KING COUNTY, Wash. — On Saturday, March 28 the Crosslake Connection will open with Link light rail carrying passengers across Lake Washington for the first time.
According to Sound Transit, Crosslake trains will begin running at around 10 a.m.
The opening day celebration will start at 9 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting and street fair at Sam Smith Park, in partnership with the Northwest African American Museum.
At 10 a.m., festivities begin at the new Mercer Island Station, in partnership with the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce, as well as at nine more stations throughout the expanded Link system, until 2 p.m.
Explore the new parts of the 2 Line, from the International District to South Bellevue.
Service on both the 1 Line and 2 Line will run from about 5 a.m. to 12 a.m. seven days a week. Trains will run approximately every eight minutes at peak at the new stations, and between 10 and 15 minutes the rest of the day. Between Lynnwood City Center and International District/Chinatown stations, combined 1- and 2-Line headways will mean trains arrive every four to five minutes.
Getting to the celebration
Shuttles from Mount Baker and South Bellevue stations to the ribbon cutting will run every 15 minutes from 7-10 a.m. Lime is offering free rides on opening day with the code CROSSLAKE26.
Bicycle parking is available at all stations. The new Judkins Park Station has racks for 36 bikes, a bike room for 32 bikes, and 4 individual BikeLink lockers available on demand. On opening day, the Cascade Bicycle Club will be providing a bike valet at Judkins Park.
The new Mercer Island Station has bike racks with capacity for 50 bikes, a bike room with capacity for 20 bikes and 24 individual BikeLink lockers, available on demand.
Chances to win
Head to the celebration to play Discover. Stamp. Win! for a chance to win exciting prizes donated by event sponsors. Information about prizes and how to play is at soundtransit.org/crosslake/dsw. The first 1,000 people to turn in their completed ticket at the Welcome Tent at Sam Smith Park will receive a 1 and 2 Line reversible bucket hat provided by presenting sponsor Microsoft.
Microsoft also 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 and from Sound Transit and Microsoft ambassadors while supplies last.
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