Misplaced Pages

Link light rail
Clockwise from top: the 1 Line near Mount Baker station, the T Line at Convention Center station, and the 1 Line at Othello station in Seattle
Overview
Owner	Sound Transit
Locale	Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Transit type	Light rail (semi-metro)
Number of lines	3
Number of stations	43
Daily ridership	94,500 (weekdays, Q3 2024)
Annual ridership	27,338,200 (2023)
Website	soundtransit.org
Operation
Began operation	August 22, 2003 (2003-08-22)
Operator(s)	Sound Transit, King County Metro
Number of vehicles	217
Technical
System length	44.65 mi (71.86 km)
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead line; 1,500 V DC (1 & 2 Lines) 750 V DC (T Line)
System map Legend 1 Line & 2 Line Lynnwood City Center Mountlake Terrace Shoreline North/185th Shoreline South/148th NE 130th Street (2026) Northgate Roosevelt U District University of Washington Montlake Cut Capitol Hill Westlake Symphony Pioneer Square International District/ Chinatown link opening 2025 Judkins Park Homer M. Hadley Mem. Bridge over Lake Washington Mercer Island East Channel Bridge over Lake Washington Stadium South Bellevue SODO East Main Operations and Maintenance Facility Central Bellevue Downtown Beacon Hill Wilburton Mount Baker Operations and Maintenance Facility East Columbia City Spring District Othello BelRed Rainier Beach Overlake Village Duwamish River Redmond Technology opening 2025 Marymoor Village Downtown Redmond Tukwila International Boulevard SeaTac/Airport Angle Lake opening 2026 Kent Des Moines opening 2026 Star Lake Federal Way Downtown T Line Stadium District S 4th Tacoma General Old City Hall 6th Ave Theater District Hilltop District Convention Center St. Joseph Union Station South 25th Street Tacoma Dome Operations and Maintenance Facility All stations are accessible This diagram: view talk edit

Link light rail is a light rail rapid transit system serving the Seattle metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Washington. It is managed by Sound Transit in partnership with local transit providers, and consists of three non-connected lines: the 1 Line (formerly Central Link) in King County and Snohomish County, which travels for 33 miles (53 km) between Lynnwood, Seattle, and Seattle–Tacoma International Airport; the 2 Line in King County's Eastside region, which travels for 7.5 miles (12.1 km) between Bellevue and Redmond; and the T Line (formerly Tacoma Link) in Pierce County, which runs for 4 miles (6.4 km) between Downtown Tacoma and Tacoma Dome Station. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 23.9 million, or about 94,500 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024, primarily on the 1 Line. Trains run at frequencies of 6 to 24 minutes.

The Link light rail system was originally conceived in the 1980s following several earlier proposals for a heavy rail system that were rejected by voters. Sound Transit was created in 1993 and placed a ballot measure to fund and build the system, which was passed on a second attempt in 1996. Tacoma Link began construction first in 2000 and opened on August 22, 2003, at a cost of $80 million. Central Link construction was delayed because of funding issues and routing disputes, but began in November 2003 and was completed on July 18, 2009, for $2.4 billion. Central Link trains initially ran from Downtown Seattle to Tukwila International Boulevard station before being extended south to the airport in December 2009, north to the University of Washington in March 2016, and further south to Angle Lake station in September 2016. An extension to Northgate station opened on October 2, 2021, and a further extension to Lynnwood Transit Center opened on August 30, 2024.

The first phase of the 2 Line opened on April 27, 2024, between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology stations. It is scheduled to be extended west to Seattle and east to Downtown Redmond by 2025. Sound Transit plans to expand the Link light rail network to 116 miles (187 km) and 83 stations by 2044, using funding approved by voters in 2008 and 2016 ballot measures. A suburban extension to Federal Way is scheduled to open in 2026 after construction delays. Later projects will expand the system to cover the metropolitan area from Everett to Tacoma, along with branches to Kirkland, Issaquah, and the Seattle neighborhoods of Ballard and West Seattle.

History

The first public transit networks in the Puget Sound region were various streetcar, cable cars, and interurbans constructed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which spurred the development of streetcar suburbs. Some of these systems were consolidated into the Seattle Municipal Street Railway, a city-owned network established in 1918, while others remained under the operation of their private owners. Unsuccessful proposals for a rapid transit system to connect Seattle's neighborhoods, and later other cities in the region, also emerged during the peak and later decline of streetcar and interurban service, both of which were dismantled by 1941.

Following the 1968 and 1970 rejection of the Forward Thrust ballot measure to build a rapid transit system, voters in King County approved the creation of a new countywide bus system under the management of Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle, an existing water treatment and sewage agency. The system began operating in 1973 and later included the construction of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel in the late 1980s to relieve bus congestion on downtown streets. Metro and the Puget Sound Council of Governments also began planning a regional transit system at that time; a joint 1981 study named light rail as the preferred mode that would be able to operate on streets in some areas but generally follow freeway corridors to regional centers. A non-binding advisory ballot measure on further development of a light rail system approved by voters in 1988. Metro's transit tunnel opened for buses in September 1990 and included tracks and electrical systems that would be compatible for future conversion to light rail.

In 1993, the state legislature formed a new agency, the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (commonly known as Sound Transit), to oversee development of an inter-county transit system that would include light rail, commuter rail, and express buses in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. A ballot measure to fund a $6.7 billion plan (equivalent to $12.2 billion in 2023 dollars) with a 70-mile (110 km) light rail network, which would connect Seattle to Lynnwood, Bellevue, and Tacoma, was rejected by 53 percent of voters on March 14, 1995. A revised plan announced the following year cut the light rail line to 25 miles (40 km) between Seattle–Tacoma International Airport and University District in Seattle and a section connecting Downtown Tacoma to the Tacoma Dome. The new package, estimated to cost $3.9 billion (equivalent to $7 billion in 2023 dollars) with funding from a sales tax and motor vehicle excise tax, was approved by voters on November 5, 1996. In August 1997, Sound Transit adopted "Link" as the name for the light rail system along with Sounder for commuter rail and Regional Express for buses.

