Transit, including light rail, is free for riders 18 and younger thanks to Move Ahead Washington, a statewide transportation funding package. All youth ages 6-18 qualify for a free Youth ORCA card that can be used for rides on all participating transit agencies, including Metro and Sound Transit.

Youth ORCA cards can be requested online and mailed to your home address (proof of age, such as a student ID card, required) or at an ORCA neighborhood pop-up location. Youth without an ORCA card can present their Student ID to the driver as they board and to any transit official upon request. Using a Youth ORCA card allows transit agencies to better understand how many young people are riding transit, including where and when.

Parents, are your teens ready to ride transit on their own? Remind them of these general rules before they head out:

Be aware of your surroundings
Be courteous and respectful of other riders
Use headphones and keep music and videos at a low volume
Share your location with a parent/guardian

For teens ready to ride transit independently, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Plan your trip: Plan your trip to find the best route(s) and track your upcoming bus or light rail arrival. Use Metro’s trip planning tools (or Google Maps) to find the best route and schedule for your day. Arrive at your stop a few minutes early. Always have a plan for how you will return home, too.

Tap your Youth ORCA card: Tap your ORCA card on the card reader inside when boarding the bus, or on the dock or platform before boarding light rail. If you don’t have an ORCA card, youth can always just get on board.

Be ready for your stop: On buses, pull the yellow cord or press a red stop button when approaching your stop to alert the driver. Exit through the bus’s back doors, if possible. Light rail trains stop at all scheduled stops, so be ready to get off when your stop is next.

Overlake School Students in 7^th and 8^th grades wrote a blog for teens riding the 2 Line. Check out their notes and recommendations for things to do here.

King County Metro and Sound Transit have been preparing for light rail by adjusting bus routes to better serve these stations. Below is a list of stations in Redmond and information on which buses serve each of these locations.

Downtown Redmond Station

Route	Timetable & Map	Typical Weekday Frequency	General Travel Description
222	https://kingcounty.gov/metro/222	Frequent (10–15 min)	Connects Overlake Village, Idylwood, Education Hill, and Downtown Redmond
223	https://kingcounty.gov/metro/223	Moderate (~20–30 min)	Eastgate Park & Ride ↔ Downtown Redmond via Bellevue
224	https://kingcounty.gov/metro/224	Limited (≈60 min)	Duvall ↔ Redmond neighborhoods
250	https://kingcounty.gov/metro/250	Frequent (15 min peak); Moderate off-peak	Avondale / Bear Creek ↔ Redmond ↔ Kirkland ↔ Bellevue
545	https://soundtransit.org/545	Peak (15–30 min)	Redmond ↔ Downtown Seattle via SR-520
RapidRide B Line	https://kingcounty.gov/metro/rapidride/b-line	Frequent (10–15 min)	Downtown Redmond ↔ Bellevue Transit Center
DART 930	https://kingcounty.gov/metro/930	Limited (~60 min, evenings)	Kirkland–Redmond local coverage with flexible routing

Marymoor Village Station

1,400 commuter parking spaces are available on a first come, first served basis at the station.

Route	Timetable & Map	Typical Weekday Frequency	General Travel Description
222	https://kingcounty.gov/metro/222	Frequent (10–15 min)	Redmond ↔ Overlake Village / Downtown Redmond
224	https://kingcounty.gov/metro/224	Limited (≈60 min)	Duvall ↔ Redmond
250	https://kingcounty.gov/metro/250	Frequent (15 min peak)	Avondale / Bear Creek ↔ Downtown Redmond
269	https://kingcounty.gov/metro/269	Frequent (≈15 min)	Southeast Redmond / Bear Creek ↔ Marymoor Village
545	https://soundtransit.org/545	Peak (15–30 min)	Redmond ↔ Downtown Seattle
DART 930	https://kingcounty.gov/metro/930	Limited (≈60 min, evenings)	Local Kirkland–Redmond coverage

Overlake Technology Station

323 commuter parking spaces are available on a first come, first served basis at the Overlake Technology Station.

