Sound Transit picks alignment for Redmond light-rail extension

Sound Transit's board yesterday selected an elevated light-rail alignment for its Link light-rail extension in downtown Redmond, Washington.

The move brings the Redmond Link extension one step closer to the start of construction in 2019, with service slated to start in 2024, agency officials said in a press release.

The 3.4-mile alignment will run along the State Route 520 corridor from the future Redmond Technology Center Station to an at-grade southeast Redmond station near the intersection of state roads 520 and 202. From there, the extension will turn west under State Route 520 along a former BNSF Railway Co. corridor, where it will be elevated to cross Bear Creek and terminate at an elevated station at 166th Avenue Northeast and the Redmond Central Connector Trail.

The chosen alignment incorporates refinements identified through close work with the city of Redmond, the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, King County Metro Transit and the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Those features are aimed at improving service reliability and safety by separating trains from vehicle and pedestrian traffic, according to Sound Transit.

"Strong partnerships between the city of Redmond, Sound Transit and our other regional partners have enabled us to move forward with light rail in Redmond that will be a win for transit riders, drivers and pedestrians alike," said Sound Transit Board Vice Chair and Redmond Mayor John Marchione. "We look forward to breaking ground on this long-anticipated project next year."

In 2011, Sound Transit's board adopted a previously approved route to downtown Redmond as part of the larger East Link project. However, the downtown extension didn't receive funding until regional voters approved the Sound Transit 3 ballot measure.