The Downtown Tacoma line, named Tacoma Link, was preceded by a shuttle bus from the new Tacoma Dome multimodal station built by Pierce Transit in 1997. The project was anticipated to revitalize the city's downtown and serve the new University of Washington Tacoma campus. The line's 1.6-mile (2.6 km) route—primarily on Commerce Street and Pacific Avenue—was approved in 1999 and construction officially began on October 18, 2000. Tacoma Link opened on August 22, 2003, with five stations, and cost $80.4 million (equivalent to $128 million in 2023 dollars) to construct. The line had no fares and exceeded its 2010 ridership projections by early 2003, carrying its 500,000th passenger in April of the year.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, debates raged over various issues surrounding the Central Link line, which would connect Sea-Tac to Seattle. In the late nineties and early 2000s, Sound Transit underwent a series of financial and political difficulties. The cost of the line rose significantly, and the federal government threatened to withhold necessary grants. In 2001, Sound Transit was forced to shorten the line from the original proposal, and growing enthusiasm for the proposed monorail brought rising opposition to the light rail from Seattle-area residents.

On November 8, 2003, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Central Link light rail line. Central Link opened between Westlake Station and Tukwila on July 18, 2009, at a cost of $2.4 billion (equivalent to $3.31 billion in 2023 dollars). It was extended 1.7 miles (2.7 km) to SeaTac/Airport on December 19, 2009.

In November 2006, the U.S. Federal Transit Administration approved Sound Transit's plan for University Link, a project to extend light rail 3.1 miles (5 km) north to the University of Washington after completion of an Environmental Impact Study. A grant was approved in November 2008, which allowed University Link to begin construction in December 2008. The line opened, including the University Link Tunnel, on March 19, 2016.

In September 2019, Sound Transit renamed Central Link to the Red Line and Tacoma Link to the Orange Line as part of their update to transit branding. Two months later, the agency announced that it would consider a new name for the Red Line after complaints because of the similarity of the "Red Line" with redlining as well as confusion over King County Metro's RapidRide system (which utilizes red bullets for its service routes). A new naming scheme came into effect in 2021, using the "1 Line" (green) for the existing line in Seattle, the "2 Line" (blue) for East Link, and the "T Line" (orange) for Tacoma Link. Future light rail extensions will use the "3 Line" (magenta) and the "4 Line" (purple), alongside new names for Sounder and bus rapid transit services.

Lines

1 Line (Lynnwood–Angle Lake)

The 1 Line, formerly Central Link, is a light rail line serving 23 stations in Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Shoreline, Seattle, Tukwila, and SeaTac. It uses trains of three to four cars that each have a normal capacity of 194 passengers with up to 74 seats. The line connects Northgate, the University of Washington, and Downtown Seattle to the Rainier Valley and Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, using tunnels, elevated guideways, and surface-running sections. Trains run every 8 minutes during peak periods and 10–15 minutes at other times with trips from 4:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 5:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Sundays. In 2019, the 1 Line carried over 25 million passengers and averaged nearly 80,000 on weekdays, making it the busiest transit route in the Seattle region.

The initial 13.9-mile (22.4 km) segment of Central Link was opened on July 18, 2009, between Westlake and Tukwila International Boulevard stations. The northernmost four stations, in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, were shared with buses until they were rerouted in 2019. The line was extended six months after opening to SeaTac/Airport station, a 1.7-mile (2.7 km) project that began construction in 2006 due to delays in planning. A northern extension to the University of Washington campus with two stations in a 3.15-mile (5.07 km) tunnel opened on March 19, 2016. A one-stop extension to Angle Lake station to the south opened in September of that year. An extension to Northgate, with two intermediate stations, opened on October 2, 2021. The first cross-county extension, through Shoreline and Mountlake Terrace to Lynnwood, opened on August 30, 2024, and brought the line to over 33 miles (53 km).

2 Line (South Bellevue–Redmond)

The 2 Line connects the Eastside suburbs of Bellevue and Redmond. It has 6.6 miles (10.6 km) of tracks and eight stations with termini at South Bellevue station and Redmond Technology station. Construction of the line, also known as the East Link Extension, was funded by the Sound Transit 2 ballot measure and began in 2016 at a cost of $3.7 billion. The initial phase on the Eastside opened on April 27, 2024, while work on the Seattle–Bellevue and Downtown Redmond sections continue. The remainder of the line is expected to open in 2025 with additional stations in Seattle, Mercer Island, and Redmond.

T Line (Tacoma Dome–St. Joseph)

The T Line, formerly Tacoma Link, is a streetcar line that connects Downtown Tacoma and nearby neighborhoods to Tacoma Dome Station, a regional hub for buses and Sounder commuter rail. The line is 4 miles (6.4 km) long and has twelve stations that serve the University of Washington's Tacoma campus, museums, hospitals, and other facilities. It runs primarily in traffic lanes, sharing the Commerce Street transit mall with buses, and uses a mix of single and double-tracked sections. Service on the original 1.6-mile (2.6 km) section between Tacoma Dome Station and Downtown Tacoma began on August 26, 2003, and was expanded with the opening of an infill station at Commerce Street/South 11th Street in 2011. An extension to the Hilltop neighborhood with 2.4 miles (3.9 km) of track and seven new stations opened on September 16, 2023.

