Ride light rail in Snohomish County
Sound Transit's Lynnwood Link Extension offers four light rail stations North of Northgate Station in Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, and Shoreline, making for faster local and regional connections.
Getting to light rail
See our lists of bus routes that can connect you to light rail below or use our Plan My Trip online tool to determine the best route and schedule for you. You can also take Zip Shuttle Alderwood to connect to light rail at Lynnwood City Center.
Parking at stations fills up quickly early in the day, so avoid the hassle by taking the bus to light rail!
Buses that connect to light rail
Catch one of these buses with service in Snohomish County to Link light rail stations. Expand one of the lists below to see which routes you can ride to or from that station.
About the Lynnwood light rail extension
Click the map to view larger
Link 1 Line and 2 Line
- Take the 1 Line if you are planning to travel to southeast Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport, and Federal Way.
- Take the 2 Line if you are planning to travel to Mercer Island, Bellevue, and Downtown Redmond Station.
If you're heading to or from downtown Seattle, you can board either a 1 Line or 2 Line train between Lynnwood City Center Station and the International District/Chinatown station.
Lynnwood extension light rail stations:
- Lynnwood City Center Station
- Mountlake Terrace Station
- Shoreline North/185th Station
- Shoreline South/148th Station
Lynnwood City Center Station is currently the final stop. Community Transit provides direct bus service to the Shoreline North/185th Station, Mountlake Terrace Station, and Lynnwood City Center Station.
Regularly ride light rail?
Sign up for Sound Transit rider alerts to know about changes that may affect your ride.
Riding light rail
Light rail fares
Link light rail charges a flat fare per ride.
| Adult (Ages 19–64) | Youth (Age 18 and younger) | Reduced Fare (Seniors / People with Disabilities / Medicare) | ORCA LIFT (Low-Income fare) | Subsidized Annual Pass (Riders enrolled in one of six state benefit programs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00 | FREE | $1.00 | $1.00 | FREE |
How to pay
When arriving at the station, just find the closest ORCA Card reader and “tap on” by placing your card flat against it. One beep and a green light mean you’re good to go.
ORCA card
When you use your ORCA card to transfer from a bus to light rail, you don’t have to pay two full fares — your first-leg fare counts toward the second leg of your trip within a two-hour window.
Tap to Pay
Use your contactless credit or debit card and simply Tap to Pay using the ORCA card reader, or tap your phone to use Apple Pay™, Google Pay™, or Samsung Pay™. Continue using the same card for your transit trip to receive the same two-hour transfer credit like an ORCA card.
Tickets & day passes
Buy Link tickets or day passes from the station ticket machine with cash, or most debit/credit cards.
Transit GO ticket app
You can also pay your fare using your smartphone and the Transit GO Ticket app.
Hours and schedules
Link light rail operates seven days a week.
- 1 Line trains run every 8, 10, or 15 minutes, depending on the time of day. Service is available from 5 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday and from 6 a.m. to midnight on Sundays and holidays.
- 2 Line trains run every 10 minutes from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Check your local bus schedule if you plan to connect to light rail by bus, especially for late-night trips. Visit the Sound Transit Website for schedule details.
Taking your bike to light rail?
Riders can travel with their bike on the train by following Sound Transit's guidelines. Learn more about bringing your bike on Link and what to expect, from Sound Transit's web site.
Connect with Zip Shuttle Alderwood
You can take Zip to connect to light rail at Lynnwood City Center Station or connect to other transit options in the Alderwood service area.
In case of a Link service disruption
There may be times where Link service is temporarily interrupted, either due to planned maintenance or an emergency. In those instances Link service will be replaced by Link Shuttle bus service until light rail is restored. Learn more about Link Shuttle service and what to do in the event of service disruption. Information about upcoming planned disruptions is also available on Sound Transit's web site.
If you regularly ride the light rail, sign up for Sound Transit rider alerts to get notified about changes that may affect your ride.
Sound Transit service information
Light rail service is operated by Sound Transit.
Use the info below to find more info on Link light rail, the Sounder train, Sound Transit bus service, trip planning, lost
& found, holiday schedule, and general information:
- SoundTransit.org
- (888) 889-6368
- TTY Relay: Dial 711
Related News
No Parking? No Problem!
Pictured above: Parking at Lynnwood City Center fills up quickly early in the day as bus riders park and board the Link light rail to Seattle.
Struggling to find parking at the new Lynnwood City Center light rail station? You’re not alone. Parking fills up fast, but there’s a stress-free alternative: the bus.
“Taking the bus to light rail is easier than you think,” said Annmarie Gibson, assistant manager of Customer Care at Community Transit.
Parking frustrations
Many people are excited to try out light rail now that it has arrived in Snohomish County, which also means many people are driving to park at a light rail station.
Lynnwood City Center Station, managed by Sound Transit, has 1,900 parking spaces — 1,670 in its new five-story garage and 226 stalls in nearby surface lots.
“The garage has been full nearly every day. With many spaces blocked off due to construction, there is less parking for light rail riders. People are frustrated,” Gibson said.
Parking spaces also fill up during major athletic events and concerts at venues in Seattle.
Take the bus to connect with light rail
“If you’re going to a big event, the light rail is a great way to get there and can help you save on parking, but don’t count on finding an open parking spot at the station. At the Ride Store, we can help you find the best way to connect by bus,” Gibson said.
Community Transit’s new Ride Store is conveniently located near the bus bays at Lynnwood City Center Station.
There are 15 Community Transit bus routes and four Sound Transit bus routes that serve Lynnwood City Center. It is easy to take a connecting bus from your home area or by driving to a less-used park and ride lot and making that easy connection to Link light rail. Review a list of bus routes to nearby light rail stations to plan a connecting trip that is convenient to you.
Pay with your ORCA card
Riders can pay for bus and light rail fares with an ORCA card. Your ORCA fare transfers when switching between rides. With an ORCA card, pay $2.50 for adult bus fares, $1.25 for discounted fares, and ride free if you’re 18 or younger.
“You can get an ORCA card at the Ride Store. If you’re driving to the Ride Store, look for parking spots reserved for Ride Store customers. We’ve also helped customers find the best options to connect to light rail from their homes and other park & rides.”
Accessibility on the bus
“Our ADA-accessible parking spaces at Lynnwood City Center have also been at capacity, and some are blocked off due to construction,” says Gibson. “At the Ride Store, we can help you find options for connecting to light rail that meet your unique needs,” Gibson said.
All Community Transit buses are accessible, with ramps and wheelchair lifts, low floors, and kneeling features to assist in boarding. Riders who are unable to ride fixed-route buses may qualify for Community Transit’s DART paratransit service.
For people who want to connect to transit by bike, every bus has a bike rack. Bike lockers are also available to rent at select transit centers, including Lynnwood City Center.
Ready to plan your trip and learn more about connecting to light rail? Visit communitytransit.org/lightrail to get started.
