On Saturday, May 10th, we were thrilled to celebrate the opening of Sound Transit’s 2 Line extension to the new Marymoor Village and Downtown Redmond stations. In 2016, volunteers, advocates, and elected leaders brought our region together to pass Sound Transit 3 at the ballot. Transportation Choices Coalition was proud to lead that campaign along with hundreds of volunteers. Now, 9 years later, the first light rail expansion from that measure has become a reality, with new stations in two fast-growing neighborhoods.
We had a blast at the opening day festivities put on by Move Redmond in downtown Redmond. We gave away 2,500 limited-edition keychains sponsored by Jacobs, one of the engineering firms that led on this project. We also talked to hundreds of people about what these new transit connections would mean for them. Meet some of them below and read their stories.
Yara, recent Redmond resident
What inspired you to come out to this event today?
“We were just excited about the train coming! We recently moved from Newcastle to Redmond, and this means a lot.
My commute used to be about 45 minutes on 405 — to go six miles! Now it’s down to 10 minutes. I can take the train to downtown Bellevue and not have to find parking. That’s huge.
I’m a big fan of transit — I’d love to see more of it. Cars take up so much time, and lives, and space. Just being able to go somewhere without worrying about parking — and knowing it’s good for the environment — that’s everything.”
Eric, driving instructor
What does having this new light rail option mean to you?
“I’m a driving instructor here in Washington, and it’s great to have another option for people — especially those moving here to work for big tech companies.
Getting more people off the road means less stress for everyone. Light rail helps connect everything, and it really helps reduce the pressure and traffic, especially going across the bridges.”
Rivender, longtime transit rider
What’s your connection to public transportation in this area?
“I moved from India to the Redmond area 28 years ago, and at the time I wasn’t driving — so I relied entirely on public transport. For four years, I took the bus everywhere. Even now, whenever I can, I still take transit.
We’re just waiting for the Seattle connection — across the bridge!”
Norberto, commuter
How do you use transit in your life, and how is this expansion making a difference?
“I live really close to the Marymoor Park station — maybe a mile and a half — and now it stops right where I work, at the Bel-Red station. That’s very helpful for me. I can just park and ride, and I don’t have to drive every day or worry about parking. It’s amazing.”
Sam, Bellevue-area commuter
How has this new light rail extension added to your life?
“It just makes it more convenient to get to and from work. I use it pretty much daily. It’s faster, I don’t have to drive or figure out other ways to get there — it really saves time.
What I’d like to see more of are better ways to get to the main light rail routes — more community connections to the system.”
Heather, Mobility Manager at Hopelink
What has this new station meant to you personally and professionally
“I live in Redmond and work at Hopelink as a Mobility Manager — so I know how important transit is in this area.
I’ve been so excited for the station to open! I even got a bike just to ride down and make that connection — and then I got an e-bike so I can zip back up the hill.
I can’t wait until it crosses I-90 and eventually goes to Issaquah. I’ll be around — I’m committed!
I’d love to see even more trail connections and safer bike lanes. There’s support now, but we need even safer infrastructure.”
Henry Bendon, Public Information Officer at Sound Transit
What does this new station mean for the Eastside?
“It’s phenomenal. When you look at downtown Redmond — especially the way the city has built out around the station — it’s clear what a difference this is for the Eastside.
It’s hard to describe how transformative infrastructure is in a quote, but when you’re literally standing underneath it, looking at the buildings around it, the 5,000 people who are going to live here, where this would have otherwise been parking lots and malls, and very auto-oriented infrastructure — now it’s something else entirely. It’s hard not to get excited.”
Sarah, 16-year-old rider, and her mother Elizabeth
How does having access to this new station impact your life?
Sarah: “I’m 16 and I don’t have a license yet — but because I can take transit, like anywhere I need to go — I don’t feel a need to get it yet.
Elizabeth: It saves our family money! (they laugh) … it’s better for the environment, and it’s so much better than being isolated in your car all the time.”
Vivek, 19-year-old lifelong Redmond resident
What does expanded transit mean to you?
“This development has been going on half my life — that’s not an exaggeration.
I see high-quality public transport. I see Redmond turning into a beautiful city. And it means a lot to me as a lifelong resident.”
Vijay and Liz, local couple and transit enthusiasts
What are you excited about with this new light rail connection?
Vijay: “I can’t wait to take the light rail from downtown Redmond into Seattle — to catch a Kraken game or a concert. And I’m super excited about that because I think it’s so much easier than having to drive in myself.”
Liz: “I’m so excited that my husband can leave the Microsoft campus, take the train into downtown Redmond, meet us after our daughter’s art class, and go to dinner.”
Genesis, recent transplant from San Francisco
What would make transit here work better for you?
“Coming from San Francisco, transit here is just… nothing alike. It’s almost easier to just drive, but I’d rather take the bus — it’s a lot of fun.
It would be amazing to have more stops closer to Sammamish, and if they ran more often, I’d take the bus just for an outing. It’s nice, it saves gas, and honestly… I love public transportation! I just wish there were more accessibility so more people could manage it.”
Jacqueline
What does it mean to you to see more transit in this area?
“I’m excited to see our transit expanding more and more. Providing transportation to the public is the key to making a city grow and blossom into a beautiful place to live.
A walkable, complete city is where people should all be living. I’m excited to see Redmond move up — with public transit, walkable trails, and new bike lanes. I’m really excited to see it.”
Tejaswi and family
What kind of difference does this new station make in your life?
“The ease of moving from one place to another — that’s everything. Having a mass transit system that’s super convenient and within walking distance from your apartment is just so helpful.
You can hop on a train, head to downtown Bellevue, run your errands or get to your office, and come back — all easily.
Before, we had to go to a different stop, transfer trains… but now? It’s just so convenient. I love this.”
Colton Davis, Community Transit
How does transit improve your life?
“It allows me to go car-free when I want to. It reduces my impact on the environment — but more importantly, it gets me from point A to point B in a reliable way, something I can always count on. That’s meaningful.
Without transit, so many people would be impacted. Our economy wouldn’t run the same. Goods and services wouldn’t move the way they do without people being able to get to places like downtown Redmond, Lynnwood, or Seattle. It’s empowering — and impactful.
What I’d love to see more of? Frequency. Eight-minute headways, trains that aren’t overcrowded, and stations with amenities like coffee shops or small markets. If transit isn’t as fast or convenient as driving, people won’t switch. That’s why frequency matters.”
Rachel
How does having access to transit benefit you personally?
“Having access to light rail is wonderful. I can now go directly to Bellevue and visit my grandmother more often.
I use the bus regularly — it’s my standard. I’ll keep using buses until the light rail crosses the lake.
I absolutely rely on the combination of bus and light rail. It’s how I get around.”
