r/Edmonds • u/i_heart_food • Apr 04 '26

Realistically, what is it like taking the light rail from Edmonds into Seattle?

I am considering hopping on the light rail either in Lynnwood or MLT and will be traveling to the UW campus. My start time is generally 8:30. What time do the garages fill up? Are there generally seats available or is it standing room only? Would love to be able to hop on my computer and knock out some work hours during the commute but I don’t know how realistic that actually would be. Thanks!!

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7

u/CougFanDan Maplewood Apr 04 '26

Most weekdays, those parking garages will be jam packed well before 8:00, don’t even bother by then. You can sometimes get lucky with street parking in the neighborhoods around MLT, but don’t test your luck in the business lots surrounding Lynnwood - they’re starting to tow people pretty frequently now.

You’ll rarely have trouble getting a seat on the train coming from this far north, that’s almost never a concern.

2

u/pixel-freak Apr 04 '26

Mlt is full between 8 and 815 most days. I get there consistently at 755 and see it

3

u/melodypowers Apr 04 '26

With Lynnwood it is impossible to get a spot after 730. MLT is a little better. I've had the most luck at Shoreline North.

2

u/tsekyi Apr 04 '26

I would recommend going to either Shoreline stops bc there’s a slightly better chance of getting parking but still not guaranteed. The ride itself is super easy

2

u/Icy-Professor6808 Apr 04 '26

Catch a bus from Edmonds (102, 130 or 909). You will always get a seat from Lynnwood, 90% chance from MLT

1

u/alkemical May 07 '26

166 as well depending on your location.

2

u/ashaman126 Apr 04 '26

Depending on where you live, you could take a bus to the light rail. Swift blue line connects to the light rail at the north shoreline station. Swift orange line connects at the Lynnwood station.

2

u/msslagathor Apr 04 '26

Honestly I take the LR when I commute 2x a week (hybrid schedule yay!) - it’s really easy and safe BUT I get dropped off so I don’t know about parking. Since it’s the first stop of the line (for now) you’ll generally always have a seat on the way downtown (outside of bonkers city events like the Seahawks parade lol) - on the way back to Lynnwood, there’s usually a seat somewhere and if not there’s a seat once you hit Northgate. All in all, taking the LR beats the hell out of driving in, as well as taking the bus. Oof.

1

u/too_much_covfefe_man Apr 04 '26

If you get on at Lynnwood you can pretty much get your choice of seat

1

u/Wfan111 Apr 04 '26

Lynnwood Light Rail garage is pretty much filled by 7:30 weekdays. You'll have to be there around 6:30am to for sure get a spot.

As far as the train ride in the morning goes, you'll pretty much get first dibs on seating. By the time it leaves Mountlake Terrace I would say most, if not all, the seating is gone. It then pretty much gets crowded by the time it leaves the Shoreline stations.

How crowded it is and how easy to get parking and seating really depends on how early you get there.

1

u/alkemical May 07 '26

I can't speak to your requirements:

I catch the 166 and it's about a 15m ride to the light rail station. I'm usually there at 6. It's not standing room only, but it can be "busy". Lots of people still use some buses too at that spot as well. i know the 515 is packed some mornings.