Sounder's 500,000th Rider

One lucky commuter will get quite a surprise when he or she boards Sound Transit's Sounder late Tuesday afternoon (September 25th). Executive Director Joni Earl, Sound Transit board members and Sound Transit employees will personally greet that commuter who will symbolize the HALF-MILLIONTH rider on the increasingly popular commuter rail service.

"It is only by coincidence that the 500,000th rider comes so close to Sounder's first anniversary (on September 18th)," said Board Chairman Dave Earling. "We've seen tremendous growth in ridership over Sounder's first year and it just confirms what we've been hearing; people want alternatives to sitting in traffic"

In its first year of operation, and running two round-trips Monday-Friday between Tacoma and Seattle, Sounder's ridership has grown steadily from a little over 5,000 per week to more than 12,000 per week. Special trains have been added for most Seattle Mariners' Sunday home games and on three Saturdays during the Puyallup Fair.

On Tuesday, Sound Transit staff will select a symbolic 500,000th rider as passengers prepare to board the 5:35 p.m. southbound train at King Street Station. And, to thank Sounder's growing legion of loyal commuters, each rider that afternoon will receive a copy of Start's Rail Work book, a beautiful compilation of black & white photographs that chronicle the construction of Sound Transit's growing regional system.

WHAT: Sounder's 500,000th rider

WHERE: Seattle's King Street Station, 301 S. Jackson Street

WHEN: Tuesday September 25, 2001 between 5:15 p.m.-5:35 p.m.

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