By Chris Daniels,KOMO News Senior Reporter
BELLEVUE, Wash. — A group of Bellevue homeowners says Sound Transit’s new 2 Line trains crossing Lake Washington are keeping residents awake at night and may be violating local noise ordinances.
Residents in Bellevue’s Enatai neighborhood say a loud, low-frequency rumble generated by trains crossing the East Channel Bridge has disrupted their sleep and quality of life for months.
Now, a group of homeowners is threatening legal action against Sound Transit, alleging the agency is violating noise standards and failing to address repeated complaints.
“It’s like rolling thunder,” homeowner Michael Eggers said. “At first, we thought Boeing was testing jet engines.”
Eggers and his neighbors began documenting the noise shortly after Sound Transit started full-scale testing of the East Link extension in February. They say the sound intensified when regular service across Lake Washington began in late March.
According to a June 8 letter sent to Sound Transit leadership, residents have experienced “excessive noise and vibration” from trains crossing an expansion joint on the East Channel Bridge since testing began. The letter alleges Sound Transit has been aware of the problem for months but has failed to provide meaningful relief.
The homeowners claim the low-frequency sound penetrates walls and windows, making it difficult to sleep. The letter states trains operate until about 12:45 a.m. and begin again as early as 4:30 a.m., resulting in roughly 50 train crossings during overnight hours.
“It has really affected our sleep,” Eggers said.
According to measurements cited in the letter, residents recorded train crossings reaching about 83 decibels beneath the bridge, compared with about 64 decibels from nearby vehicle traffic. The letter claims the train noise is roughly 3.5 times louder than automotive traffic and carries substantially greater sound energy.
Residents also contend nighttime train noise reached about 65 decibels at nearby homes, exceeding ambient nighttime noise levels measured at about 57.5 decibels.
The homeowners argue that those levels may violate local noise regulations and conflict with environmental commitments made during the project’s planning process.
Bellevue’s noise code establishes stricter standards during nighttime hours in residential areas, with recent amendments intended to reduce disturbances that interfere with sleep.
The eight-page letter details months of communication between residents and Sound Transit officials, including requests for noise monitoring and mitigation.
The attorney representing the homeowners alleges Sound Transit repeatedly promised testing, updates, and results but failed to provide information promptly. Residents characterize the agency’s response as “delays, stonewalling, silence, and broken commitments.”
“They’ve known about this for four months, and we’ve received nothing but delays, broken promises, and stonewalling,” Eggers said.
The letter further alleges Sound Transit may have failed to fully evaluate the effects of the bridge expansion joint during environmental review of the East Link project. It also raises concerns about potential impacts on wildlife habitat in the Lake Washington corridor.
As a temporary solution, residents are asking Sound Transit to slow trains as they cross the East Channel Bridge, particularly between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. They contend a speed reduction would have minimal impact on riders while immediately reducing overnight disturbances.
In a statement to KOMO News, Sound Transit acknowledged receiving the attorney’s letter but declined to discuss the allegations.
“Since there is pending legal action, we can’t comment,” a spokesperson wrote.
The dispute is not the first time Sound Transit has faced complaints about elevated rail noise.
In 2009, Sound Transit acknowledged that light rail trains operating through South Tukwila exceeded federal nighttime noise limits in certain areas. The agency ultimately installed lubrication equipment and other mitigation measures to reduce the sound levels. For now, Eggers hopes public attention will prompt agency leaders to act.
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