UPDATE from Sound Transit on March 19: Weekend Link light rail closure March 20-21.
“Closures of Downtown Seattle Link stations will begin Friday evening (3/20) and extend through the weekend as crews wrap up the Connect 2020 construction process, through which Sound Transit has connected East King County tracks to the system in preparation for the 2023 opening of East Link. Upon the scheduled Monday reopening of service, Sound Transit will respond to greatly reduced rider demand by retaining the 14-minute train frequencies that have been in place during the construction period, which provide ample capacity for current ridership while maintaining space for social distancing. With the conclusion of Connect 2020, passengers will no longer need to transfer at Pioneer Square and bicycle restrictions will be lifted.
“During the weekend closure shuttle buses will connect riders for travel between downtown stations and Capitol Hill and SODO stations. Shuttle buses will operate every 17-10 minutes. Fares will not be required for train or shuttle bus passengers.” From Sound Transit update on 3/19/20.
UPDATE March 16: Link light rail trains still running 13-15 minutes with transfer at Pioneer Square.
Over the weekend Sound Transit discovered an issue that they need to address before returning to normal train schedules. Beginning today, Monday March 16, trains will operate on the Connect 2020 schedule as they have been since January. Visit Sound Transit for more information.
In 5 short days, Link light rail trains will go back to pre-connect 2020 schedules. But first, a weekend closure.
This weekend will be the final weekend closure as Sound Transit connects new Eastside tracks to the downtown tunnel tracks.
- Starting Friday night, there will be no Link light rail service between SODO and Capitol Hill stations.
- Trains will operate every 12-15 minutes between Angle Lake and SODO stations, and between Capitol Hill and UW stations.
- All northbound riders must get off the train at SODO Station, and southbound riders must get off at Capitol Hill Station.
- There will be a free Link shuttle bus running every 7-10 minutes that stops at all closed stations between SODO and Capitol Hill.
- Riders can pick up the free Link surface shuttle bus at any of the closed stations.
Beginning Monday March 16, trains will be back to normal schedules.
Trains will run as frequently as every 6 minutes and riders won’t have to transfer trains at Pioneer Square Station. You’ll be able to get on a train at the UW Station and ride all the way to SeaTac and Angle Lake stations!
Thank you for navigating Connect 2020 with us.
We know that the disrupted Link light rail schedule has been a big inconvenience. Thank you for your patience as you altered your schedules and waited for trains.
Sound Transit worked efficiently to keep the project on schedule, and we’re all glad that the Link light rail will be back to its normal operating schedules next week.
Connect 2020 was a short-term inconvenience for long-term regional improvements.
In a few short years you will be able to ride these new tracks to get to Mercer Island, Bellevue, and Redmond!
Subscribe to email or text Link light rail alerts to stay up to date about the weekend closures. Visit Sound Transit for more information about Connect 2020 and station closures. Visit our seattle.gov/traffic website to help plan your commute and stay informed with all the changes happening from now until 2024. For regional or statewide travel alerts, download the WSDOT App.