Bridging the Gap: Light Rail Service Across Lake Washington Begins March 28th!

COMMUNITYOPINIONCITY GOVERNMENT

Craig Reynolds

1/24/20262 min read

Yesterday I had the honor to be an invited guest at the press conference where the opening date of the light rail Eastlink extension -- the 2 Line -- was announced. Yes, it appears to be finally happening on March 28. I was joined by Deputy Mayor Becker, Councilmember Julie Hsieh, and city staffers Casey Thompson and Amelia Tjaden. It was a sunny and beautiful day that matched the mood of the many speakers and guests.

Speakers included, among others:

  • Claudia Balducci, King County Councilmember whose district includes Mercer Island

  • Dow Constantine, Sound Transit CEO

  • Girmay Zahilay, King County Executive

  • Katie Wilson, Seattle Mayor

  • Angela Birney Redmond Mayor


Speakers extolled the challenge and triumph of building light rail on a floating bridge. They spoke of how wonderful it will be to have a connection across the lake that is climate friendly, fast, immunte to traffic, and available to those without cars. I share their excitement and recognize the profound opportunities that this rail line will create for Mercer Island.

Councilmember Balducci spoke of the many challenges of construction, including, but not limited to:

  • Lawsuits

  • A concrete strike

  • Supply shortages and price increases

  • Defective plinths (a word many of us likely just learned last year!)

  • Engineering challenges.


And yet it appears we will get it DONE.

This project illustrates the importance of dreaming big. Previous generations invested in us by building the floating bridges, laying the water and sewer lines, building the streets and developing the parks that serve our Island, constructing the city buildings that house city staff and equipment, and building our schools. Taxes to support big projects are painful, but sometimes they are a price we pay for a modern society, a debt we owe to our predecessors, and an opportunity to repay that debt by doing something for those that come after us.

I look forward to being on one of the first passenger trains to cross the lake.

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