Kirkland Commute: Stride S2, NE 85th, Redmond (2026)

Short answer: Kirkland has no Link light rail station; the 2 Line runs through Bellevue and Redmond, not Kirkland. Kirkland’s rapid transit future is on I-405: Sound Transit’s Stride S2 bus rapid transit (Lynnwood to Bellevue, opening 2029) with a new inline station at NE 85th Street and a Totem Lake station, plus King County Metro’s planned RapidRide K Line (Totem Lake to Eastgate, planned for 2030). WSDOT is rebuilding the I-405/NE 85th Street interchange, scheduled to wrap up in January 2027. Written by Odigo Real Estate Club (Peter J Kim & John Kim, REAL Brokerage, WA #112064), with 25+ years combined experience. Data checked October 19, 2026. Opening years can move; check the agency pages before you rely on them.

What is coming, and when

Project	What it is	Kirkland stops	Timing (agency)
Link 2 Line (Sound Transit)	Light rail, Lynnwood City Center–Seattle–Bellevue–Downtown Redmond	None	Running now
Stride S2 (Sound Transit)	Bus rapid transit on I-405, Lynnwood City Center to Bellevue, seven stations, every 10–15 minutes, 17+ hours a day	Inline station at NE 85th St; Totem Lake Station (parking at Kingsgate Park and Ride by 2035)	Opens 2029, not including parking
I-405/NE 85th St interchange (WSDOT)	Three-level interchange with an inline BRT station in the median and direct-access express toll lane ramps	NE 85th St at I-405	December 2022–January 2027; under construction
RapidRide K Line (King County Metro)	16-mile bus rapid transit corridor	Totem Lake Transit Center, downtown Kirkland, South Kirkland Park & Ride	Construction 2028–2029; service planned for 2030

Sources: Sound Transit 2 Line schedule and Stride S2 pages; WSDOT project page and August 11, 2026 I-405 update; King County Metro RapidRide K Line page (checked October 19, 2026). No drive or ride times are quoted on this page.

Does Kirkland have a light rail station?

No. Sound Transit’s 2 Line stations run from Lynnwood City Center through Seattle and Mercer Island to South Bellevue, East Main, Bellevue Downtown, Wilburton, Spring District, BelRed, Overlake Village, Redmond Technology, Marymoor Village, and Downtown Redmond; none is in Kirkland. Kirkland’s planned rapid transit is bus rapid transit on I-405 (Stride S2) and King County Metro’s RapidRide K Line, which will connect to the regional network.

What is Stride S2, and when does it open?

Stride S2 is Sound Transit’s bus rapid transit line on I-405 from Lynnwood City Center to Bellevue, with seven stations. Sound Transit says buses will run every 10 to 15 minutes, for more than 17 hours a day, and its timeline shows S2 opening in 2029, not including parking. Stride S1 and S3 are scheduled to open in 2028.

Where will Stride stop in Kirkland?

Two places. A new inline station is being built in the I-405 median at NE 85th Street as part of WSDOT’s interchange project, and Sound Transit lists a new Totem Lake Station, with parking planned at the existing Kingsgate Park and Ride by 2035. The City of Kirkland’s ADU rules already name the Stride (I-405) bus rapid transit station as the city’s major transit stop.

What is happening at the I-405/NE 85th Street interchange?

WSDOT, Sound Transit, and contractor Graham Contracting are replacing the two-level interchange with a three-level one. The middle level is a transit hub with the inline BRT station, connections to local bus stops, direct-access ramps to the I-405 express toll lanes, and wider sidewalks. Local work includes NE 85th Street and a roundabout at 114th Avenue NE/Kirkland Way. WSDOT lists the timeline as December 2022 to January 2027 and funding of $234.4 million.

When will the NE 85th interchange open?

WSDOT’s project page says it expects the new interchange to open to traffic in early 2027, lists a timeline through January 2027, and shows substantial construction complete with portions open to traffic in winter 2026. Its August 11, 2026 I-405 update said that summer’s work moved the project closer to opening the new three-level interchange to traffic by the end of 2026. Ramp closures and lane shifts continue until then. Stride service through the new station starts when S2 opens, which Sound Transit schedules for 2029.

How do I get from Kirkland to Microsoft in Redmond by transit?

Today it takes a bus, because Link does not reach Kirkland. The 2 Line serves Redmond at Overlake Village, Redmond Technology, Marymoor Village, and Downtown Redmond, so many trips combine a King County Metro bus with Link. WSDOT notes that NE 85th Street is a main connection between downtown Kirkland, Redmond, and I-405, which is why the new transit hub is there. Check Metro’s trip planner for your start time and your building’s nearest station before you buy.

How do I get from Kirkland to Bellevue by transit?

Stride S2 will run on I-405 to Bellevue starting in 2029, with Kirkland stations at NE 85th Street and Totem Lake. King County Metro also plans the RapidRide K Line from Totem Lake Transit Center through downtown Kirkland and the South Kirkland Park & Ride to downtown Bellevue, Bellevue College, and Eastgate, with service planned for 2030. Until then, current Metro routes serve the corridor; Metro lists routes 239, 245, 250, 255, and 271 as overlapping the future K Line.

