Responding to heightened COVID-19 concerns
Service reductions ahead as riders do the right thing and stay home
By Sound Transit
Publish Date
March 19, 2020
(Editor's note: New information will be added to this page as needed. Please bookmark and revisit for the latest updates.)
Sound Transit will reduce service on Link light rail, Sounder trains and ST Express buses operated by King County Metro starting Monday, March 23 as a result of steep declines in ridership and staffing shortages in the wake of the COVID-19 emergency.
ST Express bus routes operated out of Snohomish County by Community Transit and out of Pierce County by Pierce Transit, as well as service on Tacoma Link service will remain unchanged for the time being.
However, service could be reduced in the future based on reduced ridership and/or staffing impacts.
The changes in service reflect significant declines in ridership since the beginning of the COVID-19 emergency.
As of the beginning of this week, system total ridership was down approximately 69 percent.
With these steep ridership drops we believe riders taking essential trips by transit will be able to maintain suggested social distancing guidelines on board trains and buses with the service reductions.
The new service levels also reflect the fact that the outbreak has led to operations and maintenance staff staying home in higher numbers, making it difficult to maintain existing service.
While implementing service reductions, Sound Transit remains committed to serving the public and will continue to evaluate needs related to transit-dependent riders as well as services for low-income, minority and limited-English-proficiency populations.
We will continue to run trains and buses at our earliest and latest service hours.
However, staffing impacts, further ridership reductions and/or government directives related to COVID-19 could impact service further as the regional response continues.
Link light rail
Closures of Downtown Seattle Link station will begin Friday evening and extend through the weekend as crews wrap up the Connect 2020 construction process.
When service reopens as expected on Monday, trains will continue running every 14 minutes as they have during the construction period. Passengers will no longer have to transfer at Pioneer Square and bicycle restrictions will be lifted.
Sounder trains
Starting with the Monday afternoon commute, Sounder South weekday service will be reduced from 13 round trips to eight round trips.
The northbound trips being canceled are the 1502, 1506 and 1508 departures from Lakewood, and the 1516 and 1522 departures from Tacoma.
The southbound trips being canceled are the 1503, 1509, 1517, 1519, and 1523 departures from Seattle.
Also starting with the Monday afternoon commute, Sounder North weekday service will be reduced from four round trips to two round trips, with cancellation of the 1701 and 1705 departures from Everett and the 1700 and 1704 departures from Seattle.
Service reductions ahead as riders do the right thing and stay home
By Sound Transit
Publish Date
March 19, 2020
(Editor's note: New information will be added to this page as needed. Please bookmark and revisit for the latest updates.)
Sound Transit will reduce service on Link light rail, Sounder trains and ST Express buses operated by King County Metro starting Monday, March 23 as a result of steep declines in ridership and staffing shortages in the wake of the COVID-19 emergency.
ST Express bus routes operated out of Snohomish County by Community Transit and out of Pierce County by Pierce Transit, as well as service on Tacoma Link service will remain unchanged for the time being.
However, service could be reduced in the future based on reduced ridership and/or staffing impacts.
The changes in service reflect significant declines in ridership since the beginning of the COVID-19 emergency.
As of the beginning of this week, system total ridership was down approximately 69 percent.
With these steep ridership drops we believe riders taking essential trips by transit will be able to maintain suggested social distancing guidelines on board trains and buses with the service reductions.
The new service levels also reflect the fact that the outbreak has led to operations and maintenance staff staying home in higher numbers, making it difficult to maintain existing service.
While implementing service reductions, Sound Transit remains committed to serving the public and will continue to evaluate needs related to transit-dependent riders as well as services for low-income, minority and limited-English-proficiency populations.
We will continue to run trains and buses at our earliest and latest service hours.
However, staffing impacts, further ridership reductions and/or government directives related to COVID-19 could impact service further as the regional response continues.
Link light rail
Closures of Downtown Seattle Link station will begin Friday evening and extend through the weekend as crews wrap up the Connect 2020 construction process.
When service reopens as expected on Monday, trains will continue running every 14 minutes as they have during the construction period. Passengers will no longer have to transfer at Pioneer Square and bicycle restrictions will be lifted.
Sounder trains
Starting with the Monday afternoon commute, Sounder South weekday service will be reduced from 13 round trips to eight round trips.
The northbound trips being canceled are the 1502, 1506 and 1508 departures from Lakewood, and the 1516 and 1522 departures from Tacoma.
The southbound trips being canceled are the 1503, 1509, 1517, 1519, and 1523 departures from Seattle.
Also starting with the Monday afternoon commute, Sounder North weekday service will be reduced from four round trips to two round trips, with cancellation of the 1701 and 1705 departures from Everett and the 1700 and 1704 departures from Seattle.
