Redmond Technology station

Redmond Technology station, formerly Overlake Transit Center, is a bus station and future light rail station in Redmond, Washington, United States. The current bus station opened in 2002 and is located on the headquarters campus of Microsoft; it is served by Sound Transit Express and King County Metro.

Redmond Technology
The new light rail station and transit center, seen under construction in September 2019.
General information
Location15590 Northeast 36th Street
Redmond, Washington
United States
Coordinates47°38′40″N 122°08′00″W
Owned bySound Transit
Platforms1 island platform
Tracks2
Train operatorsSound Transit
Bus stands8 (2016)[1]
Bus operatorsKing County Metro
Sound Transit Express
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Parking222 spaces
Bicycle facilitiesLockers and racks
AccessibleYes
History
OpenedFebruary 4, 2002 (February 4, 2002)[2]
Rebuilt2017–2024 (planned)
Previous namesOverlake Transit Center (2002–2017)
Services
Preceding station Sound Transit Following station
Link
Future service
Overlake Village
toward South Bellevue
 2 Line
Starter Line
(2024)
 Terminus
Overlake Village
toward Lynnwood City Center
 2 Line
(2025)
 Marymoor Village
toward Downtown Redmond

In 2024, it will become the eastern terminus of the 2 Line, part of Sound Transit's Link light rail system.[3]

Location

The light rail station will be located adjacent to State Route 520 near its interchange with NE 40th Street.[4]

A pedestrian bridge over State Route 520, connecting the station to the Microsoft west campus, was funded by Microsoft and the City of Redmond in 2013 and began construction in 2020.[5][6] It is expected to be complete in early 2023 and will be transferred to the city government.[7][8]

History

Overlake Transit Center opened on February 4, 2002, and cost $8 million to construct with funds from Sound Transit, the City of Redmond, King County Metro, Microsoft, and the Federal Transit Administration, opened on February 4, 2002.[2] The new transit center initially lacked passenger shelters and a paved parking lot, which were added in May. The 10-acre (4.0 ha) site was donated by Microsoft, who also contributed $1.2 million to the project and added commuter bus and shuttle bus services.[9]

The bus bays at the old Overlake Transit Center before it was demolished.

The park and ride closed in May 2017, as part of preparations for light rail construction.[10] In late July, Sound Transit shifted bus service to a series of temporary bus bays near NE 36th Street and began demolition of the old transit center.[11] The new light rail station's name was shortened from Redmond Technology Center to Redmond Technology in March 2018 in response to a request from Redmond and Microsoft.[12]

The new bus bays at the station were opened in December 2019 under the partially completed parking garage.[13] During construction of the parking garage, cracks were discovered in the concrete above the bus exit. The bus stops and pedestrian walkways were temporarily moved from the garage in April 2020 while an investigation was conducted.[14] The southeast corner of the garage, where several structural deficiencies were found, was demolished in 2021;[15] the bus loop reopened for Microsoft buses in August 2023.[16]

Light rail service from the station is scheduled to begin in early 2024, with trains operating between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology as part of the 2 Line's starter segment. Service is expected to be extended further east to Downtown Redmond in 2025.[17]

References
  1. "Overlake Transit Center Boarding Locations". King County Metro. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  2. Lindblom, Mike; Brooks, Diane (February 2, 2002). "Modern transit centers for riders in Everett, Redmond to debut Monday". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  3. Belman, Brooke (August 24, 2023). "Get ready for new Link service on the Eastside next spring". The Platform. Sound Transit. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  4. "Redmond Technology Station". Sound Transit. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  5. Ervin, Keith (November 26, 2013). "Microsoft pitches in on bridge over Overlake Transit Center". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  6. "City of Redmond, Sound Transit team up for new pedestrian-bicycle bridge" (Press release). Sound Transit. August 28, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  7. "Redmond Technology Station Pedestrian Bridge". City of Redmond. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  8. Minnick, Benjamin (May 22, 2020). "Kiewit-Hoffman installs first part of pedestrian bridge over SR 520". Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  9. Brooks, Diane (May 15, 2002). "Overlake center all gussied up for its new role in area transit". The Seattle Times. p. B3. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  10. Graf, Heather (May 1, 2017). "East Link construction to close two popular Park & Ride l". KING 5 News. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  11. "Construction alert: Changes coming to Overlake Transit Center". Sound Transit. July 26, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  12. "Sound Transit Motion No. M2018-38" (PDF). Sound Transit. March 22, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  13. Cunningham, Rachelle (December 10, 2019). "Overlake Transit Center bus stops are moving". The Platform. Sound Transit. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  14. Lindblom, Mike (May 1, 2020). "Cracks halt progress on Sound Transit park-and-ride garage in Redmond". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  15. "Redmond Technology Station Garage Update". Sound Transit. April 2, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  16. "Stay Informed about the Redmond Technology Station Bus Loop Opening". City of Redmond. August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  17. Lindblom, Mike (August 24, 2023). "Eastside-only light rail should open in March, Sound Transit says". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
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