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[CNJRoss]

Sound Transit news release

 

Sound Transit announces September 2022 Service Change

 

Changes include addition of two new trips on Sounder S Line and reductions on some ST Express routes

 

September 8, 2022

 

 

Service changes for Sound Transit service will take effect starting September 17. The changes include additional reductions as well as extending reductions that were implemented at the end of 2021 on certain ST Express routes due to operator shortages. The reductions will affect frequency of service on weekdays.

 

In the fall of 2021, the Sound Transit Board of Directors approved service increases through the agency’s 2022 Service Plan, but changing effects of the pandemic and broad employment trends have since resulted in nationwide transit operator shortages, requiring long-term trip cancellations and reductions on some ST Express routes. Sound Transit continues to monitor the situation and work with our operating partners to understand the scope and duration of these shortages. 

 

The service change dates are as follows:

• Saturday, September 17, King County Metro-operated ST Express
• Sunday, September 18, Community Transit-operated and Pierce Transit-operated ST Express
• Monday, September 19, Sounder 

  Changes on Sounder service

 

The September service change will include two new trips on the Sounder S Line, reinstating the Sounder’s S-Line late-morning northbound trip (departing at 10:06 a.m. from Lakewood) and adding another morning southbound trip (departing at 7:55 a.m. from Seattle).

 

Due to staffing issues at Amtrak, which is responsible for the maintenance of Sounder cars, the number of car sets on Sounder will be reduced from seven to five until March 2023. The most noticeable impact to S-Line passengers is that they may have to move up the platform to board the train. Additional information about the change is available on our website.

 

There are no changes to N Line service. 

 

  Changes on ST Express service

(Non-rail changes redacted for brevity.)

 

There are no changes to 1 Line (Link) or T Line (Tacoma Link) service. 

 

Additional service change information can be found on the service change page of the Sound Transit website. 

 

For trip planning assistance or other questions, contact Customer Service at 888-889-6368, TTY Relay 711, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
               
 A language line is available to provide interpretation assistance for passengers who speak languages other than English at 800-823-9230, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

 

Sound Transit remains committed to working closely with its partners to continue serving the public. Efforts will continue to prioritize serving riders who depend on Sound Transit’s services, including seniors, people with disabilities, Title VI protected populations (race, color, national origin), low-income and limited-English-proficiency populations. 

 

Riders can sign up to receive automatic email service alerts for Link light rail, ST Express, Tacoma Link, Sounder Seattle-Everett and Sounder Seattle-Tacoma/Lakewood. Rider Alerts provide information about schedule changes and help riders plan trips around inclement weather. Just go to soundtransit.org/Subscribe-to-alerts.

 

 

Full release.

[CNJRoss]

Sound Transit news release

 

Carpool permit parking returns to Northgate and Tukwila International Boulevard stations ​​​​​​​ 

 

Free permits now available for November for two or more transit riders who carpool together

 

October 4, 2022

 

Carpool parking permits, suspended during the pandemic, are returning to two routinely crowded Sound Transit parking facilities. Beginning November 1, free carpool (HOV) permits will be available for parking at the Northgate and Tukwila International Boulevard stations for groups of two or more park-and-ride commuters who take the bus or train.

 

Permit applicants must provide basic contact information and ORCA card or Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) card numbers for each carpool member. Regular transit ridership is not required for initial issue of a parking permit, but once a permit is issued, ORCA records will be checked to verify regular ridership. At least two carpool members must ride a bus or train from the same station or transit center on the same day at least 12 days per month to qualify for monthly permit renewals.

 

Sound Transit is now accepting applications for the free permits. Go to https://www.soundtra...with-us/parking for more information and to https://soundtransit...m/permits/login to apply.

 

 

[KevinKorell]

Seattle, WA Times, 1/1/23:

 

 

   Sounder trains’ future in limbo as riders are slow to return  

 

 

In April 2020, two months after the first reported case of the coronavirus in the U.S., the future of the Sounder commuter rail line looked bright. Ridership between Seattle and the South Sound would continue to grow in the decades to come and hit nearly 6 million annual riders by 2042, a Sound Transit report predicted.

 

Here is that story.