ST/Base fare to be $1.75 Options

[Sloan]

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_s...tml?source=mypi

[EvergreenRailfan]

I noticed in the sound-off of an earlier article I posted in another topic, the usual train to nowhere lie gets put in by those who use the fact that it ends at the airport as an excuse to call it that and fight expansion was there. Getting so tired of that. The criticisms are too micro-focused, two-dimensional attacks. If they looked at the bigger picture, they would not have a leg to stand on. Thanks to all the obstacles to getting to this day, we will not have LINK Light Rapid Transit in Tacoma by 2028. I wanted that because that is the 100th anniversary of Puget Sound Traction, Power and Light pulling the Puget Sound Electric Railway.

[KevinKorell]

Sound Transit press release:

Board adopts fares for Link light rail; adult trips will range from $1.75 to $2.50

March 26, 2009

The Sound Transit Board today adopted the fare structure for the Link light rail system that will open this July. Light rail fares will be comparable to regional buses under the distance-based system, with a $1.75 base fare plus $.05 per mile, rounded up or down to the nearest quarter.

The maximum adult fare, to ride from Westlake Station in downtown Seattle to the airport, will be $2.50, the same as a bus ride. Youth base fares will start at $1.25 and have a maximum fare of $2.00 and Senior/disabled fares will start at $.75 and have a maximum fare of $1.25 under the adopted structure.

“We’ve said from the start that light rail fares should be in line with local bus services, and today’s decision does just that,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.

The fare structure supports Sound Transit’s goal of recovering 52 percent of annual operational costs by 2017.

The fares will apply on the whole light rail line, including the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel (DSTT). The Board considered offering free service in the DSTT, which would have required increasing the base fare by $.25, for a maximum fare of $2.75. Sound Transit conducted extensive public outreach on the options, collecting nearly 200 comments via the web, phone and 16 events. Overall, opinions between the two options were virtually split. The majority of comments at 10 meetings in the Rainier Valley and Beacon Hill — areas that are home to many future Link riders — favored the lower base fare achieved by charging for trips in the DSTT.

Link light rail is on schedule to open for passenger service between downtown Seattle and Tukwila in July and to Sea-Tac International Airport by the end of the year. Buses will carry passengers between Tukwila and the airport until the direct airport connection opens in December.

More information about the new fare structure can be found here: http://www.soundtransit.org/linkfares

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Sound Transit plans, builds, and operates regional transit systems and services to improve mobility for Central Puget Sound.

[EvergreenRailfan]

The fact that it will not be Ride Free in Downtown like in Portland and currently on buses in Downtown Seattle will get even some project supporters riled up, but it will at least cut down on fare evasion outside of Downtown Seattle by removing the excuse I was only going between stations in Downtown but forgot I had some errands outside of Downtown to run.