Got your Orca cards ready? The Sound Transit Link Light Rail Lynnwood extension is now open.

*cue the train whistles*

This extension has been in the works since 2008 when the new stations were approved by voters. $3.1 billion + 16 years later, downtown Seattle is officially linked up with four more stations.

A fifth stop is still under construction just south of the Shoreline/148th stop. | Map via Sound Transit

Here are a few fast facts about the new extension:

The extension added another 8.5 miles of track up north.
It will take ~28 minutes to travel between Lynnwood and the Westlake stop.
It will be a ~56-minute commute between Mountlake Terrace and SeaTac.
Sound Transit is expecting to see 47,000-55,000 daily riders by 2026.

In honor of the new connection, Sound Transit and the local city governments are hosting several parties in the newly connected neighborhoods on Friday, Aug. 30.change to "today" in NL version Join in on the fun.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony | 11 a.m. | Lynnwood City Center Station | Local leaders will speak about all the hard work crews put in before officially opening the station. The first train ride will take off immediately afterwards.

Night Market | 4-8 p.m. | All four new stops | Grab a commemorative map, get stamps at each of the new stops, and enjoy food trucks, bouncy houses, live music, giveaways, and more. (Mountlake Terrace is calling this their biggest event ever.)