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Sound Transit

 
Wikipedia: Sound Transit
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Sound Transit
Sound-Transit-logo.png
Info
Locale Puget Sound region, Washington
Transit type Bus, Commuter rail, light rail
Number of lines 30[1]
Daily ridership 57,725 (weekday, 2008)[2]
Chief executive Joni Earl
Headquarters Union Station, 401 S Jackson St, Seattle
Operation
Began operation September 19, 1999[1]
Operator(s) Community Transit, King County Metro, Pierce Transit
Number of vehicles 350[1]

Sound Transit has been the popular name of Washington state's Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority since September 19, 1999[1]. It was formed in 1996[3] by the Snohomish, King, and Pierce County Councils. It operates express bus, commuter rail, and light rail service in the region and constructs capital projects in support and expansion of those services.

Contents

Express Bus

A Redmond-bound Sound Transit New Flyer hybrid bus in Seattle.
Main article: Sound Transit Express

Sound Transit's express bus fleet is operated by local transit authorities Community Transit, King County Metro, and Pierce Transit. Its Regional Express Bus Service provides service to cities in all three counties, including Seattle, Redmond, Issaquah, Lakewood, Bellevue, Auburn, Federal Way, Gig Harbor, Everett and Tacoma.

Light Rail

Current System

Main article: Link Light Rail

Sound Transit's light rail system consists of a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) line in Tacoma called Tacoma Link and a 14.6-mile (22.4 km) line in Seattle, Tukwila, and SeaTac called Central Link.

Tacoma Link connects the city's Theater District, Convention Center, Union Station (a former train station now serving as a federal courthouse), and Tacoma Dome area.

Central Link runs between downtown Seattle and the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The initial section opened on July 18, 2009.[4] The initial section runs through the Seattle's SoDo neighborhood, Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley, and portions of Tukwila. On December 19, 2009, the line was extended to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport through Tukwila and SeaTac.

Under Construction

University Link is a 3.15 mile extension of the Link Light Rail system that is currently under construction. Construction on the line began on March 6, 2009, and is scheduled to be complete by 2016. The line will be underground for its entire route, and will connect downtown Seattle to the University of Washington via Capitol Hill. The cost of the extension is about $1.5 billion with half of the funding expected to come from a grant from the Federal Transit Administration.

Commuter rail

Main article: Sounder Commuter Rail

Sound Transit operates the Sounder Commuter Rail, a commuter rail service between Everett and Seattle, and between Seattle and Tacoma. There are currently 7 peak-direction and 2 reverse-commute round-trips daily between Tacoma and Seattle and 4 peak-direction round trips between Everett and Seattle. Sound Transit will eventually run up to 18 daily round-trips from Tacoma once all trackwork is completed by BNSF Railway. They also plan on extending service to South Tacoma and Lakewood by 2012.

Current and soon-to-open stations are:

Sound Transit 2

2007 Vote

Sound Transit 2 (ST2) was part of a joint ballot measure with the Regional Transportation Investment District entitled Roads and Transit, which was presented to Snohomish, King, and Pierce county voters on November 6, 2007. Sound Transit 2 would have made a number of mass transit related improvements.[5] These changes included almost 50 miles in new light rail lines, four new parking garages, two new Sounder stations, a streetcar line connecting First Hill, Capitol Hill, and the International District, a transit center in Bothell, and two expansion studies, one for studying rapid transit across the SR-520 floating bridge and the other studying the use of the Woodinville Subdivision between Renton and Woodinville.[6] The ballot measure was defeated by voters.[7]

2008 Vote

The Sound Transit Board on July 24, 2008 voted to put a reduced Sound Transit 2 plan before voters. It passed by large margins on November 4, 2008.[8] The financial plan for the measure shows $17.8 billion expenditure over 15 years, funded with a 5/10% rise in the regional general sales tax, which essentially doubles Sound Transit's revenue. Central Link Light Rail will be extended from the currently funded northern terminus at Husky Stadium north to Lynnwood. To the south, the tracks will continue from the current southern terminus at Sea-Tac Airport to the northern edge of Federal Way. The proposed East Link Light Rail will depart from Downtown Seattle and end in Overlake via Bellevue. A First Hill Connector (streetcar) is proposed from Central Link's Capitol Hill Station to the Jackson Street terminus of the former Waterfront Streetcar. In total, 36 new miles of two-way light rail track were approved by this measure.[9]

Sounder Commuter Rail will receive longer and more frequent trains, for a 30% increase in service. Express Bus service will be immediately boosted (17% increase in service; 25 additional buses) and Washington State Route 520 will receive a Bus Rapid Transit line. A new commuter rail line is proposed to run from North Renton to Snohomish if additional funding beyond the Sound Transit taxes is secured.[10]

