Sound Transit’s Link light rail will carry passengers across Lake Washington for the first time on Saturday with the opening of the Crosslake Connection, and celebrations are planned at every stop.
Trains will begin running between Seattle and the Eastside at around 10 a.m. following a 9 a.m. street fair and ribbon-cutting ceremony at Sam Smith Park, across the street from the Judkins Park Station.
Events will take place at 10 stations across the expanded 2 Line from the International District to Bellevue and Redmond, lasting until 2 p.m. Here are a few tech-related highlights:
- Microsoft 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 at Sam Smith Park and from Sound Transit and Microsoft ambassadors while supplies last.
- Lime is offering free electric bike and scooter rides on opening day with the code CROSSLAKE26.
- The Seattle Orcas, the professional cricket team backed by big names in tech, will host a celebration at the Marymoor Village Station. Visitors can learn about the sport, get a picture in the photo booth with the Orcas mascot, and more.
- Microsoft is also hosting activities at the Redmond Technology Station, with entertainment, complimentary food and coffee, photo opportunities, lawn games and more.
The opening of the Crosslake Connection could alter commute habits for thousands of tech workers from Microsoft, Amazon and other companies who travel in both directions between major office hubs in Seattle, Bellevue and Redmond.
Sound Transit projects that the fully integrated 2 Line will serve about 43,000 to 52,000 daily riders in 2026.
Trains over Lake Washington will operate at speeds of 55 mph, running every 10 minutes from approximately 5 a.m. to midnight seven days a week.
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