Sound Transit was created by the state legislature to build a mass transit system that connects major regional job and housing centers in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Voters in 1996 approved a plan that provides the foundation of that system – regional express buses, commuter rail and light rail. Today, Sound Transit carries nearly 14 million riders a year.
ST Express buses connect Seattle, Bellevue, Everett and Tacoma with the region’s largest urban centers. New transit centers, park-and-ride lots and HOV access projects improve transit speed and service throughout the region.
Sounder commuter trains run 74 miles every weekday between Everett and Tacoma. On the north line, three round-trips connect Everett, Mukilteo and Edmonds with Seattle. A fourth round-trip train will begin running in September, 2008. In the south line, six round-trips run between Tacoma Puyallup, Sumner, Auburn, Kent, Tukwila and downtown Seattle; a future extension south to Lakewood is under development.
Tacoma Link light rail trains began running in downtown Tacoma in 2003 and ridership quickly exceeded expectations. Construction on the nearly 16-mile Link light rail line between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac International Airport is nearly complete with vehicle testing underway and passenger service starting this year. A light rail extension north to the University of Washington is scheduled to begin in late 2008, with service starting in 2016.
On Nov. 4, 2008, voters in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties approved a mass transit expansion proposal that will add 36 miles of light rail to the system that is opening in July, 2009. It also includes a 17 percent expansion of ST Express bus service starting in 2009 and increases to Sounder commuter rail service.
