Sound Transit celebrates ST Express regional bus service's 10 millionth rider

Sound Transit today thanked riders on its ST Express regional bus service as it passed an important milestone-more than 10 million boardings in just over two years of service. ST Express currently averages more than 20,000 boardings every weekday.

"Sound Transit's bus service is providing thousands of people a day with an alternative way for moving around the region," Agnes Govern, Director of Sound Transit's Regional Express department, said.

ST Express buses, with their distinctive blue-green waves painted on the side, add to services provided by local transit agencies. Sound Transit's role is to provide the regional, longer distance connections on express routes, resulting in more total bus service-and more travel alternatives-for people in the central Puget Sound.

Since its inception in September 1999 ST Express has been adding routes (there are currently 17 ST Express routes serving riders in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties) and steadily increasing ridership. Three new routes were added in September and two more routes will start in 2002.

Sound Transit Board members, Executive Director Joni Earl, Deputy Executive Director Vernon Stoner and Govern were among the many Sound Transit representatives who turned out to say "Thanks a million" to ST Express morning commuters at the Tacoma Dome Station, the South Bellevue Park-and-Ride and the Ash Way Park-and-Ride in Lynnwood today.

"It's important for us to remember to say thanks to our customers for making ST Express such a big success," Earl said.

Sound Transit was created by voters in 1996 to provide Sounder commuter rail, ST Express regional bus, and Link light rail services in the central Puget Sound area.

# # #

Sound Transit plans, builds and operates regional transit systems and services to improve mobility for Central Puget Sound.