The 4.3-mile line will feature stations at Northgate Mall, the Roosevelt neighborhood and the University District near the west side of the University of Washington campus. The adopted lifetime budget is $2.1 billion. Voters approved building North Link as part of the 2008 ballot measure that included 36 miles of light-rail extensions to the north, east and south of Seattle. A light-rail extension from Northgate to Lynnwood is scheduled to open in 2023.

North Link will connect with the University Link light-rail line at the University of Washington Station near Husky Stadium. University Link is scheduled to open in 2016.