Does Kirkland Have Light Rail, or Should You Buy in Redmond for the 2 Line? (2026)
Short answer: No. Kirkland does not have a Link light rail station in 2026, and Sound Transit's planned 4 Line from South Kirkland to Issaquah has an opening forecast of 2050. What Kirkland will get sooner is Stride S2 bus rapid transit along I-405, with stations at Totem Lake and NE 85th Street, starting as soon as 2028. If walking to a train is a must for you today, Redmond is the Eastside city to look at: the 2 Line already stops at Overlake Village, Redmond Technology, Marymoor Village and Downtown Redmond. If your job is in Kirkland or you drive most days, Kirkland can still be the better buy.
What rail and rapid transit actually serve each city
Data from Sound Transit project pages and 2 Line schedule, fetched November 2, 2026.
Stride S2: what Kirkland buyers should know
Stride is Sound Transit's bus rapid transit program. The S2 Line will replace ST Express 535 between Bellevue and Lynnwood, with seven stations, buses every 10 to 15 minutes for 17+ hours a day, seven days a week, and transfers to Link at Lynnwood City Center and Bellevue Transit Center. Sound Transit says service begins as soon as 2028 and plans to add parking at the Kingsgate Park and Ride for the Totem Lake station by 2035.
That's a real improvement for north Kirkland, especially near Totem Lake, but it's a bus on the freeway with a transfer to reach most Link destinations. Price a Kirkland home on the commute you'll have, not the one a map makes look easy.
The 4 Line is a long way off
The South Kirkland-Issaquah Link project would start near the South Kirkland Park-and-Ride, serve the Wilburton, Bellevue Downtown and East Main stations, and continue through Eastgate to central Issaquah. In May 2026 the Sound Transit Board adopted an updated system plan with an opening forecast of 2050. Don't pay extra for a house today because it might be near a future 4 Line station.
Prices: the two cities are close right now
Source: Redfin Kirkland and Redmond housing market pages, fetched November 2, 2026. Citywide medians mix condos, townhomes and houses, so compare the same home type before you decide.
With both medians at about $1.2M, the choice usually comes down to the commute and the home itself, not a big price gap between cities. Prices near a specific station can run differently from the citywide number, so ask for sold comps within walking distance of the station you'd use.
When Redmond makes more sense
- You work at or near the Microsoft Redmond campus and want to take the train from Downtown Redmond or Marymoor Village to Redmond Technology station.
- You have office days in Bellevue or Seattle and want a one-seat ride without driving to a park-and-ride.
- You'd rather own a condo or townhome near a station than a larger lot farther out.
More detail: Redmond neighborhoods closest to Microsoft and the 2 Line and does living near Marymoor Village Station cut a Microsoft commute.
When Kirkland still makes more sense
- You work in Kirkland, for example at the Google Kirkland offices, so you won't be using Link for your main commute anyway.
- You drive or bike most days and a station isn't on your must-have list.
- You live north near Totem Lake and the future S2 stop, plus a transfer at Bellevue or Lynnwood, covers your occasional transit trips.
- A specific home, street or lot simply fits you better.
More detail: Redmond vs Kirkland for Microsoft employees and Juanita vs Houghton vs Rose Hill for Google Kirkland.
How to test it before you write an offer
- Do the commute at the time you'd actually leave, from the street you're considering, at least once.
- Use Sound Transit's trip planner for the train-plus-bus version and compare door-to-door time, not just ride time.
- For a Kirkland home sold on "transit access," ask which route and stop it means and whether that service runs today or is still planned.
- Compare recent sales of the same home type near the station against the citywide median.
Frequently asked questions
Does Kirkland have light rail?
No. Kirkland has no Link light rail station in 2026. The closest Link stations are in Bellevue and Redmond.
When is light rail coming to Kirkland?
Sound Transit's 4 Line from South Kirkland to Issaquah has an opening forecast of 2050, with early planning starting in 2027. Stride S2 bus rapid transit, with Kirkland stations at Totem Lake and NE 85th, is planned to start as soon as 2028.
Which Redmond stations are on the 2 Line?
Overlake Village, Redmond Technology, Marymoor Village and Downtown Redmond.
Are Kirkland homes more expensive than Redmond homes?
Right now the citywide medians are about the same. Redfin shows both at about $1.2M for the three months ending September 2026, with Kirkland at $623 per square foot and Redmond at $603.
Is it worth paying more to live near a 2 Line station?
It depends on how often you'll ride. If you'll use it most workdays, being able to walk to the station can be worth a lot to you. If you'll ride a few times a month, put the money into the home instead.
Talk it through with us
Odigo Real Estate Club helps buyers across King and Snohomish counties compare homes on the commute they'll really have. Our team has 25+ years combined experience. Call Peter Kim at (425) 409-3823 or stop by 16108 Ash Way, Suite 201, Lynnwood, WA 98087, Monday through Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM.
Sources
- Sound Transit, Stride bus rapid transit (fetched Nov. 2, 2026)
- Sound Transit, Stride S2 Line and S2 folio PDF (fetched Nov. 2, 2026)
- Sound Transit, South Kirkland-Issaquah Link (fetched Nov. 2, 2026)
- Sound Transit, 2 Line schedule, Lynnwood to Downtown Redmond (fetched Nov. 2, 2026)
- Redfin, Kirkland housing market and Redmond housing market (data through Sept. 2026, fetched Nov. 2, 2026)
About the Author
Peter Kim
Peter Kim is the owner of Odigo Real Estate Club, a leading real estate agency in the Greater Seattle area that specializes in residential, commercial, and luxury properties. With over 25 years of combined experience and a team of highly skilled agents, Peter brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the real estate space.
