Sound Transit is launching simulated service for the stretch of light rail across Lake Washington via Interstate 90 on Feb. 14.
SEATTLE — Beginning Saturday, riders will be able to board 2 Line light rail trains between Lynnwood City Center and International District/Chinatown Station, though service will not yet continue across Lake Washington.
Sound Transit is launching simulated service for the stretch of light rail across Lake Washington via Interstate 90 on Feb. 14, allowing passengers to ride 2 Line test trains through the shared corridor with the 1 Line as part of final testing before the “Crosslake Connection” opens March 28.
During this phase, all riders on 2 Line trains must exit at International District/Chinatown Station. Trains will continue onto the closed lake crossing segment for testing, and passengers traveling farther south will need to wait for a 1 Line train toward SEA Airport or Federal Way.
The added 2 Line trains will run between regular 1 Line trains from Lynnwood to International District/Chinatown and back, increasing frequency through the downtown Seattle transit tunnel to as often as every four minutes during weekday peak periods and about every five minutes for most of the day. Service hours on the Eastside segment between Downtown Redmond and South Bellevue will also be extended until midnight.
The simulated service is designed to mirror future operations once the Crosslake Connection opens, completing the 2 Line across Lake Washington and fully linking Seattle and the Eastside.
When that segment opens, the 2 Line is expected to operate between Lynnwood and Redmond, interlining with the 1 Line through downtown Seattle.
West Seattle, Ballard projects in development
Meanwhile, longer-term expansion projects remain in development.
The West Seattle Link Extension has completed environmental review and is advancing engineering and cost-saving evaluations after updated estimates exceeded the project’s financial plan.
The Ballard Link Extension is still in environmental review, with a Draft Environmental Impact Statement expected in 2026 and a Final EIS anticipated in 2027 as design and cost analyses continue.