Can I Commute From Issaquah to Microsoft on the Bus, or Do I Need a Car Every Day?

Short answer: Yes. If you already work at Microsoft in Redmond, you can commute from Issaquah by bus and light rail on most weekdays without driving. You will usually make one transfer to the Link 2 Line, and a typical trip from Issaquah Highlands to Redmond Technology Station runs about 45 to 60 minutes, based on the published schedules. Whether you need a car every day depends less on the city and more on how close your home is to Issaquah Transit Center or the Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride.

The transit picture changed a lot in 2026. The 2 Line opened across Lake Washington on March 28, 2026, and Sound Transit and King County Metro rebuilt their Issaquah bus routes around it on August 29, 2026. If an older guide tells you to ride the 554, it is out of date. Below are the current options, all checked on October 19, 2026.

What changed on August 29, 2026

• ST Express 554 (Issaquah to Seattle) was eliminated. Sound Transit lists the 2 Line and the 556 as the alternatives.
• ST Express 556 was redesigned. It now runs between Issaquah and Bellevue, serving Bellevue Transit Center and Bellevue Downtown Station instead of the University District, with connections to the 2 Line, added stops in Issaquah, and service about every 15 minutes.
• Metro Route 269 was extended to Mercer Island Station from Issaquah Highlands using I-90, with weekday peak trips every 15 minutes and new weekend service. It no longer runs between Issaquah Highlands and Issaquah Transit Center.
• Other Metro changes: Route 218 now starts and ends at Mercer Island Station instead of downtown Seattle; new Route 215 links Mercer Island, Eastgate, Issaquah Highlands, Snoqualmie and North Bend (replacing Route 208); Route 271 was deleted, with the 556 covering Issaquah Transit Center, Eastgate and downtown Bellevue.

Option 1: ST Express 556 to the 2 Line in Bellevue

This is the most frequent all-day path. On weekdays the 556 starts at the Issaquah Highlands P&R, stops at Issaquah Transit Center and Eastgate P&R, then serves South Bellevue Station and Bellevue Transit Center. From either South Bellevue or Bellevue Downtown Station you board the 2 Line toward Downtown Redmond and get off at Redmond Technology Station, the station closest to Microsoft's main campus.

Here is one sample weekday morning trip from the schedule effective August 29, 2026, through March 26, 2027:

On the 2 Line, Sound Transit's current timetable shows about 19 minutes between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology, and about 13 minutes between Bellevue Downtown and Redmond Technology. Trains run about every 8 minutes at peak and every 10 to 15 minutes the rest of the day. Adding the bus, a transfer wait and the train, a Highlands rider should budget roughly 50 to 60 minutes to Redmond Technology. Starting at Issaquah Transit Center cuts about 15 minutes off the bus portion.

The 556 adult fare is $3. Weekday trips toward Bellevue start at 4:05 a.m. from the Highlands, and the last weekday trip back toward Issaquah leaves Bellevue Transit Center at 12:00 a.m., so late meetings are covered.

Option 2: Metro Route 269 to Marymoor Village Station

If you live near Issaquah Highlands, the redesigned 269 gives you a second way in. It runs from Mercer Island Station through Eastgate Freeway Station, the Issaquah Highlands P&R, the Pine Lake (South Sammamish) P&R, 228th Ave NE and Bear Creek P&R to Marymoor Village Station on the 2 Line. On the 2 Line's current timetable, Marymoor Village to Redmond Technology is about 4 minutes.

Sample weekday trips toward Marymoor Village (schedule effective August 29, 2026, through March 26, 2027):

That is about 38 to 40 minutes on the bus, then a short 2 Line ride back west to Redmond Technology. From the Highlands to Redmond Technology, that adds up to roughly 45 to 55 minutes, a little quicker than the 556 route. It also helps if your team sits in buildings closer to Marymoor Village or Downtown Redmond. Peak trips run about every 15 minutes; midday trips run about every 30 minutes. The last listed weekday trip toward Marymoor Village leaves Mercer Island Station at 7:30 p.m.

