Visit Bellevue Launches Free Light Rail Shuttle from Downtown Station
Jul 30, 2026, 9:04 AM
425 Business
Originally published on 425 Business.
Visit Bellevue on Monday will begin piloting a new, free electric-shuttle service from Sound Transit’s 2 Line downtown station to hotels, restaurants, shopping, parks, attractions, and other locations throughout downtown Bellevue.
Bellevue Light Rail Shuttle, powered by Amazon, is an extension of the existing BellHop service, a free electric shuttle throughout downtown that has operated for three years. While BellHop offers on-demand rides throughout the city via an app, the Light Rail Shuttles will stage at Sound Transit’s Bellevue Downtown Station — located at 594 110th Ave. NE — from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday as trains arrive and take passengers to locations within the BellHop service area. No reservations or mobile app are required.
Passengers will board Bellevue Light Rail Shuttle at a designated Bellevue Light Rail Shuttle pickup area outside the station. For the first month of the pilot, a Light Rail Shuttle ambassador will be at the downtown station from 8 a.m. to noon to guide people to the shuttle.
The Light Rail Shuttle will run through December, using two Volkswagen ID. Buzz vehicles. During the pilot, Visit Bellevue will evaluate the program and hopes to work toward a more permanent service based on findings. BellHop started as a pilot in summer 2023 and soon became a regular mode of downtown transportation, now operating five Kia EV9 vehicles. Visit Bellevue also offers a Bellevue Airport & Cruise Shuttle from city hotels to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Seattle cruise ship terminals for a one-way fare starting at $30.
“Bellevue has been intentionally building toward a sustainable future where travelers can arrive easily, move intuitively, and experience more without relying on a car,” Brad Jones, executive director of Visit Bellevue, said in a news release. “The Bellevue Light Rail Shuttle closes the last mile between regional transit and the heart of our destination, making it effortless to go from train to hotel, from meeting to meal, from shopping to parks — all seamlessly connected in a modern travel experience.”
Keri Pravitz, manager of community engagement for Amazon in Bellevue, where the company has added new offices and thousands of employees in recent years, added in a statement, “We see tremendous value in programs that improve access to public transit, support sustainable mobility, and connect people with local businesses and destinations. Public-private partnerships like this allow us to explore innovative ideas and respond directly to community needs.”
Circuit’s Mark Iannon said Amazon and Visit Bellevue made it possible to launch a fully electric service giving residents, workers, and visitors an easier way to connect to light rail.
“Together, we’re helping create a transportation network that is more accessible, sustainable, and connected,” Iannon said in the release.
The shuttle also is being supported by Circuit through operations, hospitality, and staffing; the city through a partnership in communications and supporting the mission; and Sound Transit from communications and marketing, including rolling out advertisements at various 2 Line stations.
The Light Rail Shuttle arrives after the March opening of Sound Transit’s 2 Line Crosslake Connection, which introduced the world’s first light rail operating across a floating bridge to connect Seattle and the Eastside. Together with BellHop, the airport and cruise shuttles, the Ride Bellevue bike program, and expanding pedestrian-friendly downtown, the new shuttle strengthens Bellevue’s position as one of the Pacific Northwest’s most accessible destinations for travelers arriving without a personal vehicle, Visit Bellevue said.