Trains on the line typically run every 12 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays and every 20 minutes on Sundays and holidays. The T Line has service from 4:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekdays and reduced hours on other days, but operating hours are extended for major evening events at the Tacoma Dome. In 2019, the line carried approximately 935,000 passengers and averaged 3,100 riders on weekdays. Patronage peaked in 2012 at over 1 million passengers, but has declined since then. Fares were not collected until the 2023 opening of the Hilltop Extension; the T Line was the first Link line to use a flat fare rather than a distance-based fare.

Stations

As of 2024, the Link light rail system has 43 stations—23 on the 1 Line, 8 on the 2 Line and 12 on the T Line. The two lines use different types of station designs but share several features, including weather canopies, signage, information kiosks, ticket vending machines, seating, electronic information displays, bicycle parking, and public artwork. The system also uses proof-of-payment for fare validation with paid fare zones in lieu of faregates. To comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), all Link stations include accessible seating, signage with Braille lettering, pathways, level boarding, and tactile paving on the edge of platforms.

Platforms for both lines have a minimum width of 12 feet (3.7 m) each for a pair of side platforms and 20 feet (6.1 m) for an at-grade center platform. The majority of the 1 Line's stations are grade-separated, either underground or elevated, on exclusive right-of-way; several sections have at-grade stations, including in the Rainier Valley and SODO. These stations have platforms that are 380 feet (120 m) long to accommodate four-car trainsets and are connected to entrance structures at street level by stairs, elevators, and escalators. T Line platforms are typically 90 feet (27 m) long and at-grade with exits to adjacent sidewalks. Some stations also feature parking lots, public restrooms, retail spaces, and designated busking areas.

Fares

Link uses a proof-of-payment system, requiring valid payment before boarding and lacking a turnstile barrier at stations. Fares can be purchased as paper tickets at ticket vending machines at stations, credit or passes loaded on an ORCA card, or through a mobile ticketing app. Fare ambassadors employed by Sound Transit check for valid fares while aboard trains or in the fare-paid zone of stations. Passengers who do not present a valid ticket or validated ORCA card are offered warnings, fined one of two citation amounts, or receive a civil infraction. Until 2021, fare inspectors and transit police officers on the 1 Line checked fares and issued warnings or a $124 citation to passengers who did not present a valid form of payment. The penalties for non-paying riders were suspended due to racial disparities and late replaced in 2022 with a new program of fare ambassadors.

Fares for the 1 Line and 2 Line are a flat rate of $3 for adults, $1 for passengers eligible for reduced fares, and free for people 18 years old or younger. The T Line has an adult fare of $2 and a reduced fare of $1. Reduced fares are available to elderly passengers, persons with disabilities, and low-income passengers enrolled in ORCA Lift. Transfers from other modes, including buses, water taxis, and streetcars, are only accepted using ORCA cards.

Since September 2022, fares for passengers under the age of 19 have been free as part of a statewide transit grant. Prior to August 30, 2024, fares on the 1 Line and 2 Line were calculated based on distance traveled, ranging from $2.25 to $3.50 for adults. ORCA card users were required to tap a reader before and after riding a train to calculate the fare; the full fare of $3.50 was charged upon boarding and the difference was credited after the second tap. A daily charge for parking at stations is also under consideration.

Infrastructure

1 Line and 2 Line trains are operated and maintained by King County Metro, who also run paratransit service along most of the corridor. The Central Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) in SODO is used to store, maintain, and clean trains during off-peak and overnight hours. The facility covers 26 acres (10.5 ha) and is located between SODO and Beacon Hill stations. It opened in 2007 and has a capacity of 105 light rail vehicles, including nine bays inside the 162,000-square-foot (15,100 m) maintenance building that can hold 16 vehicles. A maintenance facility in Bellevue for the 2 Line opened in 2021 with a capacity of 96 vehicles. T Line trains are directly operated by Sound Transit and maintained at a facility in Tacoma.

Rolling stock

As of 2024, the Link light rail system uses a total of 183 low-floor light rail vehicles—175 for the 1 Line and 8 for the T Line. The 1 Line fleet comprises two models, the Series 1 by Kinkisharyo–Mitsui and the Series 2 by Siemens Mobility, that are both 95 feet (29 m) long with a pair of operator cabs and an articulated center. Both models are able to run in four-car consists but do not have cross-compatibility. All Link vehicles allow for level boarding and feature accessible seating areas that can be folded up for wheelchair users. Link uses positive train control and train-to-wayside communication to prevent operators from exceeding the set speed limit for a given section. Trains also have transit signal priority on at-grade sections. By 2025, the Link fleet will have 214 total vehicles for use on the 1 Line and 2 Line as well as five for the T Line.

The Series 1 fleet of 62 cars, manufactured in Osaka and assembled in Everett, was divided into three orders beginning with a contract signed in 2003. The first vehicle was delivered in November 2006 for the Central Link project and was followed by deliveries for the SeaTac/Airport and University Link extensions that concluded in 2011; each unit was valued at $4.2 million in 2014. Each car has 74 seats and a capacity of 194 passengers during normal loads, with a maximum "crush load" of 252 people; the layout is 70 percent low floor with raised sections at each end that are accessed via stairs. Railcars include four doors on each side, a wheelchair area, and two bicycle hooks above luggage storage areas. The trains have a top speed of 58 miles per hour (93 km/h), but typically operate at 35 mph (56 km/h) on surface sections and 55 mph (89 km/h) on elevated and tunneled sections.

The Series 2 fleet, retroactively designated the Siemens S700, was commissioned in 2016 as part of a $642 million order to support the ST2 expansion program. The vehicles were manufactured in Sacramento, California, and are the same length and width as the Series 1 fleet, but feature a wider aisle in the articulated section, improved passenger information displays, and larger windows. Delivery of the S700s began in June 2019 and the first vehicle entered service in May 2021. The final car in the initial 152-car order is planned to be delivered by 2026; an additional 10 cars were ordered in 2023 and are scheduled to be delivered in 2027.

