South Bellevue Park and Ride closed for next 5 years

BELLEVUE, Wash. — The South Bellevue Park and Ride has closed Tuesday and will remain that way for the next five years.

Work crews started arriving early Tuesday.

The closure is part of the project to bring light rail to the Eastside.

Crews are using the massive lot as a primary staging and construction site for the East Link extension, so no one will be able to park there.

"I mean, I come here when this thing is full. I believe it's to the point that it's been so full people literally have to leave the park and ride because there's no parking,” said driver Adam Rubeck.

It’s the second lot to shut down for the project. The Overlake Transit Center in Redmond closed about a month ago.

Though there will be no bus service at the park and ride, Sound Transit says buses will stop nearby at Bellevue Way.

The new light rail station should open in 2023.

Several nearby churches are offering their parking lots to commuters to try and help offset the loss of so many spaces.  To find nearby park and ride options during East Link construction, follow this link.

The lots are served by existing bus routes to the South Bellevue or Overlake Transit Center park-and-ride sites with connecting bus service to many of the same destinations.

Cox Media Group