Ask anyone who's driven I-405 or SR-520 at rush hour: getting around the Eastside has always shaped where people choose to live as much as square footage or school pick-up routes do. This year, that equation is shifting in a real way. Sound Transit's 2 Line finally connects Seattle to Bellevue and Redmond by rail, and construction is underway on the bus rapid transit network that will eventually link Kirkland and Bothell into the same system. If you're buying, selling, or relocating to the Eastside, here's what's actually happening and why it matters for your next move.

The 2 Line Is Finally Whole

After years of delays, the full East Link Extension opened to riders on March 28, 2026, connecting the 2 Line all the way from South Bellevue through Seattle's International District and up to Lynnwood City Center. The extension added two new stations — Mercer Island and Judkins Park — and, according to Sound Transit's service planning, trains now run as frequently as every four minutes on the busiest shared section of the line.

For Bellevue and Redmond, this is the most significant transportation change either city has seen in decades. A trip that used to mean fighting I-90 or SR-520 traffic is now a direct rail ride to downtown Seattle, South Lake Union, or the University District — no parking, no bridge tolls, no weather delays. That kind of reliability tends to show up in buyer priorities fast, and it's already reshaping which listings near Bellevue's downtown, Wilburton, and Spring District stations get the most attention.

What It Means If You're Buying Near Bellevue or Redmond

If you're house-hunting anywhere within walking distance of a 2 Line station, expect more competition, not less, now that the line is running rather than "coming soon." Buyers relocating from Seattle proper or from out of state are increasingly asking about walk time to the nearest station before they ask about square footage — especially remote-hybrid workers who only commute a few days a week and want the option to leave the car at home.

That said, proximity isn't the only thing worth weighing. Homes directly adjacent to elevated guideway or a station can see more foot and bus traffic, which some buyers love for convenience and others would rather avoid. It's worth walking the block at different times of day before you write an offer, not just checking the map distance.

Kirkland's Turn Is Coming: Stride BRT Breaks Ground

Kirkland isn't getting light rail, but it is getting something with real teeth: Sound Transit and WSDOT are rebuilding the NE 85th Street interchange into a three-level, multimodal hub with an inline Stride station on the second level, serving buses, cyclists, and pedestrians alongside I-405 traffic. Two roundabouts tied to the project opened in spring 2026, and as of this spring, crews were still building out the upper levels, with the full interchange and station expected to wrap up later this year. Stride's S1, S2, and S3 bus rapid transit lines — connecting Bellevue, Kirkland, Bothell, and points south and north along I-405 — are slated to begin phasing in service between 2028 and 2029.

For Kirkland buyers and sellers, the near-term story is construction: expect some disruption around NE 85th through the build-out. The longer-term story is a genuine cross-Eastside bus rapid transit spine that will make it easier to reach Bellevue's light rail stations without a car, which is worth factoring into any long-hold purchase decision in the Totem Lake or NE 85th corridor.

Bothell Gets Its Own Transit Investment

Bothell's piece of this build-out is a 12.5-acre Stride bus base under construction in Canyon Park, designed to house up to 120 electric double-decker and articulated buses for the S1, S2, and S3 lines. Construction is expected to wrap before the end of 2027, ahead of Stride service phasing in over 2028 and 2029.

It's a reminder that Bothell, often thought of as the quieter, more affordable corner of the Eastside, is getting real infrastructure investment of its own rather than simply riding on Bellevue's coattails. For buyers relocating to Bothell for value and space, that's a meaningful long-term signal about the city's trajectory — even though the payoff in daily commute times is still a few years out.

What This Means for Sellers, Too

If you own a home near a current or future transit corridor — a 2 Line station in Bellevue or Redmond, or the NE 85th interchange in Kirkland — it's worth having a conversation about how to position that in your listing. Commute convenience is a real selling point right now, but it should be described honestly and specifically: walk time to the platform, which lines it connects to, and what daily service actually looks like, rather than vague claims about "up-and-coming" value.

The Bottom Line

None of this changes what makes a good home a good home — layout, condition, price, and fit still come first. But 2026 is the year transit access on the Eastside stopped being a future promise and started being something you can test-ride. Whether you're buying near a station that's live today or betting on one that's still a few years from opening, it's worth building into your search from the start.

Thinking about how transit access affects value in your specific neighborhood, or want a read on what a Kirkland or Bothell property near a future Stride line might be worth down the road? I'm happy to walk through it — reach out anytime.