In 2022, Sound Transit began planning specifications for a Series 3 that would have approximately 100 vehicles. It is expected to begin delivery in 2029 and be complete in 2032 for the first batch of ST3 projects.

The T Line fleet consists of eight low-floor articulated streetcars that are 66 feet (20.12 m) long, 8 feet (2.44 m) wide, and have two articulation joints at each end of the low-floor section. The first fleet of three Škoda 10 T streetcars were manufactured in the Czech Republic by Škoda Transportation and delivered in 2003. Each Škoda car has 30 seats and can carry an additional 85 standing passengers at crush loads. A set of five Brookville Liberty streetcars were ordered in 2017 and delivered in 2022. The Brookville Liberty streetcars each have 26 seats and can carry a total of 100 passengers.

Electricity

Trains are supplied electricity through an overhead catenary that is energized at 1,500 volts direct current for the 1 Line and 700 volts for the T Line. The current is converted to three-phase alternating current through on-board inverters. The 1 Line's use of 1,500 V allowed for a reduced number of electrical substations, which are spaced approximately one mile (1.6 km) apart.

Since December 2020, the Link light rail system has been running fully on carbon emissions-free renewable energy through Puget Sound Energy's wind electricity purchase program and Seattle City Light's fully carbon-neutral power supply.

Future expansion

The Link light rail system is planned to be expanded to 116 miles (187 km) with five lines and 70 stations by 2044. The future system is anticipated to serve 750,000 daily passengers at full build-out and cost up to $131 billion. The expansions are primarily funded through local taxes passed by voters in a pair of multimodal transit ballot measures. The Sound Transit 2 (ST2) package, passed in 2008, funded several extensions to be finished by 2025, including three that opened between 2016 and 2021. Sound Transit 3 (ST3) was approved in 2016 and funded new extensions of Link that will open between 2024 and 2046, including projects in Pierce and Snohomish counties. Several deferred or truncated projects from ST2 were also funded and accelerated by the ST3 plan.

Since 2016, the original timelines for both expansion packages have been modified due to the COVID-19 pandemic, labor shortages, and construction issues. Sound Transit adopted a "realignment plan" in 2021 that delayed most projects by two to five years, primarily to address a $6.5 billion shortfall in projected revenue that would be needed to avoid reaching a state-imposed debt limit by 2029. The cost estimate for the largest project in the ST3 package, the West Seattle/Ballard Link Extension, increased by 50 percent between 2019 and 2021, reaching $12 billion due to higher property values and lower revenue amid the pandemic. A set of new delays, mainly affecting Sound Transit 2 projects, was announced in 2022 following a four-month regional strike by concrete truck drivers, as well as unexpected conditions discovered during work.

All five lines are planned to connect at various hubs and interline in some areas to increase frequency in high-demand corridors. Upon completion of several planned extensions in the 2020s and 2030s, the 1 Line would run from Tacoma Dome Station to Downtown Seattle, where it would use a new tunnel, and continue northwest to Ballard. The 2 Line and 3 Line would interline from the existing Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel on the existing 1 Line corridor to Snohomish County, sharing tracks as far north as Mariner in southern Everett. The 3 Line would continue south to West Seattle and north to Downtown Everett, while the 2 Line serves Bellevue and Redmond. The 4 Line, connecting Kirkland to Issaquah, would interline with the 2 Line in Downtown Bellevue. In addition to the new lines, three infill stations in Seattle are planned to be built by 2031 at Boeing Access Road, Graham, and Northeast 130th Street.

In 2023, the Seattle Department of Transportation published its 20-year city transportation plan that included proposals for additional Link light rail lines. These include an east–west connection between Ballard and the University District; a northern extension from Ballard to Northgate and Lake City; a line serving Aurora Avenue North; a line serving Denny Way; a line that follows 23rd Avenue; and additional connections from Tukwila International Boulevard station to West Seattle and SoDo.

2 Line (Mariner–Redmond)

The 2 Line is scheduled to be extended in 2025 with the opening of two additional sections: from Seattle to Bellevue with a station serving Mercer Island; and from Redmond Technology to Downtown Redmond station. A series of construction issues with the Interstate 90 section has caused the line to be split into separate phases, beginning with an initial segment in April 2024 from South Bellevue station to Redmond Technology station in Overlake. The 2 Line would continue north from Seattle to Lynnwood and southern Everett by sharing tracks with the 1 Line (and later the 3 Line). The western half of the East Link Extension is being built in the median of Interstate 90, including a section on a floating bridge that would be first railway of its kind in the world.

3 Line (Everett–West Seattle)

The 3 Line is planned to open in 2032 with the completion of the West Seattle Link Extension, which would connect West Seattle to an interim terminus at SODO station. The line would be extended north to replace the 1 Line following the completion of the Ballard Link Extension in 2037, which would include a new 3.3-mile (5.3 km) tunnel in Downtown Seattle for trains arriving from the Rainier Valley. The final terminus of the 3 Line is planned to be Everett Station, a multimodal hub in Downtown Everett, upon completion of the Everett Link Extension in 2037 or 2041 depending on funding.

4 Line (South Kirkland–Issaquah)

The 4 Line, the fifth Link light rail line, is scheduled to open in 2041 or 2044, depending on funding availability, and would only serve the Eastside. The line is planned to run from the South Kirkland park-and-ride towards Downtown Bellevue, where it would interline with the 2 Line, and continue along Interstate 90 to Issaquah. It is planned to include four new stations and total 11.8 miles (19.0 km) in length; an earlier proposal for the line continued on the Cross Kirkland Corridor to a terminus in Downtown Kirkland but was not included in the ST3 plan due to opposition from local residents.

