Redmond Light Rail Basics

Tag: light rail

A bus approaches a light rail station

Riding light rail is an easy, efficient way to get around the region—whether you’re commuting to work, heading into Seattle, or exploring nearby neighborhoods. To get started, purchase an ORCA card, which allows you to tap and ride seamlessly across buses, trains, and other transit services. Be sure to tap your card before boarding and keep proof of payment with you during your trip.

Light rail trains run on a regular schedule, with clear signage and digital displays showing arrival times. Trains run every 8 minutes in Redmond!

If your trip involves transferring from a bus, the process is easy! Many bus routes connect directly to Redmond light rail stations, and using an ORCA card ensures your fare transfers automatically within a two-hour window, no need to pay twice. Pay attention to posted schedules or use transit apps to time your connections smoothly.

If you plan to drive to the light rail, park & ride facilities are available at the Marymoor Station and the Redmond Technology Station. These lots can fill up quickly during peak hours, so arriving early or considering alternative transportation (like biking, walking, Lime scooters, or Redlink) can help.

Trip planning is simple with tools like the Sound Transit Trip Planner or Google Maps. Enter your starting point and destination to get step-by-step directions, including walking routes, transfers, and travel times.

With a little preparation, riding light rail in Redmond can be a fast, reliable, and stress-free way to travel.

2 Line light rail train at station

During the month of April, ride light rail to win a free lunch!

Each light rail trip logged on Go Redmond will be entered into a drawing for one of several $50 gift cards to Mendocino Farms, Stone Korean, or Jack Sprat, Redmond restaurants easily accessible from the 2 Line.

Commute AND personal trips count, so this is a perfect opportunity to try using light rail to get to work or that dinner or retail spot you’ve been meaning to check out.

Log Your Trips

Plan Your Trip and Give It a Try

Riding light rail is easier than ever! Use Sound Transit’s trip planning tool (or Google Maps) to find the nearest station and best schedule for your day.

With trains arriving at the station every 8 minutes, you don’t always need to check a schedule but you can check for 2 Line updates and alerts.

You can now Tap to Pay for transit across the region! Simply tap your ORCA, credit or debit card, or use Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay on your phone or smart device before you board.

How to Get an ORCA Card

ORCA cards can be purchased at ticket machines at Downtown Redmond, Marymoor Village and Overlake Village light rail stations. You can also create an online account or download an app to order or add value to a card, or pick one up at a store, vending machine or customer service location. Learn more about ORCA cards.

Marymoor Village Park and Ride garage for light rail

Whether you’re going to a World Cup game in Seattle or headed to a meeting in Bellevue, you may be wondering where to park to take Link Light Rail. With Redmond’s four new light rail stations in Downtown, Marymoor, and Overlake there are options to park to catch the train.

Park and Rides have parking available on a first come, first served basis.  Park and Rides near the Light Rail stations include these, please note that the Downtown Station and Overlake Village Station have parking within a 1/2 mile of the station, but not at the station like Marymoor Village and Overlake Technology Station.

Don’t want to hassle with parking? Connect to the station with Lime Scooters, the free Redmond RedLink shuttle, bike or walk.

Parking at the Downtown Redmond Light Rail Station

Redmond Transit Center Park and Ride (Downtown)

  • NOTE: The 83rd street Transit Center is a 10 minute walk (.5 mile) to the Downtown Redmond Station. Lime Scooters/Bikes or the RedLink Shuttle can also help make the connection to the station.
  • 377 parking spaces
  • Limited, on-street parking is available around the station. On-street spaces have a 2-hour time limit, Monday thru Saturday 9am to 9pm
  • Paid, hourly parking in private garages may be available around the station, individual rates and rules apply
  • No light rail parking is allowed at the Redmond Town Center. Parking is strictly enforced.

