Key findings regarding usability and support of East Link continued:
- Non-residents are more likely to use East Link light rail. When asked about likelihood to use East Link once it is operational on a scale of 0 (not at all) to 10:
- High likelihood (rated 8-10) — Non-residents (41.5%) vs. residents (32.5%)
- Lower likelihood (rated 0-7) – Bellevue residents (44.5%) vs. non-residents (34.1%)
- Bellevue residents are more likely than non-residents to prefer expanded bus service in place of light rail (40.5% for residents; 32.5% for non residents).
- Three-quarters of residents (74.9%) who are highly likely to support construction do not prefer expanded bus service.
- Likewise 70.3% of those likely to use East Link do not prefer expanded bus service.
- More than half (52.5%) of residents surveyed are aware of Rapid Ride, the new high-capacity buses operated by Metro Transit on accelerated timetables in heavily used traffic corridors. (The B Line serving Bellevue to Redmond opened October 1.)
- Of non-residents surveyed, more than half are not aware (54.1%) or selected “donʼt know/refuse” (11.3%) when asked about Rapid Ride.
- When asked if they would prefer a system similar to Rapid Ride instead of East Link light rail, Bellevue residents were evenly split. 41% said yes, 41% said no; 18% refused to answer or didnʼt know.
- Non-residents are less likely to prefer Rapid Ride to East Link. More than half (52.6%) said they would not prefer Rapid Ride while 26.8% of non-residents said yes and 20.6% refused to answer or didnʼt know.
- More than two-thirds (68.8%) of residents highly likely to use East Link would not prefer a system similar to Rapid Ride to light rail.
- When asked if they believe the East Link light rail was designed for the residents of Bellevue, more non-residents (53.6%) than residents (45.1%) said yes.
- Of residents who said they are highly likely to use East Link, 70.3% believe East Link was designed for residents. Only 35.3% of those less likely to use East Link said they think East Link was designed for Bellevue.
- Residents who ride the bus frequently (at least once per month) are significantly slightly more likely to believe East Link was designed for residents, e.g. 54.8% vs. 40.9% of those who ride less than once per month.
- Non-residents are more likely to use East Link light rail. When asked about likelihood to use East Link once it is operational on a scale of 0 (not at all) to 10:
- High likelihood (rated 8-10) — Non-residents (41.5%) vs. residents (32.5%)
- Lower likelihood (rated 0-7) – Bellevue residents (44.5%) vs. non-residents (34.1%)
- Non-residents are more likely to use East Link light rail. When asked about likelihood to use East Link once it is operational on a scale of 0 (not at all) to 10:
- High likelihood (rated 8-10) — Non-residents (41.5%) vs. residents (32.5%)
- Lower likelihood (rated 0-7) – Bellevue residents (44.5%) vs. non-residents (34.1%)
