The Link light rail system serves the Seattle metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Washington and is operated by Sound Transit. It consists of 43 stations on three unconnected light rail lines in King and Pierce counties: the 1 Line from Seattle to SeaTac; the 2 Line from Bellevue to Redmond; and the T Line in Tacoma.[1][2]
The first Link segment began service on August 23, 2003, with the opening of five stations on the 1.6-mile-long (2.6 km) Tacoma Link (now the T Line).[3] The initial, 14-mile-long (23 km) segment of Central Link (now the 1 Line) with 12 stations was opened from Seattle to Tukwila on July 18, 2009, and was later extended 1.7 miles (2.7 km) to the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport on December 19, 2009.[4][5] The first infill station of the Link system was Commerce Street/South 11th Street station on the T Line, which opened on September 15, 2011.[6] The 1 Line was extended north 3.15 miles (5.07 km) to the University of Washington on March 19, 2016, and 1.6 miles (2.6 km) south to Angle Lake station on September 24, 2016.[7][8] A northern extension to Northgate station with three stations opened on October 2, 2021.[9] The T Line was extended 2.4 miles (3.9 km) in September 2023 with six new stations and one relocated stop.[10] The first section of the 2 Line opened on April 27, 2024, with eight stations in Bellevue and Redmond.[11] Four stations were added to the 1 Line on August 30, 2024, as it was extended to Lynnwood.[12]
As of 2024[update], Sound Transit is building extensions of the Link network that will open between 2025 and 2027 with 12 new stations.[13][14] Among these are extensions of the 2 Line to Seattle and Downtown Redmond and an extension of the 1 Line south to Federal Way.[15] These extensions are planned to add an additional 30 miles (48 km) to the light rail network, carrying an estimated 280,000 daily riders by 2030.[16][17]
Further expansions approved by Sound Transit 3 in 2016 are planned to expand the light rail network by 58 miles (93 km) and 39 stations to a total of 116 miles (187 km) of track and 83 stations by 2044, carrying 500,000 daily passengers.[18][19] The light rail network will include lines to Ballard and West Seattle in Seattle in 2039 and 2032, respectively; Kirkland and Issaquah on the Eastside in 2044; and extensions to Everett and Tacoma in 2041 and 2032, respectively. Three infill stations in Seattle and Tukwila will also be built as part of the Sound Transit 3 program.[13][19]
All 1 Line and 2 Line stations are built with 380-to-400-foot-long (120 to 120 m), 14-inch-high (0.36 m) platforms, arranged in the center or sides of the two tracks, with capacity to handle a four-car train with 95-foot-long (29 m) vehicles;[20][21][22] T Line stations are built with 90-foot-long (27 m), 8-inch-high (0.20 m) platforms that can accommodate a one-car train measuring 66 feet (20 m) in length.[23] The majority of stations are built at-grade on the surface, with the platform elevated slightly above street level; there are also elevated stations and underground stations that include mezzanines (with the exception of Mount Baker station) with access the platform from the surface as well as ticket vending machines and bicycle facilities.[24][25] Only four current stations (Angle Lake, Northgate, Tacoma Dome Station, and Tukwila International Boulevard) have public park and rides;[26][27][28] planned stations on the suburban extensions of Link will incorporate new or existing park and rides.[17][29]
All stations include works of public art as part of the "STart" program, which requires one percent of station construction funds go to art installations.[30] The stations are named in accordance to facility naming guidelines that include using surrounding neighborhoods and street names, avoiding words used by existing facility names, and being limited to 30 characters in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.[31] Stations are also required by state law to be identified by simple pictograms,[32][33] known as "Stellar Connections", that are used in station signage, maps and other printed materials as a wayfinding aid; the icons are composed of points that correspond with local landmarks near Link stations, while also forming a picture that represents the station's identity.[34][35]
Stations
edit† | Terminal station |
-
Stadium station platform
-
Mount Baker station platform level
-
Exterior of SeaTac/Airport station
Former stations
editStation | Line[2] | Location[36] | Opened | Closed | Weekday ridership[n 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Theater District/S 9th St[n 6] | T Line | Downtown Tacoma | August 23, 2003[3] | August 1, 2022[45] | 995 |
Stations under construction
editAs of 2024[update], Sound Transit has two light rail projects under construction that will expand the network to 62 miles (100 km) by 2026:[14] the western segment of the 2 Line scheduled to open in 2025 with two new stations; the Downtown Redmond Link Extension, scheduled to open in 2025 with two stations in Redmond on the 2 Line;[15] and the Federal Way Link Extension, scheduled to open in 2026 with three stations on the 1 Line.[46]
† | Terminal station |
Station | Line/Extension | Location[36] | Began construction | Projected completion |
---|---|---|---|---|
Downtown Redmond † | 2 Line – Downtown Redmond Extension | Downtown Redmond | 2019[47] | 2025[48] |
Federal Way Downtown † | 1 Line – Federal Way Extension | Federal Way | 2020[49] | 2026[50] |
Judkins Park | 2 Line | Central District, Seattle | 2016[16] | 2025[48] |
Kent Des Moines | 1 Line – Federal Way Extension | Midway, Kent | 2020[49] | 2026[50] |
