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Welcome to the spring edition of Sound Transit's CTR newsletter! We've pulled together service-related and project-related highlights in one handy place for you to forward to your employees or professional network.
Sound Transit is among agencies across our region and state that are mobilizing to help control the spread of the novel coronavirus/COVID-19. Crews are cleaning vehicles and facilities more deeply and frequently, and removing any vehicle with a biohazard from service until disinfected. Our cleaning will focus on “high touch” areas like handrails, escalators and elevator buttons. If you see something on board a train or bus that needs attention, please alert a transit employee. You can call or text our security office 24 hours a day at 206-398-5268. Transit riders have an important role to play too by taking certain precautions emphasized by health authorities. Read this Platform blog post to learn more.
You've made it through nearly 10 weeks of Connect 2020 and we want to thank you for your good humor during this period of crowded trains and reduced Link service. We have one more weekend of bus shuttles replacing trains from Capitol Hill to SODO — the weekend of March 14 and 15. On Monday March 16, Link should be back serving all platforms in the downtown tunnel and will resume running every 6 minutes at peak times. As we near completion of this complicated track work, it's worth remembering its purpose was to connect existing Link tracks to new tracks heading to the Eastside. This will enable trains to serve 10 new light rail stations when the East Link extension opens in 2023, including stations in Judkins Park, Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond. Remember to sign up for Link Rider Alerts and visit the Connect 2020 website for more information.
Sound Transit implements changes to our existing service twice a year, in March and September. Each fall, Sound Transit publishes an annual service plan for public feedback and Board approval. The resulting plan informs the next two service changes before the cycle starts again.
The next service change begins Saturday, March 21. Routes that do not have weekend service will change on Monday, March 23.
One of the major changes you will see this month is the addition of the brand new Route 544. As part of our continued coordination with King County Metro's North Eastside Mobility Plan, and to more effectively use taxpayer resources, Sound Transit is implementing Route 544, which will offer weekday service to Overlake, South Kirkland and SR-520. This will provide a new connection from the Eastside to South Lake Union, which we have heard is a high priority.
Route 544 will also help alleviate standing loads and overcrowding on Route 545 during peak periods, benefiting approximately 5,000 riders.
In addition to the new route, we are making changes to routes 540, 541 and 542:
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Route 540: Discontinue route; reinvest resources into the new Route 544.
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Route 541: Discontinue 33 trips due to low ridership and move resources to Route 544; retain nine trips.
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Routes 541 and 542: In westbound direction, both will switch from serving Bay 2 to new Bay 4 adjacent to the University of Washington Station.
As part of Metro's North Eastside Mobility Plan, the restructuring of Route 255 will serve University of Washington Station, allowing riders to transfer to Link light rail instead of being stuck in downtown Seattle. This provides more access to areas served by Link, including Capitol Hill and the airport.
Map of bus service across SR 520, effective Monday, March 23:
 In addition to implementing changes on the SR 520 routes, minor changes will take place on several other ST Express routes. Pick up a Ride the Wave transit guide or visit www.soundtransit.org/servicechange to learn more.
Heads up: More changes coming this summer
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Route 511, 512, 513: The Mountlake Terrace freeway station will close for approximately six months starting in June. A special shuttle will operate between Mountlake Terrace and downtown Seattle during this time.
ST Express fare change: Starting July 1, 2020, Adult ST Express bus fares will be $3.25, regardless of destination. This change ends the multi-county fare zone system. Fares for ORCA LIFT, Youth and other discounted riders will not change.
In 2021 Sound Transit will open the Northgate Link Extension, adding three new light rail stations at Northgate, Roosevelt and the U District. When this extension opens, people traveling to and from Seattle will be able to connect to Link at new light rail stations and enjoy fast, traffic-free service to downtown Seattle, the University of Washington, Sea-Tac Airport and many more destinations around the region.
Sound Transit and our partner agencies are working together to restructure bus routes so that riders can take advantage of this new transit option. The transit agencies are developing a plan in which some routes will end at Northgate or Roosevelt Station, where riders would transfer to the Link light rail after Northgate Link opens in 2021.
Through the end of 2020, riders will be able to continue to learn about and comment on proposed ideas through various online resources and/or at in-person events.
Why will bus routes change?
Currently buses that travel on Interstate 5 between and Seattle experience some of the worst traffic in the country. Some people could save time by transferring to light rail when the Northgate Link Extension opens.
Which bus routes will be affected?
