Quarterly Ridership

Growth in Sound Transit boardings slowed considerably during the Second Quarter. Total boardings and average weekday boardings increased by only one percent, compared with an eight percent increase in total boardings and a 10 percent increase in average weekday boardings during the First Quarter. Lower gasoline prices and the economic recession are clearly tempering the strong growth Sound Transit has experienced during the last two years.

ST Express buses showed a two percent increase in total boardings. The first ST2-funded bus service improvements were implemented June 1, primarily during off-peak periods. Sounder commuter trains experienced a major decline with six percent fewer boardings, despite the addition of a ninth round trip on the Sound Line June 1. Tacoma Link boardings continued to increase significantly with nine percent more boardings than in Second Quarter 2008. There were no significant disruptions to service on any of Sound Transit's three current lines of business.