A Milestone for The Rock

Mercer Island is on the cusp of a transformative moment in regional connectivity. On Saturday, March 28, the "Crosslake Connection" officially opens, marking a historic achievement as the first light rail service in the world to operate across a floating bridge. To celebrate this milestone, the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce and Sound Transit are hosting a community-wide grand opening event from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Mercer Island Station and the adjacent Sound Transit Park & Ride.

The Grand Opening Event

The celebration, titled "Together at the Center," is designed as a family-friendly street fair to welcome the arrival of the 2 Line. The festivities will be centered at the station located between 77th Avenue SE and 80th Avenue SE.

What to Expect:

• Live Entertainment: The station will be alive with music and performances throughout the day as well as your chance to be the star at the AirScream karaoke experience.

• Local Flavor: A variety of food trucks and local vendors will be on-site, offering a taste of the Island’s culinary and business community.

• A Kid Zone with crafts and family activities.

• Community Discovery: Local businesses and community organizations will host booths, providing opportunities to learn more about the services and shops that make the Island unique.

• Giveaways and Prizes: Attendees can participate in the "Discover. Stamp. Win!" activity. By visiting different stations along the new line, participants can collect stamps to be entered to win prizes, including round-trip tickets on Alaska Airlines. The first 1,000 finishers will also receive a special commemorative gift.

A World-First Engineering Feat

The opening of the Mercer Island Station is part of Sound Transit’s long-awaited expansion that links Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond via the I-90 corridor. The project represents an engineering marvel, utilizing specialized technology to protect the bridge from stray electrical currents while providing a stable, high-speed rail connection across Lake Washington.

For many Islanders, the arrival of the 2 Line represents a shift toward a more predictable, traffic-free lifestyle. Once operational, trains are expected to run every eight to ten minutes during peak hours, offering a 22-minute ride to Husky Stadium and direct connections to the International District, Bellevue, and eventually Northgate and Snohomish County.

Planning Your Visit

The festivities begin globally at 9:00 AM with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Judkins Park Station, with the first eastbound train expected to depart for Mercer Island around 10:00 AM.

While the new commuter facility on Southeast 27th Street provides some parking, residents are encouraged to walk, bike, or use local transit to reach the station on opening day to avoid congestion. With thousands of visitors expected from across the region, the event promises to be a vibrant showcase of Mercer Island’s community spirit and its new role as a central hub in the regional transit network.

Learn more at the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce's event page.