Seattle is Launching a High-Speed Bus Service Between 2027 and 2029
Sound Transit has officially approved the budget and schedule for the Stride Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, which will connect key cities in the Seattle suburbs and provide a faster and more sustainable alternative to current ST Express routes.
According to the announcement, the construction of individual sections will begin this year, with service scheduled between 2027 and 2029.
Stride will be part of a broader transportation system that includes Link light rail and regional bus lines. The project was initially included in ST3, a major transportation network expansion approved by voters in 2016.
What is Stride?
The new BRT system will include three routes:
- S1: Burien Bellevue (via I-405)
- S2: Lynnwood Bellevue (via I-405)
- S3: Shoreline Bothell (via SR 522/NE 145th Street)
Each route is designed to improve connectivity between residential and business areas, with connections to Link light rail in Bellevue, Lynnwood, Shoreline, and Tacoma.
Stride promises significant travel time reductions:
- Bellevue Burien: 40 minutes (20 minutes faster than current routes)
- Lynnwood Bellevue: 35 minutes
- Shoreline Bothell: 37 minutes
The total budget for the Stride program is $2.35 billion, which is 14% higher than initial estimates. This increase is due to inflation, changes in project documentation, the impact of market conditions, and adjustments to the implementation schedule. The project includes three key elements: the construction of a new Bus Base North, with $499.5 million allocated; the development of two high-speed routes along the I-405 freeway (routes S1 and S2) with an approved budget of $1.27 billion; and the launch of the S3 line along SR 522/NE 145th Street.
Bus Base North
Bus Base North (BBN) will be Sound Transit’s first dedicated transportation hub. It will serve the entire Stride fleet and part of the ST Express buses. The hub will have a capacity of 120 buses and operate 24 hours a day.
Facility features:
- Electric bus charging
- Maintenance and repair
- Fueling and washing
- Vehicle storage and dispatch
The Stride fleet will consist of double-decker buses (on lines S1 and S2) and 60-foot articulated models (on S3). All will be electric, with recharging during stops at terminal stations.
BBN is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2027.
I-405 Corridor Development
The I-405 Stride project covers the section from Lynnwood to Burien. It includes the construction of:
- New and upgraded transportation hubs
- Dedicated bus lanes on freeways
- Pedestrian access improvements
- Park-and-ride facilities and transfer stations
S1 (Burien – Bellevue) will open in the third quarter of 2028, and S2 (Lynnwood – Bellevue) in the second quarter of 2029.
SR 522/NE 145th Corridor: Route S3
The Stride S3 route will provide service along a 9-mile stretch between Shoreline and Bothell. Buses will run in lanes dedicated to public transportation and business access, with connections to routes in Woodinville. The S3 line will begin service in the second quarter of 2028.
Benefits to the Region
The implementation of Stride BRT is designed to improve the speed and reliability of bus service, ensure its full integration with Link light rail routes, and create an environmentally sustainable system through the transition to electric buses. This will improve transportation access to Seattle’s suburbs and strengthen connections between key regional points.
Additional benefits will include high frequency service, modern bus stop infrastructure, and the use of digital technology for real-time route tracking. According to Sound Transit Board Chair Dow Constantine, Stride will be a critical element in building a modern regional transportation network that connects the cities of Puget Sound.
Outlook 2029
In the coming years, Stride could change the face of public transportation in the western United States. Instead of slow bus routes prone to traffic jams, users will get a system as convenient as the subway. And for the region itself, this is a step toward sustainable and thoughtful development.