Marymoor Village | 2 Line – Downtown Redmond Extension | Redmond | 2019[47] | 2025[48] |
Mercer Island | 2 Line | Mercer Island | 2016[16] | 2025[48] |
NE 130th Street | 1 Line – Lynnwood Extension | Pinehurst, Seattle | 2019[51] | 2026[52] |
Star Lake | 1 Line – Federal Way Extension | Federal Way | 2020[49] | 2026[50] |
Planned and funded stations
editThe Sound Transit 3 program, approved by voters in 2016, will expand the Link light rail network to over 116 miles (187 km) and 70 stations when completed in 2044. Other sections of the Sound Transit 2 program, approved by voters in 2008, are anticipated to be complete by 2024.[19]
† | Terminal station |
* | Infill station |
Deferred and unbuilt stations
editStation[n 9] | Line/Extension | Location[36] | Deferred/Deleted |
---|---|---|---|
220th Street SW | 1 Line – Lynnwood Extension | Mountlake Terrace | April 23, 2015[58][59] |
First Hill | 1 Line – University Extension | First Hill, Seattle | July 28, 2005[60] |
Notes
edit- ^ a b 1 Line ridership is calculated from Q4 2019 (the last data gained before the COVID-19 Pandemic), while T Line ridership is calculated from 2015.[37][38]
- ^ International District/Chinatown station was renamed from International District station by the Metropolitan King County Council on October 19, 2004.[41]
- ^ a b c d Stations in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel opened on September 15, 1990 to bus service and were rebuilt for light rail from 2005 to 2007.[42] Light rail service to these stations began with the rest of Central Link on July 18, 2009.[4]
- ^ Symphony station was renamed from University Street station on August 30, 2024.[43]
- ^ Originally named Commerce Street/South 11th Street until 2023.[44]
- ^ Theater District/South 9th Street station was closed in 2022 as part of a planned extension of the T Line, which relocated the platform to Old City Hall station.[45]
- ^ Station names are for planning purposes and subject to change.
- ^ a b Provisional station that is not funded under the Sound Transit 3 plan.
- ^ Stations were not given official names by the Sound Transit Board prior to their deferral.
References
edit- ^ "Modes of service". Sound Transit. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c Sound Transit current service (PDF) (Map). Sound Transit. August 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Sound Transit launches Tacoma Link Light Rail" (Press release). Seattle, Washington: Sound Transit. August 23, 2003. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Link light rail launches new era of mobility for central Puget Sound" (Press release). Seattle, Washington: Sound Transit. July 18, 2009. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ a b "Sound Transit opens Link light rail service to SeaTac" (Press release). Seattle, Washington: Sound Transit. December 19, 2009. Archived from the original on February 3, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ a b "Tacoma Link Commerce Street Station opens tomorrow" (Press release). Seattle, Washington: Sound Transit. September 14, 2011. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ Beekman, Daniel (March 19, 2016). "Capitol Hill, UW light-rail stations open to big crowds". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on January 1, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ a b "Light rail service to Angle Lake starts Sept. 24" (Press release). Sound Transit. August 24, 2016. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Lindblom, Mike; Baruchman, Michelle (October 2, 2021). "New light-rail stations now open at U District, Roosevelt and Northgate". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Sailor, Craig (September 14, 2023). "Tacoma Link doubles in length Saturday. Sound Transit isn't delivering what they promised". The News Tribune. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ Lindblom, Mike; Kroman, David (April 27, 2024). "Eastside light rail line opens as huge crowds try out the ride". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Deshais, Nicholas; Lindblom, Mike (August 30, 2024). "New Sound Transit light rail stations draw big crowds for first trips". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
- ^ a b Sound Transit future service (PDF) (Map). Sound Transit. August 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
- ^ a b "2023 System Expansion Progress Report" (PDF). Sound Transit. March 2023. p. 8. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ a b Lindblom, Mike (August 24, 2023). "Eastside-only light rail should open in March, Sound Transit says". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Sound Transit kicks off East Link light rail construction" (Press release). Sound Transit. April 22, 2016. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ a b "Lynnwood Link moves into final design" (Press release). Sound Transit. April 11, 2016. Archived from the original on May 15, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ "Pierce County 2019 Regional Report" (PDF). Sound Transit. January 2019. p. 8. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ a b c Lindblom, Mike; Baruchman, Michelle (August 15, 2021). "Sound Transit faces a $6.5 billion shortfall. Here's what it might do". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- ^ "Four new light rail cars proposed for Sound Transit's Airport Link extension" (Press release). Sound Transit. October 20, 2005. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ "Chapter 2: Link Initial Segment/Airport Link System Description". Central Link Operations Plan - Westlake to SeaTac/Airport (PDF) (Report). Sound Transit. July 29, 2008. p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 29, 2016 – via Global Telematics.