Route	Timetable & Map	Typical Weekday Frequency	General Travel Description
222	https://kingcounty.gov/metro/222	Frequent (10–15 min)	Downtown Redmond ↔ Overlake Village / Education Hill
225	https://kingcounty.gov/metro/225	Frequent (10–15 min peak)	Kenmore ↔ Kirkland ↔ Overlake ↔ Redmond
245	https://kingcounty.gov/metro/245	Moderate (15–30 min)	Kirkland ↔ Overlake ↔ Eastgate
542	https://soundtransit.org/542	Peak (15–30 min)	Redmond / Overlake ↔ Downtown Seattle
545	https://soundtransit.org/545	Peak (15–30 min)	Redmond ↔ Downtown Seattle
566	https://soundtransit.org/566	Peak (30 min)	Redmond / Overlake ↔ Auburn
RapidRide B Line	https://kingcounty.gov/metro/rapidride/b-line	Frequent (10–15 min)	Downtown Redmond ↔ Bellevue Transit Center
895	https://soundtransit.org/895	Peak (≈30 min)	Regional express to Eastside tech centers
982	https://kingcounty.gov/metro/982	Limited / reservation-based	Special-purpose commuter service

Overlake Village Station

203 parking spaces are available at the Overlake Village Park & Ride (2560 152nd Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052) which is a 6 minute/.3 mile walk from the light rail station.

Route	Timetable & Map	Typical Weekday Frequency	General Travel Description
222	https://kingcounty.gov/metro/222	Frequent (10–15 min)	Overlake Village ↔ Downtown Redmond
223	https://kingcounty.gov/metro/223	Moderate (~20–30 min)	Bellevue / Eastgate ↔ Redmond
895	https://soundtransit.org/895	Peak (~30 min)	Regional express serving Eastside employment areas

Plan Your Trip with Metro Trip Planner

Redmond has more ways to get around than ever before—and not all of them involve driving alone. All these options can be confusing for the unfamiliar, so Go Redmond is here to help break it down.

Whether you’re commuting to work, heading to light rail, or running errands around town, there’s likely a transportation option that fits your trip, schedule, and budget. Here’s a quick guide to help you choose what works best.

Service	Cost	Who Can Use It	Where in Redmond?	What It’s For	Key Differences
Metro Flex	~$3 (ORCA card)	General public	Overlake	On-demand rides in Overlake	App-based, flexible routing, fills transit gaps
Metro Community Van	~$2.75–$3 (ORCA card)	Groups (2+), advance booking	Citywide, parked at Hopelink & Marymoor Village Community Center	Group trips for errands or events	Volunteer driver, pre-scheduled
RedLink	Free	General Public	Downtown, parts of Education Hill & Willows Road	Short trips + light rail access	Free, small service area
Lime Scooters & E-bikes	~$3–$10 per trip (varies)	General Public	Citywide	Quick, short-distance trips	Fast & flexible,charged a per-minute cost
Vanpool	~$49/month	Regular commuters in a group	Citywide	Home-to-work commuting	Fixed schedule, lowest cost per commute

Transit Mode Details:

Metro Flex: On-demand, flexible transit when fixed bus routes don't work well

Metro Flex is an on-demand, shared ride service like a public Uber that operates within a defined zone. You request a ride via app or phone, walk to a nearby pickup point, and share the ride with others.

In Redmond, this is currently only available in the Overlake neighborhood.

Costs the same as a bus fare (typically $3 adult)
If you use your ORCA card, you can transfer for free to or from a bus or light rail.
Open to the general public in service zones
Designed for short local trips and first/last mile connections to transit
Metro Flex – King County, Washington

Metro Flex Service Area in Redmond — MetroFlex’s Redmond service area is in the Overlake neighborhood

Community Van: Community-organized group trips where transit doesn’t exist

Community Van is a pre-scheduled, group-based service coordinated by a local partner (in Redmond, that is Hopelink). Community Van provides six-passenger and 12-passenger vans for prescheduled trips. Destinations can be anywhere within a two-hour drive of Redmond and can occur any day of the week 24 hours a day.

Costs the same as a Metro bus fare ($3; youth free)
Open to anyone, but requires:
- At least 2 riders
- Advance booking (≥2 days)
Trips are driven by volunteer drivers who must first complete a short training
Sign Up for Community Van

RedLink: Free neighborhood shuttle for short trips and light rail access

RedLink is a free, on-demand microtransit shuttle launched by the City of Redmond that is run by Circuit.

Free to ride
Open to residents and visitors within the service area
Book via app to be picked up and taken for short trips.
Rides may be shared with other riders shared rides; short trips
Primary goal: connect neighborhoods to light rail and local destinations
Download the RedLink/Circuit App

Lime Scooters & E-bikes: Fast, flexible micromobility

Shared micromobility (dockless scooters and bikes) available across Redmond.

Pay per ride (unlock fee + per-minute or bundled pricing)
Typical cost:
- ~$1 unlock + ~$0.25–$0.47/min
- ~20-min ride ≈ $3–$10 depending on pricing model
- Discounts available for low income residents and frequent users
Open to anyone with a smartphone
Best for short, spontaneous trips and first/last mile connections
Lime Scooter app

Vanpool: Cost Effective Group Commuting Option

A shared commuter van for people traveling similar routes.