Parking at the Marymoor Village Light Rail Station

Marymoor Village Station: 17520 NE 70th St, Redmond, WA 98052

  • 1,403 parking spaces, 31 ADA stalls
  • Bike racks
  • 20 individual BikeLink lockers, available on demand
  • Limited, on-street parking is available around the station. On-street spaces have a 2-hour time limit, Monday thru Saturday 9am to 9pm

Parking at the Redmond Technology Light Rail Station (Overlake)

Redmond Technology Station (Overlake): 15590 NE 40th St, Redmond 15590 NE 36th St, Redmond, WA 98052

  • 323 parking spaces
  • 44 covered bicycle spaces

Parking at the Overlake Village Light Rail Station:

Overlake Village Park and Ride: 2560 152nd Ave NE, Redmond

  • NOTE: This Park & Ride is a 9 minute walk (.4 miles) from the Village at Overlake Station
  • 203 parking spaces
  • Covered bike racks
  • Limited, on-street parking is available around the station. On-street spaces have a 2-hour time limit, Monday thru Saturday 9am to 9pm

Visiting Redmond on light rail?  Check out these destinations that are a short walk or bike ride from the station. After all, light rail & local businesses make for a great combination!

Marymoor Village:

Redmond’s newest urban center with eclectic and artistic developments and quick access to Marymoor Park and regional trails.

Post Doc Brewery is next to Marymoor Park and often has food trucks.
  • Marymoor Park: Massive 640-acre park with trails, sports fields, a huge off-leash dog area, rock climbing, birdwatching, scenic paths, and events like Marymoor Live summer concerts nearby.
  • Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village: Check out their fitness classes, kids & teen activities, and events for all ages like the community sing along.
  • Postdoc Brewing Redmond:  Highly rated brewery with rotating taps and seasonal brews, and usually a food truck or two.
  • Pomegranate Bistro: Casual American dining and bar.
  • Izakaya Supa Banana: Fun Japanese gastropub style.
  • Maki Stand Roll & Bento: Quick sushi & bento options.
  • Stone Korean: One of Redmond’s favorite Korean restaurants.

Overlake Village Station:

This station serves a vibrant mixed-use area near big tech offices and a growing shopping and dining district.

Esterra Park, where Pizza Poggio’s kiosk is located in the park!
  • Esterra Park: Bring your lunch to people watch and enjoy this new public space.  A perfect lawn for throwing a frisbee or read your book in the patio chairs.  
  • Jack Sprat Café: Grab a coffee or sandwich
  • Pizza Poggio: Parkside pizza by the slice or a full pie in Esterra Park
  • Shaburina Shabu Shabu HotPot: All you can eat hot pot in Redmond

Downtown Redmond Station:

Visit the heart of Redmond and experience a mix of historic buildings and new developments connected by parks and trails.

Coastline Burgers is a new restaurant in a historic building.
  • Redmond Central Connector Park: Urban green linear park and trail great for a quick walk or bike ride.
  • Downtown Redmond Park catch a frisbee or a performance on the stage.  Public restrooms available.
  • Victor’s Coffee: Local favorite coffee shop.
  • Brick & Mortar Books: Independent bookstore worth exploring.
  • K‑Street K‑BBQ: Korean BBQ centrally located in the Redmond Town Center
  • Coastline Burgers: burgers, fries, and shakes right on the edge of Downtown Park
  • Woodblock: Cocktails & New American eats across from the Downtown Park
  • Momiji: Stylish Japanese & sushi.
  • Doppio Cafe and Creperie: Coffee & crepes.
  • Matador Redmond / Redmond’s Bar & Grill: Classic Redmond dining.
  • Mendocino Farms: Casual sandwich & salad restaurant.
  • Salt & Straw and Molly Moons Ice Cream: both within walking distance of the station

Check out Experience Redmond for more local businesses
Bus stop with a 'this bus connects to light rail' yard sign

With light rail now serving Redmond, there are new, convenient ways to get around the city and across the region.

King County Metro buses provide reliable connections from Redmond neighborhoods to one of the city’s four light rail stations in Downtown, Overlake, and Marymoor Village.

Below is a neighborhood-by-neighborhood look at the local bus routes that make it easy to connect to light rail, no car required.

Education Hill

  • Route 222
    Frequency: Regular all-day service (new in 2025)
    Serves: Downtown Redmond Station; Redmond Technology Station
    Notes: A new route designed specifically to connect Education Hill directly to light rail.
  • Route 250
    Frequency: About every 30 minutes on weekdays; hourly at other times
    Serves: Downtown Redmond Station
    Notes: Serves northeast Education Hill and provides a reliable option outside peak hours.
  • RedLink
    Frequency: On-demand rides via the Circuit App.
    Notes: Pick up in the service area (for Education Hill the boundary is near Redmond Middle School and goes south down 166th towards Downtown)

Idylwood

  • Route 222
    Frequency: Regular all-day service
    Serves: Downtown Redmond Station; Redmond Technology Station
    Notes: Direct neighborhood access to light rail via Downtown Redmond.
  • RapidRide B Line
    Frequency: About every 30 minutes on weekdays; hourly at other times
    Serves: Downtown Redmond Station
    Notes: Frequent service along major corridors serving parts of Idylwood.