- ^ "East Link Extension: Light Rail 101" (PDF). Sound Transit. June 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- ^ Parsons Brinckerhoff (March 2005). "3.3.2 Station Platforms". Tacoma Link Integration with Central Link (PDF) (Report). Sound Transit. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
- ^ "Link light rail stations". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on August 3, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ "ORCA Ticket Vending Machines" (PDF). ORCA. March 22, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ Lindblom, Mike (January 11, 2010). "Seattle to allow all-day parking lots near light-rail stations, after all". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ "Tacoma Link light rail Stations". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ Lindblom, Mike (July 27, 2016). "Light rail's Angle Lake Station in SeaTac nears the finish line". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ Chen, Natasha (March 29, 2016). "Parking problems intensify around light rail stations as more riders hop on". KIRO 7 News. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ "STart Public Art Program". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ "Resolution No. R2012-02: Facility and Link System Naming Policy – Staff Report" (PDF). Sound Transit. February 23, 2012. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 2, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ Cohen, Aubrey (March 31, 2014). "Help design pictograms for new Sound Transit stations". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
- ^ "RCW 81.112.190: Requirements for signage". Revised Code of Washington. Washington State Legislature. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
- ^ "Stellar Connections". Sound Transit. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ^ "Stellar Connections: The story of the pictograms at Link light rail stations" (PDF). Sound Transit. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 8, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e Growing Transit Communities Oversight Committee (October 2013). "Transit Community Profiles". Puget Sound Regional Council. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ "2019 Q4 Service Delivery Quarterly Performance Report" (PDF). Sound Transit. July 13, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- ^ "Appendix D: Stop Level Ridership Data". 2016 Service Implementation Plan (PDF) (Report). Sound Transit. December 2015. pp. 169–170. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 29, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g Lindblom, Mike (April 26, 2024). "What to expect when you try the Eastside's eight light rail stations". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "University Link light rail extension opens March 19" (Press release). Sound Transit. January 26, 2016. Archived from the original on January 27, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- ^ "King County Ordinance 15074: Renaming of the International District station" (PDF). Metropolitan King County Council. October 19, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 2, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
- ^ Crowley, Walt (October 1, 2000). "Bus service begins in downtown Seattle transit tunnel on September 15, 1990". HistoryLink. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ Lindblom, Mike (August 6, 2024). "This Seattle light rail station is getting renamed, clearing confusion". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
- ^ "Sound Transit Motion No. M2017-118" (PDF). Sound Transit. November 16, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 20, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ a b Sailor, Craig (October 11, 2022). "Tacoma street cars return to the rails Tuesday after 10-week absence". The News Tribune. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ Lindblom, Mike (May 26, 2023). "Wetlands bridge adds delay and $72 million to light-rail project". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
- ^ a b Metzger, Katie (October 23, 2019). "Breaking ground on the Downtown Redmond Link Extension". The Platform. Sound Transit. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Belman, Brooke (August 24, 2023). "Get ready for new Link service on the Eastside next spring". The Platform. Sound Transit. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Sound Transit breaks ground on Federal Way Link Extension" (Press release). Sound Transit. July 16, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Federal Way Link Extension". Sound Transit Projects & Plans. Sound Transit. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
- ^ "Sound Transit breaks ground on Lynnwood Link Extension" (Press release). Sound Transit. September 3, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
- ^ Lindblom, Mike (August 5, 2021). "Two light-rail stations in Seattle escape ST3 budget chopping, most other projects delayed". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- ^ "Realigned Capital Program Pursuant to Sound Transit Board action of August 5, 2021" (PDF). Sound Transit. August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
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- ^ a b c d e f g "Everett Link Extension". Sound Transit. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "South Kirkland-Issaquah Link". Sound Transit. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Sailor, Craig (April 3, 2019). "Light rail from Tacoma to the airport is still 11 years away, but you can have input now". The News Tribune. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
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- ^ "Next stop: Lynnwood" (Press release). Seattle, Washington: Sound Transit. April 23, 2015. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
- ^ "Sound Transit Resolution No. R2005-20" (PDF). Sound Transit. July 28, 2005. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 2, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2014.