Monthly cost: ~$49 per rider, often subsidized by employers
Requires a group, typically 5–15 people
Fixed schedule and route such as between home and work
Vehicle provided by King County Metro and can be used by the driver for some personal trips.
Find a vanpool

“What Should I Use?” Decision Guide

Going to light rail? RedLink, Metro Flex, or Lime

Quick errand? RedLink or Lime

Daily commute? Vanpool

Traveling with a group? Community Van

Trying a new way to get around—even once or twice a week—can save money, reduce stress, and help keep Redmond moving.

Get an ORCA Card

Lime and Bird electric bikes and scooters are ridden past Metro buses on May 1, 2025 for Bike Everywhere Month in Seattle, Wa.

Bike or scoot your way to light rail and earn rewards along the way! Rent a Lime bike or scooter, ride to a transit hub, park in designated spots and earn rewards from King County Metro.

You can earn free scooter rentals and transit trips when you take a Lime scooter or bike to get to a light rail station in Redmond.

STEP 1 – Download and link accounts

Download the Lime and Transit GO Ticket apps and create accounts. Then connect all accounts.

STEP 2 – Earn points

Bike or scoot to transit. Remember, your trip must last at least 15 minutes or a minimum of a quarter mile. Park at the preferred parking spots, as shown in the app, and end your trip on the app.

STEP 3 – Redeem your points

You will receive a Lime notification. Next, open up the Transit GO Ticket app and check your rewards balance. You should have received 300 points for parking correctly. Redeem your points for a free-transit trip worth $3. Must be used within 24-hours.
Activate your transit ticket (for a King County Metro bus, Sound Transit bus or Link light rail) within 24 hours. You will receive 700 points which can then be redeemed for $7 off a future bike or scooter rental. To redeem these points, input the code into your Lime app.

Find out more from King County Metro

How To Ride Lime Scooters

Image courtesy of Sound Transit.

“The completion of the 2 Line exponentially expands employment, housing and recreation opportunities for people on the east and west sides of Lake Washington,” King County Executive and Sound Transit Boadmember Girmay Zahilay. “When the 2 Line opens, it will serve 26 stations and more than 35 miles, while knitting together first King County cities and two Snohomish County cities, creating new transit hubs throughout the region.”

Sound Transit announced that the Crosslake connection will open for riders on March 28th. This is the final segment of the 2 Line which will cross Lake Washington and connect with the 1 Line at International District/Chinatown Station, creating a fully integrated regional light rail system. This new addition to the East Link included two new stations, Mercer Island and Judkins Park.

The 2 Line will operate between Lynnwood and Redmond in addition to the 1 Line between Federal Way and Lynnwood. Service will run on the 1 and 2 Lines from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday-Saturday and from 6 a.m-midnight on Sundays. Trains will run every 8 minutes during peak times at the new stations and between 10-15 minutes the rest of the day. Combined 1 Line and 2 Line headways between Lynnwood and International District/Chinatown will be every 4 minutes, providing addtional capacity through the busy core of the system.

To keep up with opening day events and details visit https://www.soundtransit.org/crosslake This link will be updated as plans continue to be finalized. Check back often to stay up to date.

Do you have questions about transit? Are you in need of a new ORCA card?

King County Metro’s Neighborhood Pop-Up Program returns to Redmond this month on a regular schedule. On the second Tuesday of each month King County Metro staff will set up at the Redmond Library (15990 NE 85th St. Redmond, WA) and on the fourth Tuesday of each month they will be at the Redmond Senior & Community Center (8703 160th Ave NE. Redmond, WA) from 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

During pop-up events community members can get new ORCA cards, add fare to existing ORCA cards, replace lost or damaged ORCA cards, get new senior and disabled Regional Reduced Fare Permits, and register free youth ORCA cards. Staff will be onsite to answer any questions you have about Metro services.

For more information about the program you can visit the Neighborhood Pop-Up website.

On August 30th Metro launched their fall service change, which added more than 900 weekly bus trips to better serve Eastside communities, improve 2 Line connections, and added a pilot Metro Flex zone in Overlake.

Some highlights from the service changes that are specific to Redmond include:

New Route 222: Connecting Overlake, Idylwood, downtown Redmond, Education Hill and Cottage Lake, and the 2 Line at Downtown Redmond and Redmond Technology Stations.

New Route 223: Connecting Eastgate, Lake Hills, Overlake and 2 Line service at Downtown Redmond Station, with more frequent 20 minute weekday service.

DART Route 224: Between Duvall and Redmond will improve to service every 60 minutes.

