d Lindblom, Mike; Baruchman, Michelle (October 2, 2021). "New light-rail stations now open at U District, Roosevelt and Northgate". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Sailor, Craig (September 14, 2023). "Tacoma Link doubles in length Saturday. Sound Transit isn't delivering what they promised". The News Tribune. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  7. ^ Lindblom, Mike; Kroman, David (April 27, 2024). "Eastside light rail line opens as huge crowds try out the ride". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e Deshais, Nicholas; Lindblom, Mike (August 30, 2024). "New Sound Transit light rail stations draw big crowds for first trips". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Sound Transit future service (PDF) (Map). Sound Transit. August 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "2023 System Expansion Progress Report" (PDF). Sound Transit. March 2023. p. 8. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Lindblom, Mike (August 24, 2023). "Eastside-only light rail should open in March, Sound Transit says". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  12. ^ a b c "Sound Transit kicks off East Link light rail construction" (Press release). Sound Transit. April 22, 2016. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  13. ^ a b "Lynnwood Link moves into final design" (Press release). Sound Transit. April 11, 2016. Archived from the original on May 15, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  14. ^ "Pierce County 2019 Regional Report" (PDF). Sound Transit. January 2019. p. 8. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c Lindblom, Mike; Baruchman, Michelle (August 15, 2021). "Sound Transit faces a $6.5 billion shortfall. Here's what it might do". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  16. ^ "Four new light rail cars proposed for Sound Transit's Airport Link extension" (Press release). Sound Transit. October 20, 2005. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  17. ^ "Chapter 2: Link Initial Segment/Airport Link System Description". Central Link Operations Plan - Westlake to SeaTac/Airport (PDF) (Report). Sound Transit. July 29, 2008. p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 29, 2016 – via Global Telematics.
  18. ^ "East Link Extension: Light Rail 101" (PDF). Sound Transit. June 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  19. ^ Parsons Brinckerhoff (March 2005). "3.3.2 Station Platforms". Tacoma Link Integration with Central Link (PDF) (Report). Sound Transit. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  20. ^ "Link light rail stations". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on August 3, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  21. ^ "ORCA Ticket Vending Machines" (PDF). ORCA. March 22, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  22. ^ Lindblom, Mike (January 11, 2010). "Seattle to allow all-day parking lots near light-rail stations, after all". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  23. ^ "Tacoma Link light rail Stations". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  24. ^ Lindblom, Mike (July 27, 2016). "Light rail's Angle Lake Station in SeaTac nears the finish line". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  25. ^ Chen, Natasha (March 29, 2016). "Parking problems intensify around light rail stations as more riders hop on". KIRO 7 News. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  26. ^ "STart Public Art Program". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  27. ^ "Resolution No. R2012-02: Facility and Link System Naming Policy – Staff Report" (PDF). Sound Transit. February 23, 2012. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 2, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  28. ^ Cohen, Aubrey (March 31, 2014). "Help design pictograms for new Sound Transit stations". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  29. ^ "RCW 81.112.190: Requirements for signage". Revised Code of Washington. Washington State Legislature. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  30. ^ "Stellar Connections". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  31. ^ "Stellar Connections: The story of the pictograms at Link light rail stations" (PDF). Sound Transit. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 8, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  32. ^ a b c d e Growing Transit Communities Oversight Committee (October 2013). "Transit Community Profiles". Puget Sound Regional Council. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  33. ^ "2019 Q4 Service Delivery Quarterly Performance Report" (PDF). Sound Transit. July 13, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  34. ^ "Appendix D: Stop Level Ridership Data". 2016 Service Implementation Plan (PDF) (Report). Sound Transit. December 2015. pp. 169–170. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 29, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  35. ^ a b "University Link light rail extension opens March 19" (Press release). Sound Transit. January 26, 2016. Archived from the original on January 27, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  36. ^ "King County Ordinance 15074: Renaming of the International District station" (PDF). Metropolitan King County Council. October 19, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 2, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  37. ^ Crowley, Walt (October 1, 2000). "Bus service begins in downtown Seattle transit tunnel on September 15, 1990". HistoryLink. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  38. ^ Lindblom, Mike (August 6, 2024). "This Seattle light rail station is getting renamed, clearing confusion". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  39. ^ "Sound Transit Motion No. M2017-118" (PDF). Sound Transit. November 16, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 20, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  40. ^ a b Sailor, Craig (October 11, 2022). "Tacoma street cars return to the rails Tuesday after 10-week absence". The News Tribune. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  41. ^ Lindblom, Mike (May 26, 2023). "Wetlands bridge adds delay and $72 million to light-rail project". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  42. ^ a b Metzger, Katie (October 23, 2019). "Breaking ground on the Downtown Redmond Link Extension". The Platform. Sound Transit. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  43. ^ a b c d Belman, Brooke (August 24, 2023). "Get ready for new Link service on the Eastside next spring". The Platform. Sound Transit. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  44. ^ a b c "Sound Transit breaks ground on Federal Way Link Extension" (Press release). Sound Transit. July 16, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  45. ^ Lindblom, Mike (August 5, 2021). "Two light-rail stations in Seattle escape ST3 budget chopping, most other projects delayed". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  46. ^ "Realigned Capital Program Pursuant to Sound Transit Board action of August 5, 2021" (PDF). Sound Transit. August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  47. ^ "Sound Transit Resolution No. 2015-05" (PDF). Sound Transit. April 23, 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 2, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  48. ^ "Sound Transit Resolution No. R2005-20" (PDF). Sound Transit. July 28, 2005. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 2, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Link_light_rail_stations