Sound Transit is poised to finally put a date on the long-delayed East Link cross-lake connection today, a key moment that would at last send light rail across the I-90 floating bridge and close the long-standing gap between Seattle and Bellevue. The 7.4-mile segment has gone through months of testing and rework, and riders around the region have been watching closely for a firm launch day. Once the agency makes it official, that date will set off major bus-route changes and the kind of ribbon-cutting crowds the agency has drawn for previous line openings.
As reported by KING 5, Sound Transit was expected to name the opening day at a media event today. The station’s preview noted that agency leaders planned to spell out when trains will actually start gliding across Lake Washington.
What Sound Transit says about the work
According to project updates from Sound Transit, the remaining 7.4-mile Crosslake Connection runs between International District/Chinatown and South Bellevue and includes new stops at Mercer Island and Judkins Park. The agency has repeatedly warned that the floating-bridge section demanded extra engineering scrutiny and longer testing before revenue service can start, citing the unique demands of running light rail on a floating structure.
Simulated service could clear the way
Transit coverage has indicated that Sound Transit is preparing to begin simulated service within weeks, with trains running across the floating bridge as if carrying passengers. The Urbanist quoted CEO Dow Constantine as saying the agency is "increasingly confident" the work can be wrapped up ahead of earlier deadlines.
When it might open and what service will look like
In a winter newsletter, Sound Transit gave a broad promise that the Crosslake Connection will open by May 31, 2026, and laid out early service expectations. The bulletin projects four-minute peak headways between Chinatown/International District and Lynwood City Center and eight-minute headways where lines operate independently, a shift that would significantly reshape Link frequencies across the system.
Why riders care
Once the Crosslake Connection opens, riders will be able to travel on a one-seat ride between much of the Eastside and downtown Seattle instead of transferring or battling I-90 traffic. Local reporting noted that testing on the segment started in December and that officials are eager to see the line running well before Seattle’s 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, with the testing timeline and World Cup ambitions detailed by KIRO 7.
What to watch today
Sound Transit is expected to pin down a specific opening date once final simulated runs and safety checks are in the books, and today’s announcement is likely to bundle that date with details on opening-day ceremonies and the schedule for service changes. We will update this story with the official start date and the agency’s rollout plan as soon as they are released.