For more on the station itself, see our guide to whether living next to Marymoor Village Station cuts a Microsoft commute.

Option 3: Drive to a station, then ride

A lot of Issaquah commuters will end up mixing modes: drive or bike a short distance to Issaquah Transit Center or the Highlands P&R on some days, and drive straight to campus on others. If your home is a long walk from either hub, a car for the first mile is the realistic plan. Test the drive at your real commute hour before you buy, since I-90 and SR 900 traffic varies a lot by time of day.

So, do you need a car every day?

1. Probably not, if you can walk or take a short trip to Issaquah Transit Center or the Highlands P&R. Between the 556 every 15 minutes and the 269 at peak, you have frequent options in both directions.
2. Probably yes for some days, if your home is far from those hubs. A first-mile drive to the bus is still far easier than a full drive to Redmond, but you will want a car in the household.
3. Count your office days. On a two- or three-day hybrid schedule, a 45 to 60 minute transit trip is often an easy trade for the extra space you can get. Five days a week, it adds up.
4. Check where your building is. Microsoft's Redmond campus covers many buildings. Look up the walk from Redmond Technology Station to your building, and ask your team about any employer shuttle or commute benefits before you count on a door-to-door time.

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Issaquah vs. Redmond vs. Sammamish on price (Redfin, three months ending September 2026)

These are citywide medians across all home types (houses, condos and townhomes). Issaquah's median ran about $160,000 below Redmond's and about $455,000 below Sammamish's over the same window. Living in Redmond buys you a shorter trip to campus; Issaquah buys you a lower entry price with a bus-plus-train commute that improved in 2026.

Related reading: Redmond vs. Bellevue for a Microsoft employee, is the Sammamish Plateau worth the extra commute, and Issaquah Highlands vs. Olde Town for Costco and tech households.

Frequently asked questions

Can I commute from Issaquah to Microsoft on the bus?

Yes. Take ST Express 556 to South Bellevue or Bellevue Downtown Station, or Metro Route 269 from the Issaquah Highlands P&R to Marymoor Village Station, then ride the 2 Line to Redmond Technology Station. Budget about 45 to 60 minutes from Issaquah Highlands, including a transfer.

Does the 554 still run from Issaquah?

No. Sound Transit eliminated Route 554 on August 29, 2026. Its listed replacements are the 2 Line and the redesigned 556, which now runs about every 15 minutes between Issaquah and Bellevue.

Is there light rail in Issaquah?

Not today. The closest 2 Line stations for Issaquah riders are South Bellevue, Bellevue Downtown, Mercer Island and Marymoor Village, all reached by bus.

How much does the bus cost?

The ST Express 556 adult fare is $3. ORCA LIFT and senior or disabled fares are $1, and riders 18 and under ride free.

Do I need a car if I live in Issaquah and work at Microsoft?

Not every day if you live near Issaquah Transit Center or the Highlands P&R. If your home is far from those hubs, plan on at least a short drive to the bus, and on driving to campus some days.

Talk it through with a local agent

If you already work at Microsoft and are weighing Issaquah against Redmond or Sammamish, we can map real door-to-bus times for the homes you're considering and pull recent sales near Issaquah Transit Center and the Highlands P&R. Odigo Real Estate Club has 25+ years combined experience helping buyers across King and Snohomish counties.

Odigo Real Estate Club
Peter Kim, Broker
16108 Ash Way, Suite 201, Lynnwood, WA 98087
(425) 409-3823
Office hours: Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM

Schedules, fares and prices were checked on October 19, 2026, and can change. The current bus schedules run through March 26, 2027. Confirm times at soundtransit.org and kingcounty.gov/metro before you rely on them. Trip-time ranges are estimates added up from published schedules plus a typical transfer wait.

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