Sound Transit and King County Metro are proposing changes to bus routes in North King County, including Route 522. Learn more and fill out the online survey here by April 7, 2020.
In addition, Sound Transit and Community Transit are proposing adjustments to Snohomish County bus routes that serve downtown Seattle, as well as some that currently serve the University District. Learn more by visiting the Link Connections project page; a public survey collecting feedback on Snohomish County routes will be available as early as April 6. Bookmark the page and check back next month to provide your feedback on those routes.
Community Transit 400-series buses serving downtown Seattle and Sound Transit's service to Everett will continue unchanged until the opening of the Lynnwood Link Extension in 2024.
Sounder train service on a weekend? You bet! Sound Transit runs Sounder trains from both Lakewood and Everett on many weekend days, typically around sporting events or concerts. But you don’t have to attend the event to ride the train — take the opportunity to explore Seattle for a few hours without having to drive or find and pay for parking! The train will drop you off at King Street Station in Pioneer Square, and the city is easy to continue exploring by public transit from there. Learn more about weekend Sounder service, and sign up to receive Event Service & Promotions email updates as we add more weekend trains to the schedule.
This spring, in our fourth feature highlighting how Sound Transit staff commute to work, meet Events Specialist Tom Long.
I live in Northeast Seattle, and my normal daily commute is a Sound Transit Express Route 522 or Metro Route 312, both of which stop a block away from home. Being the last stop before the buses reach the I-5 express lanes means I'm often standing on the way into downtown on these heavily used routes. But, the flip side is that I'm one of the first people on and off the bus during the commute home.
Having all day service with the ST Express Route 522 makes life a little easier when I have to work early or late or even on the weekends. I also have options that take me to Link light rail at the University of Washington when needed.
With Roosevelt Station being a short 20-minute walk or connecting bus away, using light rail will be even simpler when Northgate Link opens in 2021. I look forward to a relaxing walk home listening to music in the Seattle sunshine.
PS: I've taken the Route 522 Link Connections survey – have you?
We want to feature you in an upcoming newsletter! Send us your commuting stories here.
Sound Transit's second annual regional progress reports have started to hit residential mailboxes. Every household in the Sound Transit district will receive one of five area-specific editions detailing progress made last year and milestones anticipated for 2020 to expand transit in Pierce County, South King County, the Eastside, Seattle area and Snohomish County. You can also find reports online here.
These regional reports tell the story of progress we are making to reshape the transit landscape, highlighting for residents the projects we are planning and building near them.
By 2024 we will open more than 20 new Link stations, with service to Northgate, Bellevue, Lynnwood, Federal Way, Redmond and the Hilltop neighborhood in Tacoma. We'll also launch Stride bus rapid transit on I-405, SR 518, SR 522 and NE 145th, and open new parking and access improvements at Sounder stations. While building these projects, we are advancing plans for expanded Sounder South capacity and more light rail to Tacoma, Everett, West Seattle, Ballard, South Kirkland and Issaquah.
Explore the progress we made in 2019 and discover the future of regional transit in your area.
The Northgate Link Extension is a key part of Sound Transit's mass transit system expansion, and will be the next light rail segment to open, with service scheduled to begin in the fall of 2021. The 4.3-mile project will connect the U District, Roosevelt and Northgate neighborhoods to a regional light rail system that will eventually grow to 116 miles. Ninety percent of Northgate Link is underground, in twin-bored tunnels that run from the University of Washington to a tunnel portal at NE 94th Street, just south of the elevated Northgate Station at NE 103rd Street.
Sound Transit's contractors completed tunneling from the Maple Leaf portal to University of Washington Station in 2016, and in 2017 they completed 23 cross-passages connecting the northbound and southbound tunnels for emergency use. 2018 and 2019 activities included laying rail, finishing the elevated guideway between the Maple Leaf portal and Northgate Station, and completing Roosevelt Station. In 2020 crews will finish U District and Northgate stations, restore local streets affected by construction, and install and test overhead power and electrical systems. In early 2021 Sound Transit will run simulated service for several weeks before opening service to customers later in the year.
Great news! With 28 bus routes serving major cities in our three-county region, ST Express is a great way to get around — and now there's a handy app that allows you to buy tickets in advance so you don't have to worry about having exact change. You can now download your ST Express bus ticket using the Transit GO Ticket app. Buy your tickets ahead of time, activate before catching the bus and enjoy the ride. You can also use the app for Link and Sounder tickets — learn more about Sound Transit fares here. |