Fleet

Sounder Commuter Rail
Mfg Model Length Passengers Purchased Retired Qty Fleet Numbers
Sdrx908.jpg EMD F59PHI, 3000 horsepower 58'-7" NA 1999 in service 11[11] 901-911
2000 in service
2001 in service
SDRX105.jpg Bombardier Bi-Level Cab Car 85' 136 (seated) 1999 in service 18[11] 101 - 118
2000 in service
2001 in service
SDRX228.jpg Bombardier Bi-Level Coach 85' 140 (seated) 1999 in service 40[11] 201 - 240
2000 in service
2001 in service
Link Light Rail
Mfg Motor Length Passengers
(seated/standing)		 Purchased Retired Qty Fleet Numbers
Sound Transit Link Light Rail Train.jpg Kinki Sharyo Mitsui 1500V-DC Electric Traction 95' 200 (74/126) 2007 in service 35 101-135[12]
2011 planned 27 136-162[13]
Tacoma Link.jpg Škoda 750V-DC Electric Traction 66' 56 (30/26) 2001 in service 3 1001-1003[14]
ST Express Busses
Model Motor Length Passengers Purchased Retired Qty Fleet Numbers
Sound Transit New Flyer DE60LF.jpg New Flyer DE60LF Cat C9 (Cummins ISL for 2008 models)/GMHybrid[15] 60' 57 (seated) 2005 in service 22[16] 9600-9621[17]
2008 2[16] 9622-9623
2010[16] purchased,[16] arriving summer 2010 13[16] 10600-10612[18]
Sound Transit D60LF 9536-K.jpg New Flyer D60LF Detroit Diesel Engines Series 50[19] 60.7' 60 (seated) 1999 in service 25 9500-9524
Detroit Diesel Engines Series 50[19] 2000 12 9525-9536
CAT (Caterpillar) C9 engine[19] 2004 16 9537-9552[19]
Sound Transit 9200.jpg New Flyer DE40LF Cummins ISL 40' 37 (seated) 2003 in service 1[16] 9200[20]
Sound Transit C40LF 9400-P.jpg New Flyer C40LF Cummins ISL C-Gas+ 250/280 HP?[21] 40.8' 39 (seated) 2001 in service 20 9400-9419[21]
Sound Transit Gillig Phantom 9105-P.jpg Gillig PHANTOM Cummins ISM Engine[22] 40' 45 (seated) 1999 in service 122 9000-9069
Cummins ISM Engine[22] 2001 9070-9089
Cummins ISM Engine[22] 2005 9090-9091
Cummins ISL Engine[23] 2008 9092-9121[24]
Sound Transit MCI.jpg Motor Coach Industries D4500 Low emission Detroit Diesel EGR Series 60 NOx 2.5[25] 45'[25] 60 (seated) 2005 in service 13[26] 9700-9712
2007[26] 7[26] 9713-9719
2010[26] purchased 3[26] 9720-9722[18]
Sound Transit 826.jpg Orion V Cummins L10 260G[27] 40' 45 (seated) 1994 2008; all buses auctioned 27 800-827[28]
1995 2
Non-Revenue vehicles
Mfg Motor Length Passengers Purchased Retired Qty Fleet Numbers
Wiki letter w.svg This section requires expansion.
Sound Transit Police.jpg Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor Ford N/A in service
Sound Transit Prius.jpg Toyota Prius Toyota N/A in service

Police

Sound Transit contracts with the King County Sheriff's Office for police services. Deputies assigned to Sound Transit wear Sound Transit uniforms and drive patrol cars marked with the Sound Transit logo. There are currently 49 patrol officers, five sergeants, two detectives, and one chief assigned full time to Sound Transit.

