How Seattle built one of America's most successful Light Rail systems!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

[IronLionZion]

1. I take transit every day

I've never understood the opposition to it. More transit means less traffic for people who drive.

Good to know this about Seattle.

[John S. Niles]

4. Unfortunately, rebound is keeping traffic high in Seattle region despite light rail being implemented

Historically prominent economist Anthony Downs books "Stuck in Traffic" and "Still Stuck in Traffic" provided the best explanation of rebound that's in print.

The basic notion is that for every ten commuters who switch from driving to the train creating a little more space on the highway, there are ten other commuters who in response find driving more convenient and who will switch to driving in those ten empty spaces. Where do those ten others come from -- (1) those on other, slower roads; (2) those who ride transit, but would switch back to driving if the congestion dropped a little; (3) those who leave early because of traffic, but who will start leaving later if peak traffic eases; (4) those who are telecommuting because of traffic, but would rather go into the office if there were more space on the road, and so on and so on. Consider that modern commuters have smartphone apps that will tell them if the traffic is showing any sign of easing in their favorite commute hour, and they will jump deeper into traffic once they see relief is possible. A few people in some cities choose a different route every day depending on the traffic that is showing.

Of course, there are some people who don't like driving and will take the train even if traffic were to get a little better. The ridership of transit in Seattle is generated by those people, who would really prefer to ride transit than drive. Bless them. One problem is the basic statistical fact for the vast majority of commutes in Seattle and other places in America, is that the commuter who compares door-to-door travel times for commuting by transit, or by private car, for the majority of comparisons, even with traffic, will find driving is faster. Another factor is that the wealthy commuters can buy or lease a car that drives itself with automation in stop and go traffic on freeways ... available for purchase, right now.

What does work for pushing people from driving to taking transit is putting new peak hour tolls on more roads, and/or raising the price or inconvenience of easily parking at work places.

Spending billions and billions on more light rail in Seattle region will not reduce traffic on the parallel roads, even though tens of thousands may decide they will ride the trains. Millions will still drive.

[pfitz59]

2. I rode the light rail today

and will ride it again tomorrow. Loving it!

[John S. Niles]

3. Ridership lagging 1990s expectations on the original 17 Seattle light rail stations

While Seattle light rail is successful on many grounds, the expected ridership has always been lagging for the original 17 stations of phase one "Sound Move" from University District to Angle Lake, including service to/from University of Washington, Capitol Hill, Seattle Downtown, SODO Stadium District, SE Seattle, Tukwila, SEA Airport, and City of SeaTac.

Collectively, these 17 stations have not ever reached a monthly average of 105,000 boardings per day, a number that was supposed to be the average ridership per day year-round after Sound Move was to be completed, which by the way took until the 2020s. From the available records I have examined, the best month ever for the original 17 stations was July 2025, The average total number of daily boardings for the original 17 stations reached a high of only 97,446 in that recent annual best month, July of 2025, despite billions spent on the network for more tracks and tunnels with the system reaching additional station destinations over the 16 years since 2010.

All the other 11 months of 2025 the ridership was lower, pulling down the all-year average for the original stations below that 105,000 goal. While February 2026 numbers including the Superbowl celebration day have not been published, it's unlikely the monthly daily average got past the 105,000 benchmark, even acknowledging the ability of Link Light Rail to serve big game and concert days is important.

More train riders and fewer car drivers is important every day of the year.

So, 30 years after the first tax vote with two more Sound Transit tax approval votes in the bag and 20 billion dollars collected in local taxes, Sound Transit hasn’t yet hit the day-in and day-out original ridership boardings promised for the core part of the network. I find that surprising and worthy of discussion given the common attitude, "build the damn train and the citizens will climb aboard." Speaking to you, Transit Choices Coalition, agency bought and paid booster for Sound Transit spending without limits

With the Crosslake connection, I'm waiting with interest to see if the original 17 stations get a lot busier now that the Eastside is directly reachable from those 17 boading points on the Seattle side of Lake Washington. That's the hope, right?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. Welcome to DU