Future segments

Some figures and dates are provisional due to quality control, geological risk, and labor issues that have caused delays in some projects.

List of Link light rail expansion projects

Project	Line(s)	Status	Termini		Length	New stations	Expected opening
East Link Extension	2 Line	Under construction	International District/Chinatown	South Bellevue	4 miles (6.4 km)	4	2025
Downtown Redmond Link Extension	2 Line	Under construction	Redmond Technology	Downtown Redmond	3.7 miles (6.0 km)	2	2025
Federal Way Link Extension	1 Line	Under construction	Angle Lake	Federal Way Downtown	7.8 miles (12.6 km)	3	2026
West Seattle Link Extension	3 Line	Environmental review	SODO	Alaska Junction	4.7 miles (7.6 km)	3	2032
Tacoma Dome Link Extension	1 Line	Environmental review	Federal Way Downtown	Tacoma Dome	9.7 miles (15.6 km)	4	2035
Ballard Link Extension	1 Line	Environmental review	International District/Chinatown	Ballard	7.1 miles (11.4 km)	8	2037 to 2039
Everett Link Extension	3 Line	Planned	Lynnwood City Center	Everett	16.3 miles (26.2 km)	6–7	2037 to 2041
TCC Tacoma Link Extension	T Line	Planned	St. Joseph	Tacoma Community College	3.5 miles (5.6 km)	6	2039 or 2041
South Kirkland–Issaquah Link Extension	4 Line	Planned	South Kirkland	Issaquah	11.8 miles (19.0 km)	4	2041 or 2044

Land-use impacts

An expressed purpose in building the Link light rail system has been to support a "smart growth" approach to handling the region's population growth and development. By concentrating new development along light rail lines (a practice known as "transit-oriented development"), more people can live more densely without the increases in automotive commuting traffic that might otherwise be expected. In addition, the concentration of residents near stations helps maintain ridership and revenue. Climate change activists also point out that compact development around light rail lines has been shown to result in reductions in residents' CO₂ emissions, compared to more conventional suburban automotive commutes.

Environmentalists, transportation groups and some affordable housing advocates have sought greater government regulatory support for transit-oriented development along Link light rail, and in 2009 a bill was introduced in the Washington State Legislature that would have raised allowable densities (as well as lowering parking requirements and easing some other regulations on development) to a minimum of 50 units per acre in station areas. It failed to pass during the 2009 and 2010 sessions.

As part of the enabling legislation for Sound Transit 3 in 2016, the Washington State Legislature mandated that Sound Transit reserve surplus land surrounding light rail stations for affordable housing developments. The "80–80–80 rule" applies to 80 percent of surplus land around transit projects and mandates that it be offered to developers who designate 80 percent of residential units to residents who make 80 percent or less of the area median income. By 2024, the program had resulted in the creation of 2,670 affordable housing units out of 3,470 constructed.

