Football fans tackle traffic with special Sounder service

Sounder trains run for WSU and Seahawks games at Qwest Field

Football fans can once again ride the wave to the best gridiron match-ups this fall with special Sounder commuter rail service to football games at Qwest Field. Sounder trains will serve the annual WSU Cougar Gridiron Classic game on Sept. 12 and all regular season home Seahawks games.

Sounder will serve Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner, Auburn, Kent, Tukwila, Everett, Mukilteo and Edmonds, arriving and departing right next door to Qwest Field at King Street Station. For the Sept. 12 WSU Cougars game, trains will arrive in downtown Seattle before kickoff, and depart 30 and 40 minutes after the game ends.

More information about the WSU Cougars Sounder service is available at www.soundtransit.org/CougarTrain. All eight Seahawks home games this season will have special Sounder service, with trains arriving in downtown Seattle before kickoff, and departing between 10 and 40 minutes after the game ends. More information about Seahawks Sounder service is available at www.soundtransit.org/seahawks. Normal Sounder fares apply for all special Sounder service.

Along with special Sounder service, new on this year’s transit roster is Central Link light rail, with stops at Stadium Station and International District/Chinatown Station just a short walk to Qwest Field. Regularly scheduled ST Express bus routes can also connect football fans around the region with Qwest Field. Go to www.soundtransit.org for more about regularly scheduled Sound Transit services and fares and for help planning your transit trip.

Riders can avoid long ticket lines and get to their special event on time by purchasing train tickets or ORCA cards in advance.

Advance Sounder and Link Tickets
Sounder and Link riders can purchase train tickets up to six weeks in advance. Just use any ticket vending machine, or TVM, at any of the 10 Sounder stations throughout the region, or 12 Link stations between Tukwila and downtown Seattle. Simply use the “Advance Ticket” button on the starting screen, advancing to the date you choose after you’ve selected your ticket. TVMs accept cash, and debit or credit cards that use MasterCard or VISA. Tickets are only valid for the date printed on the front of the ticket.

Use ORCA
Sounder and Link riders can bypass ticket lines with a loaded ORCA card. An ORCA card can be loaded with E-purse value, which is stored value that works similar to cash, with your correct fare deducted each time you ride. An ORCA card can also be loaded with a transit pass that can be used for unlimited trips during the period the pass is valid. ORCA cards can be used on Sounder and Link, as well as ferries and buses operated by all seven of the major public transportation agencies serving King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties.

When using an ORCA card to ride either a Sounder or Link train, tap your card at a card reader on a yellow pole before boarding the train. Present your valid ORCA card to the fare inspector upon request. When exiting, tap your card again at the card reader at the station to complete your transaction and ensure that the correct fare is deducted. For ST Express buses or other buses throughout the region, simply tap your card once at the card reader near the farebox when you would normally pay your bus fare.

New ORCA Cards
You can get a new ORCA card from any Link TVM in advance of your trip and load it with either a pass or E-purse value. ORCA cards will also soon be available at all Sounder TVMs. Simply select the “ORCA Options” button on the starting screen to buy a new card. ORCA cards purchased from TVMs are fully functional and immediately ready for use.

You can also get a new ORCA card from any ORCA Customer Service Office or a participating retail outlet. Ten customer service offices and three retail outlets are located throughout the four-county ORCA region. Visit www.orcacard.com for more information on these locations. ORCA cards purchased from customer service offices and retail outlets are fully functional and immediately ready for use.

You can also order a new ORCA card online at www.orcacard.com or by phone at 1-888-988-6722 or TTY Relay at 711:1-888-889-6368. ORCA cards ordered online or by phone are typically processed and delivered by postal mail in five to seven business days. Once a new card arrives, it must be tapped on a card reader before it is fully functional and ready for use.

Sign up to receive automatic e-mail service alerts for Central Link, Tacoma Link, Sounder Seattle-Everett, Sounder Seattle-Tacoma, or ST Express. Rider Alerts can help you plan your trip around construction, inform you about special event service, and alert you to holiday schedule changes. Visit www.soundtransit.org to learn more about Sound Transit service, schedules, and to sign up for e-mail alerts.

2009 Football Sounder Service Schedule

WSU Cougars:

Sept. 12 vs. University of Hawaii at 4 p.m.

Seahawks:

Sept. 13 vs. St. Louis Rams at 1:15 p.m.

Sept. 27 vs. Chicago Bears at 1:05 p.m.

Oct. 11 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at 1:15 p.m.

Oct. 18 vs. Arizona Cardinals at 1:05 p.m.

Nov. 8 vs. Detroit Lions at 1:05 p.m.

Dec. 6 vs. San Francisco 49ers at 1:15 p.m.

Dec. 20 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 1:15 p.m.

Jan. 3 vs. Tennessee Titans at 1:15 p.m.

CONTACT: Linda Robson-(206) 398-5149 or linda.robson@soundtransit.org