Grass Lawn

  • RapidRide B Line
    Frequency: Frequent weekday service; reduced frequency evenings and weekends
    Serves: Downtown Redmond Station
    Notes: High-capacity service along NE 8th St / 148th Ave NE corridor.
  • Route 245
    Frequency: Regular local service (varies by time of day)
    Serves: Downtown Redmond Station (via transfer or direct routing depending on trip)
    Notes: Provides neighborhood coverage and connections to other frequent routes.
  • Route 225
    Frequency: Every ~10 minutes during weekday peak; ~15 minutes off-peak; ~30 minutes early morning and late night
    Serves: Downtown Redmond Station
    Notes: Serves the northern portion of Grass Lawn with very frequent peak service.

Willows Road / Rose Hill

  • Route 225
    Frequency: Frequent weekday service; reduced frequency evenings and weekends
    Serves: Downtown Redmond Station
    Notes: One of the primary routes connecting this area to light rail.
  • Route 250
    Frequency: About every 15 minutes on weekdays; about every 30 minutes nights and weekends
    Serves: Downtown Redmond Station
    Notes: Updated in the 2025 network to directly connect to light rail.
  • DART 930
    Frequency: Evening-focused service (weekdays until ~10 p.m.; weekends until ~7 p.m.)
    Serves: Downtown Redmond Station
    Notes: Demand-responsive service for lower-demand and off-peak travel times.

Southeast Redmond

  • Route 269
    Frequency: About every 15 minutes on weekdays
    Serves: Marymoor Village Station
    Notes: Primary connection from Southeast Redmond to light rail.

Avondale Road Area

  • Route 250
    Frequency: About every 15 minutes on weekdays; about every 30 minutes nights and weekends
    Serves: Downtown Redmond Station
    Notes: Serves portions of the Bear Creek and Avondale–Redmond corridor.
  • Route 269
    Frequency: About every 15 minutes on weekdays
    Serves: Marymoor Village Station
    Notes: An option for Avondale-area residents closer to Southeast Redmond.

Plan Your Trip and Give It a Try

With frequent service, new and improved routes serving the station, and easy transfers to light rail, taking transit from Redmond neighborhoods is a practical and stress-free way to get around.

Use Metro’s trip planning tools (or Google Maps) to find the best route and schedule for your day.

While supplies last, you can request a free ORCA card loaded with $30 in fares from Go Redmond.

You may find it’s easier (and more relaxing) than you expected.

The City of Redmond has partnered with Circuit to drive community connection through local microtransit! An on-demand, free, all-electric ride service is available to help residents and visitors get around Downtown Redmond, Southeast Redmond, and Education Hill easily, affordably, and sustainably. Whether you’re heading to local businesses, catching light rail, or running errands, this service makes local trips simple with no car required.  This pilot program is expected to run through June 2027, thanks to funding from the City of Redmond, Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, and the Washington State Regional Mobility Grant.

Rides are completely free! Riders must be older than 16 to ride. Download the Circuit app to request a ride! 

Download the Circuit App

RedLink serves parts of the Downtown Redmond, Education Hill, and Southeast Redmond neighborhoods. Click the map to view a larger version.

You can also check if you are in the service area on the Ride Circuit app.

How it Works

  • Request a Ride: Use the free Circuit app to request your free ride.
  • Shared Rides: You may share your trip with other passengers heading in the same direction.
  • Walk-to-Pickup: For faster pickups, the app may direct you to a nearby location.

Hours

The RedLink shuttle runs 7 days per week. 

Monday – Thursday: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Note: hours of operation are subject to change.

 

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! 

  1. 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. 
  1. 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. 
  1. 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 7th and 8th grades wrote a blog for teens riding the 2 Line. Check out their notes and recommendations for things to do here.

A King County Metro bus approaches the Link Light Rail station

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

Man wearing helmet unlocks a shared bicycle from an urban street
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

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.