See also

• Seattle Streetcar
• List of rail transit systems in the United States

References

1. ^ "Link light rail stations". Sound Transit. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
2. "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
3. "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
4. "A look into rail's past". The Seattle Times. February 1, 1987. p. B3.
5. ^ Crowley, Walt (October 2, 2000). "Street Railways in Seattle". HistoryLink. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
6. Cohen, Josh (October 14, 2016). "How Seattle blew its chance at a subway system". Crosscut.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
7. Kershner, Jim (February 21, 2020). "King County Metro Transit". HistoryLink. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
8. Lane, Bob (March 22, 1981). "'Light rail' system might solve transit problems, says study". The Seattle Times. p. A16.
9. Gough, William (December 5, 1982). "Rapid-transit system studied for Seattle, Snohomish County". The Seattle Times. p. B31.
10. Lane, Bob (November 9, 1988). "Ballot Issues: On track, voters say 'hop to' on rail transit". The Seattle Times. p. E9.
11. Lane, Bob (April 22, 1988). "Metro makes tracks for tracks for future". The Seattle Times. p. B1.
12. ^ Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
13. Schaefer, David (February 12, 1995). "On the right track? Questions, answers to the $6.7 billion proposal". The Seattle Times. p. A1.
14. Schaefer, David; Murakami, Kery (March 15, 1995). "Transit plan derailed: Pierce, Snohomish county voters say no to $6.7 billion proposal". The Seattle Times. p. A1. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
15. Schaefer, David (October 6, 1996). "Looking at the new transit proposal". The Seattle Times. p. A1. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
16. Schaefer, David (November 6, 1996). "Voters back transit plan on fourth try". The Seattle Times. p. A1. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2007.
17. ""Sound Transit" to be the Name for Regional Transit Authority Services" (Press release). Sound Transit. August 15, 1997. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
18. Dudley, Brier (July 19, 1997). "'Link' may join BART and MAX". The News Tribune. p. A1. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
19. "Service gives downtown commuters parking, ride". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. February 16, 1998. p. B2.
20. "Sound Transit Motion No. M99-28" (PDF). Sound Transit. July 8, 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
21. "Opening of expanded Tacoma Dome Station, start of Tacoma Link light rail construction to be celebrated" (Press release). Sound Transit. October 6, 2000. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
22. Corvin, Aaron (August 23, 2003). "Tacoma Link makes its debut". The News Tribune. p. A1. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
23. Corvin, Aaron (April 28, 2004). "City's streetcar system hits 500,000-rider mark". The News Tribune. p. B2. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
24. "Light-rail cost soars $1 billion". The Seattle Times. December 13, 2000. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2007.
25. Andrew Garber (March 30, 2001). "Federal aid in jeopardy for light rail". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
26. Grass, Michael (March 23, 2016). "With Seattle's Long-Awaited Transit Expansion Now Reality, It's Full Steam Ahead". Route Fifty. Atlantic Media. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
27. "Countdown to a new era: all aboard Link light rail starting July 18" (Press release). Sound Transit. April 20, 2009. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
28. Gutierrez, Scott (June 23, 2011). "Link light rail under $2.4 billion after contract dispute ends". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
29. ^ "Countdown to airport connection: Link light rail to Sea-Tac Airport starts Dec. 19" (Press release). Sound Transit. November 13, 2009. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
30. Yardley, William (April 4, 2016). "Seattle continues quest to get greener as it grows with 'transformative' light-rail expansion". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
31. Netzler, Kat (September 18, 2019). "Link light rail debuts line colors". The Platform. Sound Transit. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
32. Martinez-Vasquez, Jackie (November 14, 2019). "Sound Transit will drop the "Red Line" name". The Platform. Sound Transit. Archived from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
33. Shaner, Zee (April 9, 2020). "New line names coming in 2021". The Platform. Sound Transit. Archived from the original on April 22, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
34. "Transit line naming: Frequently asked questions (FAQs)" (PDF). Sound Transit. April 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
35. Lindblom, Mike (August 28, 2024). "Why is light rail to Lynnwood opening next to I-5 and not on Aurora?". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
36. ^ Lindblom, Mike; Baruchman, Michelle (September 26, 2021). "Fast facts about light-rail expansion to U District, Roosevelt, Northgate". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
37. ^ Lindblom, Mike (August 8, 2016). "Sound Transit keeping close eye on crowded light-rail trains". The Seattle Times. p. A7. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
38. Earl, Joni (July 16, 2009). "6 years and $2.4B later, Central Link ready to roll". Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. Archived from the original on November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
39. ^ "Transit Development Plan 2022–2027 and 2021 Annual Report" (PDF). Sound Transit. August 25, 2022. pp. 15–19. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
40. Lindblom, Mike (June 9, 2021). "Sound Transit light rail will improve to 8-minute frequency this weekend". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
41. ^ "Q4 2019 Service Delivery Quarterly Performance Report" (PDF). Sound Transit. February 27, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
42. Groover, Heidi (March 25, 2019). "Buses no longer using Seattle's transit tunnel; Monday commutes test new routes". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on March 25, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
43. Lindblom, Mike (September 23, 2006). "Construction under way for airport rail link". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
44. Lindblom, Mike (December 16, 2009). "Airport rail station opens Saturday". The Seattle Times. p. A1. Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
45. "On Saturday, it's all aboard U Link". Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. March 18, 2016. Archived from the original on November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
46. Lindblom, Mike (September 22, 2016). "Angle Lake light-rail station opens Saturday with party". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
47. Deshais, Nicholas; Lindblom, Mike (August 30, 2024). "New light rail stations draw big crowds for first trips". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on August 30, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
48. ^ Lindblom, Mike (February 15, 2024). "Sound Transit sets a date for Bellevue-Redmond trains". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on August 12, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
49. Sires, Cameron (April 27, 2024). "Long-awaited Bellevue-to-Redmond light rail line opens for riders". Bellevue Reporter. Archived from the original on August 7, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
50. ^ Lindblom, Mike; Kroman, David (April 27, 2024). "Eastside light rail line opens as huge crowds try out the ride". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
51. "Modes of service". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
52. ^ Stephens, Terry (September 20, 2001). "Sound Transit seeks success in Tacoma". Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. Archived from the original on November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
53. Cross, Robert (March 26, 2006). "Tacoma under glass". Chicago Tribune. sec. 8, pp. 1, 7. Archived from the original on November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
54. Corvin, Aaron (August 17, 2003). "Future Link: Tacoma or bust". The News Tribune. pp. A15, A18. Archived from the original on November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
55. Hadley, Jane (August 22, 2003). "Tacoma's light rail—1.6 historic miles". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. B1. Archived from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