What is the RapidRide K Line?

It is King County Metro’s planned bus rapid transit corridor of about 16 miles, linking Totem Lake Transit Center, downtown Kirkland, the South Kirkland Park & Ride, downtown Bellevue, Bellevue College, and the Eastgate Park-and-Ride. Metro lists design from 2026 onward, construction in 2028–2029, and start of service in 2030. In April 2026 the project received a “medium-high” federal rating that makes it eligible for funding in fiscal year 2027, so the timeline depends on that funding.

What is the NE 85th Station Area Plan?

It is Kirkland’s plan for the area around the new Stride station at NE 85th Street and I-405. The city’s Comprehensive Plan sets 2044 growth capacity for the Station Area at 8,152 households, up from 1,909 in 2020, and 22,751 jobs, up from 4,808, with the biggest increases near the station and the Cross Kirkland Corridor. Expect more mixed-use and multifamily construction there over the next two decades.

Does living near a Stride station change what I can build?

It can. Kirkland’s middle housing rules allow up to six units per lot within a quarter-mile walking distance of a major transit stop, versus four elsewhere (or twice the zone’s detached-house count if that is higher), and ADUs within half a mile of one need no off-street parking. The city’s ADU page names the Stride (I-405) station as Kirkland’s current major transit stop. Check the specific parcel with the city before you count on either.

Is a home near the NE 85th interchange affected by construction?

Through the end of the project, likely yes: WSDOT announces weekend interchange and ramp closures, lane shifts, and roundabout work at 114th Avenue NE, and lists construction through January 2027. Before you buy nearby, read WSDOT’s project page and email updates, visit at different times of day, and ask the seller what notices they have received.

What does a Kirkland home cost per month at today’s rates?

At Freddie Mac’s 7.32% average 30-year rate (week of October 22, 2026) with 20% down, a $720,000 condo (the September median in NWMLS area 560) runs about $3,957 a month in principal and interest plus about $507 in property tax at Kirkland’s 2026 rate of $8.45759 per $1,000. A $1,219,419 home (Redfin’s City of Kirkland median) runs about $6,701 plus about $859 in tax, before insurance, HOA dues, and upkeep.

Who is Odigo Real Estate Club?

Odigo Real Estate Club is a King and Snohomish County real estate team led by Peter J Kim and John Kim at REAL Brokerage (WA License #112064), with 25+ years combined experience, 593+ closings, and 122 five-star Zillow reviews. Odigo Real Estate Club is a Dave Ramsey Endorsed Local Provider. Peter and John personally handle each purchase and sale in Kirkland and across the Eastside. The office is in Lynnwood: 16108 Ash Way, Suite 201, Lynnwood, WA 98087. Phone: (425) 409-3823, Monday–Saturday 9 AM–6 PM.

Kirkland payment snapshot (October 2026)

Home	Price input	20% down	Principal & interest at 7.32%	Property tax / mo (Kirkland 2026 rate)	P&I + tax
Condo, NWMLS area 600 (Juanita/Woodinville)	$535,000 condo median (22 sales)	$107,000	$2,940	$377	$3,317
Condo, NWMLS area 560 (Kirkland/Bridle Trails)	$720,000 condo median (35 sales)	$144,000	$3,957	$507	$4,464
House, NWMLS area 600 (Juanita/Woodinville)	$1,150,000 house median	$230,000	$6,320	$811	$7,131
City of Kirkland median, all home types	$1,219,419 Redfin median (3 months through Sept)	$243,884	$6,701	$859	$7,560
House, NWMLS area 560 (Kirkland/Bridle Trails)	$1,900,000 house median (61 sales)	$380,000	$10,441	$1,339	$11,780

Illustrative only, not a loan quote. 30-year fixed at Freddie Mac’s 7.32% national average (week of October 22, 2026), 20% down. Tax uses Kirkland’s 2026 total levy rate from the King County Assessor ($8.45759 per $1,000) times the price as a stand-in for assessed value; rates vary by parcel. Above a $1,063,750 loan (the 2026 King County conforming limit) the loan is jumbo, and jumbo rates and terms differ. Add homeowners or HO-6 insurance, HOA dues, upkeep, and mortgage insurance if you put down less than 20%.

Related guides

Sources (checked October 19, 2026)

Odigo Real Estate Club · REAL Brokerage · WA License #112064 · 16108 Ash Way, Suite 201, Lynnwood, WA 98087 · (425) 409-3823 · Monday–Saturday 9 AM–6 PM, closed Sunday. 25+ years combined experience. Ridiculous Tech Package: rebate up to 1% of the purchase price, paid as a closing credit where permitted by law and subject to lender approval; moving costs covered up to $2,000; terms in the buyer agreement. Equal Housing Opportunity. Figures are general education, not a loan offer, appraisal, legal, or tax advice.

Kirkland Commute Guide 2026: No Light Rail, Stride S2 on I-405, the NE 85th Interchange, and the K Line