Stride is Coming to Bellevue: What Commuters Need to Know

Sound Transit’s Stride bus rapid transit is coming to Bellevue.  

Just a few months after the historic 2 Line Crosslake Connection that linked Bellevue to Seattle by light rail, Sound Transit is already preparing to launch its next big move in giving commuters more options to get around. Here's what's changing, where the stops will be, and what it means for anyone commuting through Bellevue Downtown.

What's Changing 

Stride will replace three existing ST Express routes with a faster, more frequent, higher-capacity bus service: 

• S1 Line (Bellevue to Burien) replaces ST Express 560 

• S2 Line (Bellevue to Lynnwood) replaces ST Express 535 

• S3 Line (Shoreline to Bothell) replaces ST Express 522 

Stride is not your typical bus. It’s like light rail on wheels, adopting features that may already be familiar to you. Off-board fare payment, multiple-door boarding, dedicated bus lanes, and buses every 10 minutes at peak. It's also Sound Transit's first battery-electric fleet, with double-decker buses on S1 and S2, and 60-foot articulated buses on S3.  

To get a clearer picture of what's coming, Connect Bellevue reached out to the Stride team at Sound Transit. Stride "will deliver fast, quiet, frequent service on all-electric double decker buses running at freeway speeds, allowing riders to take advantage of the 405 express lanes at a fraction of the cost of driving,” said Savanna Steele, Corridor Manager – East King County at Sound Transit.

What's Happening at the Bellevue Transit Center? 

Construction at the Bellevue Transit Center is already in progress and it's happening in phases. It will be retrofitted to accommodate Stride’s double-decker battery-electric buses. The work includes painting, modifying the existing canopy structure, sidewalk, and lighting and signage upgrades.  

Construction timeline 

•  July through October 2026: East half of the transit center is closed, shifting several bus bays to temporary stops on nearby streets. 

• October 2026 through January 2027: Construction moves to the west side. The current phase wraps up in February 2027. 

The S1 Line (Bellevue to Burien) is on track to open in 2028, with the S2 Line (Lynnwood to Bellevue) following in 2029. 

Here’s Where Your Stops Are 

• For Bellevue commuters, the S1 and S2 lines will be important to know: S1 Line: Five new BRT stations between Bellevue and Burien, plus a new transit center in south Renton. Two stations will add a combined 1,300 new parking spaces. 

• S2 Line: Seven stations between Bellevue and Lynnwood, with buses running primarily in the I-405 express toll lanes being expanded through Bothell and Kirkland. 

Both S1 and S2 lines connect directly to Link light rail service in Bellevue, meaning riders can move seamlessly between Stride and the 2 line. “The stride network will also connect directly to Link light rail stations in Bellevue, Lynnwood, Shoreline, and Tukwila, thus completing a loop of clean, electrified rapid transit around Lake Washington, transforming travel for the entire Puget Sound," said Steele. 

The station design borrows features directly from Link light rail for a reason. "Stride is a Bus Rapid Transit system, which means it uses many elements riders will recognize from light rail stations to create a fast and efficient bus trip… The double decker fleet was selected for this specific service mode, as they provide a more comfortable ride at highway speeds," said Steele.  

Riders will know they've found the right stop too. Stride stations will feature easily identifiable totems, signage, and real-time arrival screens, all of which will clearly indicate to passengers that they're riding Stride.

What Are the Benefits? 

For Bellevue commuters and businesses, Stride means: 

• Faster and more reliable trips thanks to dedicated bus lanes and transit priority improvements that help riders avoid I-405 traffic 

• More frequent service with buses every 10 to 15 minutes, 17+ hours a day, seven days a week 

• Seamless connections to Link light rail and other regional transit, making car-free travel across the Eastside more attainable  

• A cleaner ride with the region's first battery-electric bus fleet 

• More parking access near key S1 stations for riders combining driving with transit 

Employers can make it easy for their teams to use regional transportation network through ORCA Business Programs, King County Metro’s annual transit benefit program. As a service of the Bellevue Downtown Association and one of the country's longest-standing Transportation Management Associations (TMAs), Connect Bellevue is here to help! They leverage close ties with property managers, employers, and businesses in the downtown core and the greater Eastside to encourage and educate commuters and businesses on the benefits of transit, walking, bicycling, ridesharing, and working from home. Book an appointment online with a member of their team and receive a free ORCA Business Program consultation today!