The Eastside’s 2 Line has opened two new light rail stations in Redmond—Downtown Redmond and Marymoor Village—welcoming a new era of transportation for the city. Operating from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., the 2 Line will run every 10 minutes, connecting downtown Redmond to South Bellevue. An extension linking Redmond to Seattle will begin service this winter.
These light rail stations signal Redmond’s shift from a car-dependent model to a European-inspired city design, focused on denser neighborhoods, affordable housing, and a more interconnected public transit network.
Redmond’s need for improved transportation is clear: the city’s population doubles daily as workers and students commute in, with 9 out of 10 not living in the city. To address this, the city has relaxed zoning laws around light rail stations, allowing for buildings up to 12 stories tall and eliminating parking requirements. This has already led to 5,000 new units near the downtown station, with 4,000 more in progress, while Marymoor station has seen 1,200 units completed, with 200 more underway.
This shift in development strategy has been in the works for almost two decades. In 2008, Redmond faced a challenge – its downtown area was largely empty, offering little to attract visitors. Voters then approved the Sound Transit 2 ballot measure which added 36 miles to the regional transit system. Although Redmond was not initially included, the city pushed for studies to plan for future extensions. In 2016, voters approved a second measure, allocating $54 billion to expand the system further.
These strategic developments align with Redmond’s long-term vision for growth. In 2024, the City Council unanimously passed a 20-year growth plan focused on creating dense, walkable neighborhoods and abundant public spaces around the new transit hubs.
This post was based on information found on The Seattle Times.
Photo credit: Ken Lambert
