Spring District - 120th Station FAQs

Where will the station be located?

This below-grade station in the BelRed neighborhood will be located between 120th and 124th Avenues NE.

What will this station look like?

Spring District/120th Station will be a retained cut below grade station. Parts of this station will be open-air allowing for light to reach the platform below. It will feature two side platforms. See the schematic from Sound Transit below for visual reference.

Will there be public art or open space as part of this station?

Yes, Art will be built into the very walls of this station. Sound Transit is working with artist Louie Gong on an environment for the station platform, with tile patterns for its walls overlaid by two long sinuous, cut-metal creatures. Inspired by the Northwest native and Chinese artwork of his ancestry, Gong's creatures suggest dragons. Up close, patrons will see that the dragons' bodies are filled with shapes and images drawn from plants and animals, native history, and the contemporary urban landscape.

When will construction be done?

Construction of the station and alignment is expected to complete by the end of 2020. 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.

Will there be a commuter parking lot at this station?

No. A new commuter parking lot is not being constructed at this station. The two park and rides built as part of East Link will be located at South Bellevue Station and Bel-Red/130th Station.

What will service from this station be like in 2023?

Trains will depart from this station every 6 minutes during peak hours. It will take approximately 23 minutes from Spring District/120th Station to International District/Chinatown Station where one can continue towards the University of Washington or transfer to access Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

What will change around the Spring District-120th Station

In 2009, in anticipation of East Link light rail, the City Council adopted a new subarea plan and land use code for the BelRed area. The plan anticipated the transformation of the former industrial area into a series of compact, mixed-use, transit-oriented neighborhoods organized around new East Link light rail stations. Development is largely proceeding according to plan with most of the initial development near the Spring District-120th Station. Significant mobility investments are occurring, including light rail, new and enhanced arterials, local grid streets, and pedestrian and bicycle improvements. Based on future Council direction, staff is ready to undertake a BelRed “Look Back” to determine opportunities to strategically modify code or policy language to better achieve the vision for BelRed.

How will the East Link light rail investment support the City of Bellevue in planning for its growth?

East Link will include six new light rail stations in the city, five of them are within Bellevue’s defined growth corridor, including East Main, Downtown Bellevue, Wilburton, Spring District/120th and BelRed/130th. The city’s planning for growth includes developing new mixed-use urban neighborhoods, with bold new visions, centered around transit and multimodal transportation options.

What measures are in place to reduce the impacts of light rail construction and operation in Bellevue?

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.

What hours is construction noise allowed?

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.

In 2017, the City approved an expanded exempt work hours permit for the Central Bellevue segment (Permit 17-102696). The permit allowed for work beyond regulated hours per the city’s Noise Code so that the long-span aerial guideway over I-405 and the guideway across NE 8th Street could be installed.

How can I receive East Link construction updates?

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

How do I report a concern? Ask a question?

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