Sound Transit officers patrol Sound Transit train cars, stations, buses, and platforms all around King County.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d "Sound Transit marks 10 years of serving customers". Sound Transit. 2009-09-18. http://www.soundtransit.org/x12131.xml. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
  2. ^ Sound Transit. Forth Quarter, 2008 Service Delivery Report
  3. ^ "Regional Transit System Planning". Sound Transit. http://www.soundtransit.org/Projects-and-Plans/System-Planning-and-History.xml. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
  4. ^ http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009089838_lightrailopening21m.html?syndication=rss
  5. ^ Larry Lange (2007-04-26). "Sound Transit expansion ballot-bound". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/313393_sound27.html. Retrieved 2007-04-27. 
  6. ^ "Sound Transit completes major transit expansion package for November Roads & Transit vote". Sound Transit. 2007-04-26. http://www.soundtransit.org/x5513.xml. Retrieved 2007-04-27. 
  7. ^ Larry Lange (2007-11-07). "Proposition 1: Voters hit the brakes". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/338623_transpo07.html. Retrieved 2007-11-07. 
  8. ^ Lindblom, Mike. "Sound Transit calls Prop. 1 a gift "to our grandchildren"" 5 Nov. 2008. Seattle Times. <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008355167_websoundtransit05m.html>.
  9. ^ "Sound Transit System Expansion -- News Release". Sound Transit. 2008-07-24. http://future.soundtransit.org/news_pr_2008_07_24.aspx. Retrieved 2008-09-17. 
  10. ^ "Sound Transit System Expansion -- What's Proposed". Sound Transit. 2008-08-08. http://future.soundtransit.org/proposed.aspx. Retrieved 2008-09-17. 
  11. ^ a b c "Sounder Commuter Rail Train Specifications". Sound Transit. http://www.soundtransit.org/x4305.xml. Retrieved 2007-06-28. 
  12. ^ "Link Light Rail Train Specifications". Sound Transit. http://www.soundtransit.org/x4306.xml. Retrieved 2007-06-28. 
  13. ^ "2010 Service Implementation Plan (Draft)" (PDF). Sound Transit. 2009-XX-XX. http://www.soundtransit.org/Documents/pdf/newsroom/SIP/2010SIP_Draft.pdf. Retrieved 2010-01-02. 
  14. ^ "Tacoma Link Light Rail Train Specifications". Sound Transit. http://www.soundtransit.org/x4284.xml. Retrieved 2007-06-28. 
  15. ^ "Hybrid Vehicle Specifications". New Flyer Industries, Inc.. http://www.newflyer.com/index/hybrid_de30_35_40_60. Retrieved 2007-05-19. 
  16. ^ a b c d e f "MOTION NO. M2009-15: Contract with New Flyer Corporation" (PDF). Sound Transit. 2009. http://www.soundtransit.org/documents/pdf/about/board/motions/2009/Motion%20M2009-15sr.pdf. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  17. ^ "New Flyer Articulated Hybrid Diesel-Electric Bus". Sound Transit. http://www.soundtransit.org/x4641.xml. Retrieved 2007-05-19. 
  18. ^ a b "2009 Service Implementation Plan (Complete)" (PDF). Sound Transit. 2009-05-28. http://www.soundtransit.org/Documents/pdf/newsroom/SIP/2009SIP_final.pdf. Retrieved 2009-09-18. 
  19. ^ a b c d "ST Express 60-foot Diesel Low Floor Bus Specifications (New Flyer)". Sound Transit. http://www.soundtransit.org/x4645.xml. Retrieved 2007-05-19. 
  20. ^ "ST Express 40-foot Diesel-Electric Hybrid Bus Specifications (New Flyer)". Sound Transit. http://www.soundtransit.org/x4648.xml. Retrieved 2007-05-19. 
  21. ^ a b "ST Express 40-foot CNG Bus Specifications (New Flyer)". Sound Transit. http://www.soundtransit.org//x4646.xml. Retrieved 2007-05-19. 
  22. ^ a b c Cummins Southern Plains - ISM Engine
  23. ^ Cummins Every Time - Motorhome - ISL
  24. ^ "ST Express 40-foot Diesel Bus Specifications (Gillig)". Sound Transit. http://www.soundtransit.org/x4647.xml. Retrieved 2007-05-19. 
  25. ^ a b "ST Express 45-foot Long-Haul Bus Specifications (MCI)". Sound Transit. http://www.soundtransit.org/x4642.xml. Retrieved 2007-05-19. 
  26. ^ a b c d e "MOTION NO. M2009-09: Contract with Motor Coach Industries" (PDF). Sound Transit. http://www.soundtransit.org/documents/pdf/about/board/motions/2009/Motion%20M2009-09sr.pdf. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  27. ^ http://www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/conference/2003/pdfs/monroe_pierce.pdf
  28. ^ "ST Express 40-foot CNG Bus Specifications (Orion)". Sound Transit. http://www.soundtransit.org//x4649.xml. Retrieved 2007-05-19. 

External links

v • d • e
Mass transit in the Puget Sound region
Local and Express bus
Light rail
Streetcar
Commuter rail
Bus rapid transit
Ferry
Intercity rail
Monorail
Other
Italics denote lines or services which are planned, under construction, or otherwise not operating at the present time.

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