East Main station

{{short description|Light rail station in Bellevue, Washington}}

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox station

| name = {{ST code|2|57}} East Main

| style = Sound Transit

| type = Link light rail station

| image = Eastbound train at East Main station - May 2024.jpg

| image_caption = The eastbound platform at East Main station

| address = 229 112th Avenue Southeast

| borough = Bellevue, Washington

| country = United States

| coordinates = {{coord|47|36|29|N|122|11|28|W|format=dms|display=inline;title|type:landmark_region:US-WA}}

| owned = Sound Transit

| line =

| platform = 2 side platforms

| tracks = 2

| connections =

| structure = At-grade

| parking =

| bicycle =

| accessible = Yes

| opened = April 27, 2024

| passengers = {{Sound Transit ridership|East Main weekday}} daily weekday boardings ({{Sound Transit ridership|year}}){{Sound Transit ridership|linkcitation}}
{{Sound Transit ridership|East Main annual}} total boardings ({{Sound Transit ridership|year}}){{Sound Transit ridership|linkcitation}}

| services = {{Adjacent stations|system1=Sound Transit|header1=File:Sound Transit Link Light Rail logo.svg

|line1=2 Line|left1=South Bellevue|to-left1=South Bellevue|right1=Bellevue Downtown

|header2=Future service

|line3=2 Line|left3=South Bellevue|right3=Bellevue Downtown|note-mid3=(2026)

}}

| mapframe = yes

| mapframe-custom = {{Infobox mapframe |shape=none |line=none |marker=rail-light |marker-color=#{{rcr|Sound Transit|2 Line}} |zoom=15 }}

}}

East Main station is an at-grade light rail station in Bellevue, Washington, United States. It is served by the 2 Line, part of Sound Transit's Link light rail system, and opened on April 27, 2024.{{cite news |last1=Lindblom |first1=Mike |last2=Kroman |first2=David |date=April 27, 2024 |title=Eastside light rail line opens as huge crowds try out the ride |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/eastside-light-rail-line-opens-as-huge-crowds-try-out-the-ride/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=April 27, 2024}}{{cite news |last=Belman |first=Brooke |date=August 24, 2023 |title=Get ready for new Link service on the Eastside next spring |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/blog/platform/get-ready-new-link-service-eastside-next-spring |work=The Platform |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=August 24, 2023}}

Location

The station is located along the west side of 112th Avenue Southeast south of Main Street, just west of Interstate 405 on the outskirts of Downtown Bellevue.{{cite web|title=East Link Project Update|publisher=Sound Transit|date=January 2012|url=http://projects.soundtransit.org/Documents/pdf/projects/eastlink/East%20Link%20Project%20Update_Dec%202011.pdf|accessdate=2012-03-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328001520/http://projects.soundtransit.org/Documents/pdf/projects/eastlink/East%20Link%20Project%20Update_Dec%202011.pdf|archive-date=2012-03-28|url-status=dead}} East Main is an at-grade station but lies at the south end of the Downtown Bellevue tunnel. The ballot measure that approved East Link in 2008 initially planned for the Downtown Bellevue portion of the route to be at-grade, however, the City of Bellevue committed to $185 million in cost-sharing to finance the tunnel.{{Cite web|title=FHWA - Center for Innovative Finance Support - Project Profiles|url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ipd/project_profiles/wa_east_link_extension.aspx|access-date=2021-04-20|website=Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)}} An early concept for the station placed it at Southeast 8th Street, but it was moved north towards Main Street in 2011.{{cite news |last=Ervin |first=Keith |date=September 20, 2011 |title=As deadline nears, Bellevue asks for input on light rail |page=B1 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/bellevue-seeks-views-on-light-rail-as-deadline-nears/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 15, 2024}}

The station offers similar amenities to existing Link light rail stations, including ticket vending machines, bicycle parking, and public art. A new park over the portal of the Downtown Bellevue tunnel was constructed and incorporates a new multi-use path to connect the station to Main Street and the nearby Surrey Downs neighborhood.{{Cite web|title=East Main Station FAQs|url=https://bellevuewa.gov/city-government/departments/transportation/projects/east-link-light-rail/station-frequently-asked-questions/east-main-station-faqs|access-date=2021-04-20|website=City of Bellevue|language=en}}

References