Wilburton Station FAQs

Where will the station be located?

This station will be located northeast of NE 8th Street at 116th Ave NE. Riders enter this station from a south entrance at Northeast 8th Street and a north entrance connecting to 116th Avenue Northeast via a new pedestrian walkway.

What will this station look like?

This elevated station features a central platform from which riders can enjoy views of the Bellevue skyline and Lake Bellevue. At street level a new public plaza will welcome you to the Wilburton neighborhood. See schematic from Sound Transit below for visual reference.

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

Yes, Sound Transit is working with artist Phillip K. Smith III on a plaza containing a 40-foot tower that responds to the color of the sky and the changing light over the course of a day. An x-shaped column of mirrored surfaces will reflect the sky and station surroundings during the day. Internal lights will transform the sculpture into a column of colors during the darker hours of the day, changing and combining from early morning until full daylight, then again from dusk to the end of service in the evening.

When will construction be complete?

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.

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 21 minutes from Wilburton Station to International District/Chinatown Station where one can continue towards the University of Washington or transfer to access Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

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

How will I be able to access the Wilburton Station?

The City of Bellevue has been long anticipating this station and is working to improve multimodal connections in its vicinity. From this station you will find easy connections to several bus lines, to the Eastrail (Eastside Rail Corridor Trail) and in the future to the Grand Connection.

What changes are planned around the Wilburton Station?

A council-appointed Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) transmitted their recommendations to the Bellevue City Council in July 2018. The CAC articulated a new vision for the Wilburton area on the east side of Interstate 405 that focuses on transit-oriented development, improved amenities and special land use opportunities along the Eastrail (Eastside Rail Corridor Trail). Staff expect to go back to City Council in 2020 to begin the policy and code development for Wilburton. Any changes to policies or code would need to ultimately be adopted by Council.

To learn more and track the progress of this planning initiative please visit Community Development.

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

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.