| Welcome to the spring edition of Sound Transit’s CTR newsletter! We’ve pulled together service- and project-related highlights into one handy place for you to forward to your employees, community partners, and professional network.
Say hello to a new way to get around!
Link light rail service on the Eastside begins April 27. With eight stations from South Bellevue to Redmond Technology, trains run every 10 minutes, giving riders yet another option to get where they want to go.
How to ride:
- An ORCA card is the easiest way to pay and only way to transfer between buses and trains.
- Fares are $2.25 or 2.50 depending on how far you travel. Reduced fares are available, and youth ride free!
- Trains will run every 10 minutes from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., seven days a week.
- Plan your trip and see great bus connections.
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Subscribe to service alerts.
Finally, please stay safe around tracks and trains. Make sure you look both ways. Light rail trains are quiet because they’re electric and come from both directions, so always expect a second train.
To find out more about the 2 Line and opening activities, visit soundtransit.org/Discover2Line or follow the hashtag #2Line on X.
Thank you for your patience as we completed maintenance work in the downtown Link light rail tunnel. We know that the disruption made January feel even longer than it was. On top of that, we experienced some unplanned service disruptions that made a tough situation even harder for our riders. Trains are now back to normal service, arriving every 8 minutes during peak times.
We appreciate the support of King County Metro, which operated bus bridges during complete closures of the tunnel, and our staff ambassadors, Fare Ambassadors, and security personnel who helped passengers navigate the disruption.
During the three weeks of work, we replaced 500 feet of track to make your ride smoother between University Street and Westlake Stations and replaced 58 bond boxes, which carry train signals.
Today, starting with the 12 a.m. trip departing Angle Lake Station, the last eight northbound (to Northgate) 1 Line trains of the evening will terminate at Stadium Station to allow for overnight maintenance on parts of the system.
Beginning Saturday, March 30, starting with the 12:12 a.m. trip, the last four trains every evening will end northbound service at Beacon Hill Station because it is closer to the Operations Maintenance Facility, which is where trains are stored overnight. This adjustment will accommodate testing and certification work related to our upcoming Lynnwood Link Extension and the eventual start of service later this year.
Passengers who find themselves at Beacon Hill at the end of the night can transfer to Route 36 at Beacon Ave South and Lander St, which will get them to 3rd & Pine St in downtown Seattle. For passengers who want more transfer opportunities, we recommend getting off the 1 Line at Mount Baker Station where you can transfer to Route 7 and connect to downtown Seattle, or transfer to Route 48 which serves the University of Washington area. From there, passengers needing to get to Roosevelt or Northgate can take Route 67. If you are curious about your other late-night transit options, you can check out Seattle’s Night Owl Buses map.
We understand that trains not ending at the expected terminus can be confusing and stressful for passengers, so we hope that sharing this information will help folks plan ahead.
Since the pandemic, there has been a nationwide shortage of bus operators, and the Puget Sound region has been greatly affected. Pierce Transit, which operates ST Express routes in the south Sound, continues to face challenges hiring and retaining critical staff. In response to ongoing bus operator shortages, Sound Transit has temporarily adjusted several Pierce Transit–operated ST Express bus routes in Tacoma and Pierce County. Sound Transit would like to advise riders of the following service changes, effective March 31:
Route 580 (South Hill – Puyallup): Temporary suspension
We are suspending Route 580. However, Pierce Transit will offer alternative service, with Route 400 continuing to serve the stops at South Hill, Fairground Red Lot, and Puyallup Station.
Route 590 (Tacoma – Seattle): Downtown Tacoma segment suspension
We are suspending the downtown Tacoma segment of Route 590 between the 10th & Commerce Transit Center and Tacoma Dome Station. Service for all trips will begin and end at Tacoma Dome Station. Several alternative routes in downtown Tacoma are readily available, with the T Line, ST Express 594, and Pierce Transit routes 1 and 500 providing substitute service for most trips.
Routes 577, 578, 590, and 594: Select trip suspensions
We are suspending some trips on routes 577, 578, 590, and 594 to manage current staffing challenges.
Sound Transit will restore ST Express service as soon as staffing allows. In the coming months, Sound Transit will continue to collaborate with Pierce Transit and our other regional partners to monitor service quality and critical staffing levels.
We encourage passengers to stay informed about these temporary adjustments and to plan their journeys accordingly. For real-time updates and further information, please visit the Sound Transit website or subscribe to our Service Alerts.
Sound Transit appreciates the community's understanding and cooperation as we adapt to evolving circumstances. We look forward to restoring full service as soon as we can.
To share your questions or feedback on these changes, email servicechanges@soundtransit.org.
Sound Transit and the King County Sheriff’s Office prioritize the safety and security of our passengers and take illegal behavior very seriously.
But we need your help to stop crimes from going unreported. The more people report harassment and sex offenses, the more we can do to stop them from happening.
Reports can be made by texting or calling 911 or by using our online system.
- If you are a victim of or a witness to a sex offense that is happening now or just happened, do not hesitate to call or text 911.
- Report past incidents using the online reporting system created by the King County Sheriff’s Office Sound Transit Division.
GoodMaps is an accessibility app that uses light detection and ranging (LiDAR) to create 3D maps. The app uses smartphone camera-based positioning to detect a more accurate location than apps using GPS or Bluetooth technology. GoodMaps provides voice, visual, or haptic signal instructions that guide users to points of interest such as station platforms, elevators, ORCA card readers, and information boards.
Westlake and Chinatown-International District stations are the first Sound Transit stations added to GoodMaps as part of a six-month pilot program.
Passengers can download GoodMaps today in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
All Sound Transit facilities have bicycle parking!
All facilities have free bike racks, and most have on-demand lockers and/or bike rooms.
To use an on-demand locker or bike room, purchase a BikeLink card or download the BikeLink app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. They are available for 5 cents an hour on a first-come, first-served basis and open 24 hours.
When using a bike rack, make sure to lock your bike securely, including at least one wheel and the frame. Remove anything that thieves can easily take, such as lights or bags.
Meet our Program Manager for Transit-Oriented Development Engagement, Harrison Price!
How do you get to work?
The are two Metro routes – the 28X and the 5 – that stop a 5-minute walk from my home. Walking up Phinney Ridge to the 5 yields a great view of the Olympics, so I’ll do that on nice days. I have strong opinions about the best seat on the bus and will always go for the second row in the back near the window for the extra foot room. No matter how I get to the office, I always walk through Union Station to soak in the warm glow of the Great Hall.
How does your commute fit into your day?
I like to make the most of my trip home by mixing it up in ways that embrace the beauty, sites, and experiences of Seattle. I often treat the commute as an adventure; with a range of transit options that head in the general direction of Ballard, I like to see different parts of the city on my way home. Whether that means walking with friends along the waterfront to Post Alley Pizza and catching the 28 in midtown; stopping at my favorite yoga studio in Belltown and catching the D Line home; or swinging by UW to see the cherry blossoms early in the morning via the 44 and transferring to the 1 Line, it’s these experiences that make these days memorable.
Have an upcoming commuter fair? Want more information? Let us know!
Arthur Bachus
Email: Arthur.Bachus@soundtransit.org
Phone: 206-553-3774
Valerie Cortes
Email: Valerie.Cortes@soundtransit.org
Phone: 206-553-3618 |
