Sound Transit evaluates service every year, and we propose changes to improve performance, respond to ridership trends and make the most of our resources. In the 2022 Service Plan we proposed and approved service increases on a number of key routes, but persistent pandemic challenges and operator shortages have delayed those improvements. In fact, operator shortages over the past year made emergency service reductions necessary on several routes, including somewhere we’d planned to increase service.
It’s still our goal to deliver the improvements outlined in the 2022 Service Plan, however, Sound Transit and FTA policy required formalizing the emergency service reductions until staffing levels improve as part of the 2023 Service Plan.
The Sound Transit Board of Directors adopted the 2023 Service Plan on October 27, 2022.