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.
Then, in November 2008, voters in urban King, Pierce and Snohomish counties approved adding 36 miles of light rail to the nearly 16-mile system that opened in 2009. Voters also approved a 17 percent expansion of ST Express bus service and increases to Sounder commuter rail service.
Today, Sound Transit carries more than 18 million riders a year on its trains and buses.
ST Express buses connect the region’s major job and population centers. In addition, new transit centers, park-and-ride lots and HOV access projects improve transit speed and service.
Sounder commuter trains run 74 miles every weekday between Everett and Tacoma. On the north line, four round-trips connect Everett, Mukilteo and Edmonds with Seattle. In the south line, nine round-trips run between Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner, Auburn, Kent, Tukwila and downtown Seattle; a future extension south to Lakewood is scheduled to open in 2012.
Tacoma Link light rail trains began running in downtown Tacoma in 2003 and ridership quickly exceeded expectations.
In 2009, trains began running on the Link light rail line between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac International Airport. A light rail extension north to the University of Washington is under construction and scheduled to begin carrying passengers in 2016.
