Project Background
Planned for service in 2030, the RapidRide K Line will provide fast, reliable and consistent transit service between Totem Lake in Kirkland and the Eastgate Park-and-Ride with stops at key hubs such as Bellevue College and downtown Bellevue.
The K Line will connect riders to other major transit routes in the area, including Sound Transit’s Link light rail 2 Line, I-405 Stride bus rapid transit, and the existing RapidRide B Line in Bellevue. By providing a network of frequent transit connections, Eastside passengers will be able to reach more locations in less time.
RapidRide K Line planning began several years ago, and design and outreach were temporarily paused in 2020. This summer, a new round of outreach restarts the process of encouraging community input on the proposed route along an 18-mile north-south corridor between Kirkland and Bellevue. King County Metro seeks to gather input on the project vision for the route alignment and station locations by Fall 2024 to begin applying for federal funding to complete the design and construction for the K Line.
More details are available on Metro’s RapidRide K Line project web page
Bellevue’s role
The K Line is an outcome of the Bellevue’s Transit Master Plan (TMP), which was adopted by City Council in 2014. Bellevue’s TMP outlines the city’s highest transit priority: to enhance all-day service on frequent transit network corridors.
Bellevue is working with King County Metro and our community partners to advance the K Line. In this phase of the project, the city’s role is to:
- Represent local needs and ensure that the city's transit interests are effectively represented in K Line planning through a set of Draft Guiding Principles adopted by Council in June 2024. The principles are based on council-adopted policy in the Transit Master Plan, Comprehensive Plan, Mobility Implementation Plan, and other policy documents.
- Provide feedback on enhancements that will encourage long-term ridership growth on the K Line, as well as support a compatible land use environment, transit facilities, safe and connected pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and speed and reliability infrastructure.
- Contribute detailed feedback for the Locally Preferred Alternative (or, final proposed K Line route), which will be presented to the community and City Council in the late summer of 2024.
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Project Timelime
- 2019 - K Line Project Kick-off
- 2019-2020: Community Engagement (Phase 1)
- King County Metro's initial community engagement efforts to understand local transit needs and priorities from communities on the Eastside.
- Spring 2024: Speed and reliability analysis
- Bellevue and King County Metro analyze proposed projects that make it easier to get to the bus as well as improve the speed and reliability of service.
- Early summer 2024: Community Engagement (Phase 2)
- King County Metro public engagement to inform the project vision of the K Line route.
- Winter 2025: Community Engagement (Phase 3)
- King County Metro to share the complete vision for the proposed K Line design with community members and collect additional feedback
- Spring 2025 - Present final design
- King County Metro to present the K Line project vision to Bellevue and Kirkland City Councils.
- 2025 - Apply for funding
- King County Metro to apply for federal funds to construct the K Line