56. "Tacoma Link Commerce Street Station opens tomorrow" (Press release). Sound Transit. September 14, 2011. Archived from the original on November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
57. Lindblom, Mike (September 16, 2023). "Sound Transit's Tacoma streetcar climbs the Hilltop starting this weekend". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
58. "T Line schedule: Tacoma Dome—St. Joseph" (PDF). Sound Transit. September 16, 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
59. Ellouk, Bernard (October 30, 2017). "Sound Transit will make it easier to get to Garth Brooks concerts". KING 5 News. Archived from the original on November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
60. Lynn, Adam (December 21, 2016). "Tacoma Link ridership heads downhill". The News Tribune. p. A1. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
61. Sailor, Craig (September 14, 2023). "Tacoma Link doubles in length Saturday. Sound Transit isn't delivering what they promised". The News Tribune. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
62. ^ "Fares". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
63. ^ Sound Transit Agency Safety Plan (PDF) (Report). Sound Transit. September 2024. pp. 43–50. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
64. ^ "Sound Transit Transit Development Plan 2024–2029" (PDF). Sound Transit. August 22, 2024. pp. 10–11, 26–27. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
65. ^ "Station Experience Design Guidelines" (PDF). Sound Transit. June 2022. pp. 32, 36–38, 64–65, 69. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
66. "Tacoma Link Expansion: Project Overview" (PDF). Sound Transit. July 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
67. Baruchman, Michelle (April 16, 2018). "Why Sound Transit doesn't use turnstiles at light-rail stations". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
68. ^ "Transit accessibility". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
69. "Sound Transit Design Criteria Manual, Revision 5 Amendment 11" (PDF). Sound Transit. May 2021. p. 9-20. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
70. Sipe, Tyler; Wasson, Lindsey (December 12, 2016). "Transit tourism: Explore Seattle by Link light rail". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
71. "East Link Extension: Light Rail 101" (PDF). Sound Transit. June 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
72. "Chapter 2: Alternatives Considered" (PDF). Regional Transit Long-Range Plan Update Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. Sound Transit. June 2014. p. 2-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
73. Parsons Brinckerhoff (March 2005). Sound Transit Long Range Plan Update Issue Paper S.1: Tacoma Link Integration with Central Link (PDF) (Report). Sound Transit. pp. 5–7. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
74. Crawford, Galen (September 18, 2017). "Name that tune: new busking areas at six light rail stations". The Platform. Sound Transit. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
75. "How to pay". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
76. Groover, Heidi; Baruchman, Michelle (May 19, 2020). "Local transit systems make slow return to charging fares as coronavirus restrictions ease". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
77. Gray, Bruce (November 14, 2017). "Why doesn't Link light rail use turnstiles?". The Platform. Sound Transit. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
78. Kroman, David (November 1, 2023). "Sound Transit to resume citations for passengers as it enforces fares". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
79. Lindblom, Mike (July 8, 2014). "Shooting brings attention to light rail's fare inspection force". The Seattle Times. p. A1. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
80. Lindblom, Mike (August 12, 2009). "Link's ticket system confounds light-rail riders". The Seattle Times. p. A1. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
81. Kroman, David (April 28, 2022). "Sound Transit eases fare enforcement amid equity concerns". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
82. Lindblom, Mike (September 2, 2022). "Sound Transit goes all-in on a gentler kind of fare enforcement". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
83. ^ Lindblom, Mike (August 30, 2024). "Light rail to Lynnwood starts today; so do flat fares, systemwide". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
84. "ORCA Lift". King County Metro. Archived from the original on September 30, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
85. Lee, Jessica (May 22, 2017). "From ORCA cards to bus-driver behavior: questions and answers". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
86. Kroman, David (September 1, 2022). "Free transit starts today for most youths across WA". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
87. Lindblom, Mike (December 15, 2023). "Sound Transit light rail to cost $3 a ride — for trips near or far". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
88. Johnson, Matthew (September 24, 2015). "Q: Why do I need to tap on and tap off my ORCA card?". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
89. "All About Boarding". MyORCA. March 29, 2022. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
90. Lindblom, Mike (September 26, 2023). "What fare is fair? Sound Transit wants your opinion". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
91. "Overnight cleaning and maintenance keeps Link running squeaky clean". The Platform. Sound Transit. February 18, 2016. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
92. Link Operations & Maintenance Satellite Facility: Core Light Rail System Plan Review (PDF) (Report). Sound Transit. September 2012. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
93. "ST opens state-of-the-art Link light rail Operations & Maintenance Facility" (Press release). Sound Transit. March 4, 2007. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
94. Cohen, Aubrey (June 16, 2009). "Here's where they fix the light rail trains". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
95. Cunningham, Rachelle (May 19, 2021). "Fresh pics: New light rail base opens in Bellevue". The Platform. Sound Transit. Archived from the original on November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
96. Sound Transit Audit Division (April 29, 2022). "Internal Audit Report: Link Light Rail Service Event from November 26, 2021" (PDF). Sound Transit. p. 24. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
97. ^ Lindblom, Mike (June 19, 2019). "Sound Transit shows off its new, roomier light-rail cars. They'll go into service next year". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
98. Lindblom, Mike (May 27, 2015). "State finally getting satellite-based train controls, 20 years after fatal crash". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
99. Guevara, Natalie (June 19, 2019). "Wider center, digital signs: Improvements abound in new Sound Transit light rail cars". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on December 31, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
100. ^ "First new light-rail vehicle unveiled for Sound Transit's Hilltop Tacoma Link". Mass Transit Magazine. April 27, 2022. Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
101. Pryne, Eric (November 25, 2003). "Sound Transit picks Japanese firm to build train cars for light-rail line". The Seattle Times. p. B3. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
102. Velush, Lukas (May 22, 2007). "Rail cars finished in Everett". The Everett Herald. Archived from the original on May 24, 2007. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
103. "Sound Transit unveils first Central Link light rail vehicle" (Press release). Sound Transit. December 17, 2006. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
104. "Transit Development Plan 2014–2019 and 2013 Annual Report" (PDF). Sound Transit. October 23, 2014. p. 31. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
105. ^ Central Link Operations Plan – Westlake to SeaTac/Airport (PDF) (Report). Sound Transit. July 29, 2008. pp. 18–21. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
106. "Bicycle Riders Guide" (PDF). Sound Transit. June 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
107. "Technical Data: Seattle, WA – Sound Transit" (PDF). Kinkisharyo International. August 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
108. "The Light-Rail Train" (PDF). The Seattle Times. July 10, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 26, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
