Sound Transit continually monitors performance and identifies routes or trips that do not meet standards or that need additional investment. Sound Transit analyzes all routes in its annual Service Implementation Plan (SIP). The SIP proposes service changes for the following year, and provides forecasts of future service, fleet needs and available funds.
As the regional light rail system expands, service also changes to optimize connections to new service. Sound Transit forecasts many of these changes in the annual SIP, but shaping final restructure proposals requires additional public outreach. Lastly, service may change to respond to service changes partner agencies make, in order to create a unified regional network.
Sound Transit classifies service changes as either minor or major depending on strict criteria. All major service changes include public participation and require approval by the Sound Transit Board of Directors. Sound Transit may make minor changes without Board approval, allowing staff to respond to minor service quality issues.
To learn more about the service standards that guide our planning as well as proposed changes and the criteria for major and minor service changes, please refer to www.soundtransit.org/sip.