South Bellevue Station FAQs

Yes. In spring 2021, left turns from northbound Bellevue Way SE to SE 30th Street are now prohibited to improve safety. Left turns from SE 30^th onto Bellevue Way SE are also prohibited. The only access change into the Enatai neighborhood is at SE 30^th St. The combination of northbound vehicles rapidly decelerating through this intersection as they depart the freeway and southbound congestion for vehicles approaching the freeway creates a condition that is challenging for drivers to navigate when turning left. Eliminating the left turn movements at this intersection will improve overall safety.

Drivers have the option to U-turn just south of 112^th Avenue SE to head southbound on Bellevue Way to turn right on SE 30^th Street. Alternatively, drivers are encouraged to access the Enatai neighborhood by driving a short distance up to 112^th   Avenue SE (by the central entrance to the South Bellevue Station and Park-and-Ride) and turning left. Access to properties along Bellevue Way are “right in/right out” only.

Prior to the U-turn opening, an increase in traffic on 112^th Avenue SE was observed as local drivers needed to find alternative ways into the neighborhood. The city is monitoring traffic following the opening of the U-turn to determine if traffic patterns have dramatically shifted.

This elevated station in the South Bellevue neighborhood will be located on the eastern side of Bellevue Way SE as it intersects 112th Ave SE. This is the former location of the South Bellevue Park and Ride.

This elevated station will be located in front of the new South Bellevue park and ride. Colorful artwork will line the sides of this station creating a pleasant visual effect and reducing noise. See the schematic from Sound Transit below for visual reference.

Yes, there will be several works of public art both integrated into the station and located at the new park and ride:

• Acoustic Panels & Guideway Columns: Designed by Vicki Scuri draw inspiration from Mercer Slough. Scuri's artwork is layered and rotated to create a continuous band that gradually changes to reflect the slough's seasonal colors. In addition to the trackway mural, Scuri will adorn the station's supporting columns with large leaf-shaped murals, changing in color to mirror the artwork above.
• Garage Facade: Designed by Katy Stone this active garage facade gains inspiration from nearby Mercer Slough. Her sculpture for the roofline of the station's garage will be reminiscent of a stand of cattails blowing in the wind and her designs for the garage screening may suggest ripples in the water or wind blowing through stands of reeds.

Construction of the station and alignment is expected to complete by the spring 2021. Sound Transit will undergo a one-year testing period following the completion of the East Link segment. You will begin to see empty trains running along the tracks but they will not be ready for passengers until 2023.

Yes. there will be a 1,500 stall park and ride built as part of the station. The only other park and ride will be located at Bel-Red/130th Station.  The commuter lots will be phased out as the opening of the garage, scheduled for early October 2021, approaches. 

For present-day alternatives to the South Bellevue Park and Ride please visit this Sound Transit page for a list of alternate parking lots.

Please remember that commuters are asked not to park in Bellevue neighborhoods.

Several long-term reroutes occurred prior to construction.

Temporary construction closures might affect bus stops/lines. Please look out for alerts and updates from your transit agency.

• Sound Transit Service Alerts
• King County Metro Service Alerts & Updates

Expect construction activities adjacent to Bellevue Way Southeast, from I-90 to 112th Avenue SE, in three phases:

 

Phase 1

The first phase of construction involved the relocation of public and private utilities on Bellevue Way SE. From June through November 2017, full and partial weekend closures of Bellevue Way and the I-90 ramps were necessary to complete the work. (Phase 1 is complete.)

Phase 2
Once utility work was complete, construction of the guideway (e.g. columns) and trench began in earnest. Construction of the South Bellevue Park-and-Ride garage continues. (Phase 2 is underway spring 2018.)

In April 2018, a new traffic control plan was implemented on Bellevue Way SE to allow for this construction. (While this construction occurs, additional construction will be happening on 112^th Ave. SE. See the FAQs about 112^th Ave. SE.)

For more about on traffic control on Bellevue Way

• Read citywide mailer (published May 2018)

• Read Sound Transit construction alert (published April 18, 2018)

Phase 3
The third phase will be to restore Bellevue Way pavement, sidewalk, striping and landscaping. This work will wrap up in spring/summer 2021.

The best way to stay informed about light rail construction is to subscribe to Sound Transit’s East Link Construction Alerts.
 

In order to work in the eastside curb lane while maintaining two lanes of traffic in the peak direction (northbound 6-10 a.m. and southbound 2-6 p.m.) crews will use the 'southbound center lane' as a reversible traffic lane. At times, northbound vehicles will travel in what is normally a southbound lane.

The graphic above illustrates the direction of traffic flow throughout the day. Tail lights indicate vehicles traveling northbound and headlights represent vehicles traveling southbound. During all work activity the eastside curb lane will be closed and occasional mid-day closures (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) of a second lanes may be needed. From 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and during most weekends, all lanes will be open to traffic. 
  
5 a.m. to noon: The eastside curb lane will be closed at 5 a.m., but work will not begin until 7 a.m. Two lanes of northbound traffic and one lane of southbound traffic will be maintained. Drivers needing to access 112th Avenue Southeast will need to travel in the furthest right open lane.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Occasional closures of two eastside lanes. One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction. Typically when the second lane is not closed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. configuration maintaining two lanes of northbound and one lane of southbound traffic will continue past 12 p.m.

2 p.m. to 6 p.m.: The eastside curb lane will be closed. One lane of northbound traffic and two lanes of southbound traffic will be maintained. Occasional closures through 8 p.m., with work until 8 p.m. more likely between June and September.