109. "Siemens Mobility S700 helps Seattle serve its booming ridership with modern style and sustainability" (Press release). Siemens Mobility. May 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
110. "First new Link light rail vehicles enter passenger service" (Press release). Sound Transit. May 14, 2021. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
111. Zhou, Amanda; Lindblom, Mike (January 20, 2024). "Sound Transit reopens U District station after Israel-Hamas war protest". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
112. "Sound Transit Resolution No. R2022-12" (PDF). Sound Transit. May 26, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
113. "Skoda breaks into the urban market". Railway Gazette International. April 1, 2001. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
114. "The Tacoma Link Light Rail Vehicles are Coming!" (Press release). Sound Transit. July 25, 2002. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
115. "The Tacoma Link Light Rail Vehicles are Coming!" (Press release). Sound Transit. July 25, 2002. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
116. Metzger, Katie (March 30, 2022). "Fresh pics: New light rail vehicle arrives in Tacoma". The Platform. Sound Transit. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
117. "Final new light rail vehicle arrives for Hilltop Tacoma link" (Press release). Sound Transit. November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
118. Middleton, William D. (April 1, 2006). "Sound Transit builds for LRT: Projected growth over the next 25 years is driving the Seattle region's rapid push to expand light rail". Railway Age. Chicago, Illinois: Simmons-Boardman Publishing: 43–45. ISSN 0033-8826. OCLC 1586268. Archived from the original on May 2, 2006. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
119. "Sound Transit light rail trains are now running on clean energy" (Press release). Sound Transit. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
120. "Pierce County 2019 Regional Report" (PDF). Sound Transit. January 2019. p. 8. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
121. ^ Lindblom, Mike; Baruchman, Michelle (August 15, 2021). "Sound Transit faces a $6.5 billion shortfall. Here's what it might do". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
122. ^ Lindblom, Mike (August 18, 2022). "More delays for light rail to Bellevue, Redmond, Federal Way, Lynnwood". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
123. Haglund, Noah (August 24, 2017). "Light rail to Lynnwood: $500M over budget, behind schedule". The Everett Herald. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
124. Lindblom, Mike (November 3, 2016). "Still deciding on Sound Transit 3? Here's a Q&A". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
125. "Increased project cost estimates presented to Sound Transit Board Executive Committee". The Platform. Sound Transit. January 7, 2021. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
126. Craighead, Callie (January 11, 2021). "Estimated cost of West Seattle-Ballard link extension increases by 50%". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
127. ^ "West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions Draft Environmental Impact Statement Executive Summary" (PDF). Sound Transit. January 2022. p. ES-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
128. "Transit line naming: Frequently asked questions (FAQs)" (PDF). Sound Transit. April 2020. pp. 1, 4, 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
129. ^ Sound Transit future service (PDF) (Map). Sound Transit. March 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
130. Engelson, Andrew (August 5, 2021). "Sound Transit Approves Plan that Accelerates Timeline for Seattle Stations, Addresses Funding Gap". The Stranger. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
131. "Denny Way and 23rd Ave light rail lines? 20-year Seattle Transportation Plan taking shape". Capitol Hill Seattle Blog. August 25, 2023. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
132. ^ Lindblom, Mike (August 24, 2023). "Eastside-only light rail should open in March, Sound Transit says". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
133. Lindblom, Mike (November 9, 2022). "An Eastside-only light-rail line? Here's why it might happen". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
134. Lindblom, Mike (May 14, 2017). "World's first light rail on a floating bridge: For I-90, Sound Transit had to invent 'a brilliant solution'". The Seattle Times. p. A1. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
135. Lindblom, Mike (January 24, 2022). "Rolling in the deep: Sound Transit's downtown Seattle tunnel would bring riders 145 feet below the street". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
136. Watanabe, Ben (December 8, 2021). "City of Everett outlines light rail priorities for 2037". The Everett Herald. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
137. "Everett Link Extension fact sheet" (PDF). Sound Transit. 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
138. ^ "South Kirkland–Issaquah Link". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
139. Lindblom, Mike; Baruchman, Michelle (July 8, 2019). "Could Sound Transit build light rail faster? It wouldn't be easy". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
140. Thompson, Lynn (April 26, 2016). "Kirkland, Renton leaders want more from Sound Transit 3 package". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
141. Howard, John William (March 30, 2016). "Draft plan for ST3 does not include transit on Kirkland trail". Kirkland Reporter. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
142. "Action plans to address current Link construction risks" (PDF). Sound Transit. August 17, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
143. ^ "Agency Progress Report, Capital Programs" (PDF). Sound Transit. September 2022. p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
144. "System expansion". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
145. "Realigned Capital Program Pursuant to Sound Transit Board action of August 5, 2021" (PDF). Sound Transit. August 12, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
146. "Light rail guideway construction underway in BelRed" (Press release). Sound Transit. March 29, 2018. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
147. Lindblom, Mike (May 26, 2023). "Wetlands bridge adds delay and $72 million to light-rail project". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
148. Sailor, Craig (February 28, 2023). "Light rail from Tacoma to Seattle delayed again. Here's why, according to Sound Transit". The News Tribune. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
149. "TCC Tacoma Link Extension". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
150. "Project Summary: LINK Light Rail". King County Department of Transportation. September 17, 2003. Archived from the original on October 13, 2006.
151. Regional View Newsletter. Puget Sound Regional Council. July 2001. Archived December 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
152. Transit Cooperative Research Program. Research Results Digest. Oct 2002 - Number 52. Subject Area: VI Public Transit Archived August 8, 2023, at the Wayback Machine. Robert Cervero, Christopher Ferrell, and Steven Murphy.
153. Hawken, Paul, ed. (2017). Drawdown: the most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming. New York, New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-313044-4.
154. Carlton Harrell, Debera (February 17, 2009). "Transit zoning bill gets remake". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
155. Sullivan, Jennifer (February 17, 2009). "Neighborhoods say state shouldn't dictate development near Sound Transit light-rail stations". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
156. Carlton Harrell, Debera (March 13, 2009). "Light rail bills fail to make cutoff". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
157. Bertolet, Dan (June 2, 2010). "A Carbon Neutrality Reality Check For Seattle". Seattle Met. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
158. Cohen, Josh (May 8, 2018). "Seattle Raises the Equity Bar on Transit-Oriented Development". Next City. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
159. Lindblom, Mike (December 12, 2024). "This land handout will bring apartments to Lynnwood light rail station". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 13, 2024.

External links

• Sound Transit website
  • System expansion

• Link light rail
• Sound Transit
• Light rail in Washington (state)
• Transportation in Seattle
• Railway services introduced in 2003
• 2003 establishments in Washington (state)