DART Route 249: Will improve to service to every 30 minutes on weekdays with hourly service added from 7 to 9 p.m. connecting Redmond Technology Station, Overlake, downtown Bellevue, and South Bellevue Station.

Launched this summer Route 930 (Kirkland, Redmond): Metro added evening trips to create steady hourly service from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Riders can request off route trips in the Route 930 DART service areas along Willows Road.

To better understand the route changes in your area visit this King County Metro Blog post.

RSVP for the August 20th meeting on the pilot program

The problem: A Parking Mismatch

Downtown Redmond has plenty of parking. Nearly 10,000 spaces or 92% of Downtown’s parking sit on private property. Much of it is underused with capacity that sits empty, even during peak times of the day.

Meanwhile, people are looking for parking for dinner, errands, shopping, or riding light rail.

The Solution: Shared Parking Pilot

The City of Redmond and Move Redmond are launching a pilot program to match underused private stalls with the people who need them.

How it works:

We Need Your Voice at the Table!

We’re convening property owners and business leaders for three crucial summits on unlocking the revenue and parking potential of Shared Parking in Downtown Redmond.

RSVP for one of these discussions to explore how Shared Parking can benefit your property, business, and Downtown community.

Together Center – August 20, 2025 from 4:00pm-5:30pm RSVP Here
September Date TBA

Marymoor Village and Downtown Redmond light rail stations will open on Saturday, May 10! Join Go Redmond in celebrating at the Downtown Redmond Station (16220 NE 76th St. Redmond, WA 98052).

Downtown Redmond Station Program

10:30 a.m.- noon: Speakers and ribbon cutting.

Noon- 4 p.m.: Community celebration with music, dancing, bike rides, crafts, and more!

Microsoft will provide shuttles between parking at Redmond Technology Station and Marymoor Village Station every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. until service begins around noon, before the trains are service, to get people parked and to the to the Downtown Redmond Station for the ribbon cutting.

Getting There

Light Rail

Light rail trains will begin service at Downtown Redmond and Marymoor Village shortly after the ribbon cutting is complete at noon. After the ribbon is cut passengers can take light rail from any of the stations along the 2 Line into Downtown Redmond.

Bus

King County Metro Route 250, RapidRide B Line, and Sound Transit Express 545 all serve the Downtown Redmond Station. Check out Sound Transit’s Trip Planner to see which bus will be most convenient for you.

Walking, biking and rolling

Festivities are both on the Redmond Central Connector Trail near the Downtown Redmond Station and at Marymoor Village, which is 1.5 miles away along the Redmond Central Connector Trail. Explore the Redmond Trail Map and the interactive Redmond Bike Map to plan your route on foot or on wheels.

There is plenty of bike parking on site to safely leave your wheels behind while you celebrate.

February 28, 2020

Lime Electric Scooters are in Redmond as part of a pilot program. Learn how to use them safely and park them correctly to get to where you’re going.

Start Using the Scooters:

Download the App: To download the Lime app, simply click here and you’ll automatically be redirected to the appropriate download page for your mobile device. You can also search “Lime” in both the App and Google Play stores.
Find a Lime Scooter: To find a Lime near you, simply open the Lime app. You’ll automatically be taken to the map screen, showing all available Lime vehicles in your area. If you don’t see any vehicle icons displayed on the map, zoom out to search a wider area.
Unlock the Scooter: To unlock a Lime-S scooter, simply open the Lime app and tap on the “Ride” button at the bottom of the screen. From here, either scan the QR code using your phone’s camera or manually enter the 6-digit vehicle code located beneath the QR code.
- Use the promo code LIMEREDMOND for 5 free unlocks between July 30 and August 13th. First come, first serve.

How to Ride a Lime Electric Scooter in Redmond:

How to Park a Lime Scooter:

Park away from pedestrian walkways and ensure the scooter is standing upright.
Keep scooters from blocking sidewalks and curb ramps, leaning against buildings, or obstructing bus loading zones.
Do not park in motorcycle or vehicle parking stalls or driveways.

Scooters should be parked upright in the ‘furnishing zone‘:

Issues with the Scooters?

Contact Lime Directly: support@li.me

Call or Text 1-888-LIME-345

Information for Drivers:

Bike and scooter share is anticipated to increase the number of people riding bicycles and scooters in Redmond. These vehicles are allowed and encouraged to operate in the roadway, in bicycle lanes, or on trails because they travel at much higher speeds than people walk on sidewalks.

If you are sharing the lane with a bicycle or scooter treat them like other vehicles: slow down to their speed and then consider passing, leaving a recommended minimum 3 feet of separation, when it is safe to do so.

Youth Ride Transit for Free

Category: Community