Occasional weekend closures through 2020

112th Avenue Southeast: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. As needed, daily lane closures of 112th Avenue Southeast, between Main Street and Southeast 8th Street. Two-way traffic will be maintained at all times. People walking, biking and driving should follow the direction of flaggers to safely reach their destination.

112th Avenue Southeast bypass road: During construction of the undercrossing, 112th Avenue Southeast will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Southeast 15th and Southeast 8th. People walking will use a sidewalk/pedestrian path on the west side of 112th Avenue Southeast. The map below, details what people walking, driving and riding bikes can expect. Please follow the direction of flaggers and signage to safely access your destination.

24-hour closure: The sidewalk on Bellevue Way Southeast between the Wye at 112th Avenue Southeast and the South Bellevue Station site is closed. This closure will continue for approximately 2 ½ years; people biking and walking should seek alternate routes

For more about on traffic control on Bellevue Way:

• Read citywide mailer (published May 2018)
• Read Sound Transit construction alert (published April 18, 2018)
   

The best way to stay informed about light rail construction is to subscribe to Sound Transit’s East Link Construction Alerts.

Yes. Both the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the Bellevue Transportation Department have reviewed the anticipated closures. Sound Transit and the Contractor will coordinate closely with WSDOT and the City prior to traffic changes that affect I-90 motorists.

In November 2019, traffic was switched to the new road-over-rail segment of 112th Ave SE (as depicted in the rendering above). The road-over rail segment allows the light rail trackway to cross from the east to the west side of 112th Ave SE. Currently, there is one lane of traffic in each direction on the road-over-rail section. When it is complete, there will be two lanes of traffic in each direction. 

Work continues to realign SE 15th Street north of its current location and add a traffic signal at the new intersection.

Yes. Starting in summer 2018, traffic control on 112^th Ave SE will be implemented to allow for the construction of the temporary bypass road, road-over-rail segment, guideway and realignment of SE 15^th Street. (See above FAQ).

During this phase of construction, at least one lane of traffic in each direction - north into downtown Bellevue and south to Bellevue Way SE - will be maintained.

For more about on traffic control on 112^th Ave SE

• Read citywide mailer (published May 2018)

• Read Sound Transit construction alert (published March 27, 2018)

The best way to stay informed about light rail construction is to subscribe to Sound Transit’s East Link Construction Alerts.

King County WTD needs to replace sewer pipes that  serve areas in North Mercer Island, the southwest portion of Bellevue near Enatai Beach, and the Town of Beaux Arts Village . This pipeline carries wastewater from the North Mercer Island Pump Station to the Sweyolocken Pump Station in Bellevue.

Project webpage
 

UPDATE spring 2021 - This project is on hold. Contact: Marina Arakelyan, project manager, 425-452-4632 or marakelyan@bellevuewa.gov. 

The City is exploring alternatives to widen Bellevue Way Southeast by approximately 20 feet on the west side of the roadway in order to add a new southbound high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane to increase capacity for traffic leaving downtown and to improve transit reliability and speed. The City is developing the alternatives by taking into consideration comments heard from individual briefings and open houses with the public.

The project team has been refining design options based on community feedback and working with the Bellevue Transportation Commission and City Council to consider a preferred design option and provide direction on next steps.

In May 2018 the City Council directed staff to defer additional design work on the project until 2021-2022, with construction to follow as funding becomes available in the capital budget. Progress on the project's design reached the 30 percent level of completion and that work would still be applicable once the project resumes.


 

As it relates to the East Link light rail project, mitigation is known as measures that are intended to lessen the impact of construction and operation of the trains.

Mitigation is a high priority for the city and Sound Transit and was addressed in the planning, design and construction of the light rail occurring in Bellevue.

View the Mitigation Map (Jan. 2018) that shows temporary mitigation during construction and permanent mitigation once the trains are operational.

Bellevue’s Noise Control Code (Noise Code) regulates and establishes permissible noise levels based on the type of land use (e.g. residential, business or commercial). The code also sets daytime noise levels in residential areas at a maximum of 55 dBA (decibel level) and nighttime (between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.) at a maximum of 45 decibels.

Construction noise is allowed between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Construction noise is prohibited beyond these hours, on Sunday, and on certain holidays, unless otherwise allowed by a city-approved permit. The Noise Code does contain exemption provisions.

For the East Link light rail project, the city has approved the following Expanded Exempt Work Hours Permits for the South Bellevue segment (Permit 15-124380 LY)

• East Channel Bridge to the south end of the South Bellevue light station. Work is anticipated to occur in 10 to 12-hour shifts (during 24-hour period) for a 39 months. Maximum noise level is 77 dBA

• North of the South Bellevue station to the “Wye” at 112th Avenue SE. Work is anticipated to occur from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends for 34 months. Maximum noise level is 80 dBA.

• Note: A supplemental permit (17-114040 LY) was issued to allow for the installation of pre-cast tub girders for the light rail guideway to occur within the South Bellevue Station site. This permit covers the anticipated operations from January 2018 through January 2019.

View Sound Transit graphic of Expanded Work Hours Permit by construction zones.

The following are ways to receive East Link construction updates:

Sound Transit

• Subscribe to receive updates via text or email
• Contact the Outreach Office at 206-398-5465

City of Bellevue

• Subscribe to receive updates via text or email
• Contact Marie Jensen, East Link Outreach Lead at 425-452-2064

If you have a concern or question about light rail construction, please contact:

Sound Transit/East Link Outreach Office

• 206-398-5465
• eastlink@soundtransit.org
• 1-888-298-2395 (24-hour construction hotline)

City of Bellevue

• Marie Jensen, East Link Outreach, 425-452-2064 or mjensen@bellevuewa.gov
• Submit a service request with the MyBellevue app