Welcome

Sound Transit is seeking public feedback on our 2022 Service Plan. Take the survey below by 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 22, attend the virtual open house on Aug. 11, email your feedback at servicechanges@soundtransit.org, or leave a comment by calling 1-866-940-4387. You can also sign up to give verbal comment at the virtual public hearing on Aug. 12.

What’s the annual service plan?

At Sound Transit, we evaluate service performance annually and propose changes to improve performance, respond to ridership trends and use taxpayer resources efficiently.

We forecast many of these proposed changes through our annual planning process, but we need your input to help us hone and improve them.

We recognize that the past year has been extremely challenging. Transit agencies across the region, including Sound Transit, had to reduce service during the pandemic. As the region rebounds and we look ahead to next year, we invite you to learn more about the changes we are proposing to service in 2022. Your feedback on the 2022 Service Plan proposal will help shape what service looks like in the coming year.

What’s on the horizon for 2022 service?

We’re considering changes to ST Express bus and Sounder South as ridership is rebounding region-wide and as we continue to recover from the pandemic. We’re responding to the increase with a focus on equity and are proposing increases to service where people need it most, specifically in South King and Pierce County, where ridership remained more resilient compared to other parts of the region.

In addition, 2022 will mark the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension opening. This extension will provide new local connections from Tacoma Dome Station to major medical institutions in the Hilltop neighborhood.

Rider waiting at a bus stop in downtown Tacoma. ST Express route 590 pulling up to stop.

Tell us what you think by Aug. 22

Email us:

servicechanges@soundtransit.org

Call and leave a public comment:

1-866-940-4387

Attend our Virtual Open House:

Aug. 11 at 6 p.m.

Attend our Virtual Public Hearing:

Aug. 12 at 11 a.m.

2022 Service Plan goals

Build back from COVID-19 and respond to new travel patterns

Last year Sound Transit reduced or suspended service during the commute hours while preserving all-day connections. Current research is showing that some people plan to work in the office less than they did before, so building back from COVID-19 gives us an opportunity to create a network focused on all-day service that works for a larger variety of trip purposes.

The 2022 Service Plan proposes increasing service throughout the day, including middays, evenings, and on weekends, instead of restoring suspended peak-hour only service (5-9 a.m. and 3-7 p.m.). While peak hours would still have higher frequency, additional midday, evening and weekend service would allow for wider flexibility of work hours and serve passengers traveling for other reasons.

Some peak hour-only routes such as Routes 541, 544, 555 and 567 would remain suspended because a parallel all-day route serves their respective corridors, although the parallel route may have more stops or require a transfer to/from Link light rail or another ST Express service.

Focus on equity

Our 2019 Title VI Service Evaluation noted that some ST Express routes that serve low-income or minority populations, especially in South King and Pierce County, and Sounder South service lagged behind in terms of investment, and consequently have longer wait times and poorer on-time performance than service elsewhere.

The 2022 Service Plan focuses on achieving service equity across the region. In the plan, we propose to increase Tacoma and Federal Way ST Express bus service to every 15 minutes all day, including on weekends, to match service levels on routes serving East King, North King, and Snohomish counties.

Build the future ST network

The role of ST Express will change with each future light rail extension, complementing investments in high-capacity transit.

We’ll open Link service to the Eastside in 2023 and to Redmond, Federal Way and Lynnwood in 2024. Increasing midday and weekend bus service levels to match Link will create an efficient regional transit network that passengers can rely on all day, every day.

2022 Service Plan proposal

Full map of proposed Sound Transit service changes — To view our current service map, click here.

ST Express Changes

Sound Transit’s bus service that connects regional hubs in Pierce, King and Snohomish counties.

Route 535 – Lynnwood to Bellevue

Increase weekend service to every 30 minutes and introduce Sunday service.

Map of proposed update to Sound Transit Route 535 — (Click to expand)

535 Lynnwood – Bellevue
	Current	Proposed
Weekdays
Early morning (before 6 a.m.)	60 min.	60 min.
Morning commute (6-9 a.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Midday (9 a.m.-3 p.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Evening commute (3-6 p.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Evening (6-10 p.m.)	60 min.	60 min.
Late Evening (after 10 p.m.)	60 min.	60 min.
Saturday
Day	60 min.	30 min.
Late Evening	60 min.	60 min.
Sunday
Day	No service	30 min.
Late Evening	No service	60 min.

*All times are approximate

Route 550 – Bellevue to Seattle

Increase Sunday service to every 15 minutes during the day by reallocating some weekday trips. Weekday service would operate approximately every 8-10 minutes during peak periods and every 15 minutes midday and evenings.

Map of proposed update to Sound Transit Route 550 — (Click to expand)

550 Bellevue – Seattle
	Current	Proposed
Weekdays
Early morning (before 6 a.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Morning commute (6-9 a.m.)	8-10 min.	9-10 min.
Midday (9 a.m.-3 p.m.)	15 min.	15 min.
Evening commute (3-6 p.m.)	8-10 min.	8-10 min.
Evening (6-10 p.m.)	15 min.	15 min.
Late Evening (after 10 p.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Saturday
Day	15 min.	15 min.
Late Evening	30 min.	30 min.
Sunday
Day	30 min.	15 min.
Late Evening	30 min.	30 min.

*All times are approximate

Route 560 – West Seattle to SeaTac to Renton

Increase weekend service to every 30 minutes. No changes to weekday service.

Map of proposed changes to Sound Transit Route 560. — (Click to expand)

560 West Seattle – SeaTac – Bellevue
	Current	Proposed
Weekdays
Early morning (before 6 a.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Morning commute (6-9 a.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Midday (9 a.m.-3 p.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Evening commute (3-6 p.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Evening (6-10 p.m.)	60 min.	60 min.
Late Evening (after 10 p.m.)	60 min.	60 min.
Saturday
Day	60 min.	30 min.
Late Evening	60 min.	60 min.
Sunday
Day	60 min.	30 min.
Late Evening	60 min.	60 min.

*All times are approximate

Route 574 – Lakewood to SeaTac

Expand hours of service by beginning service earlier and ending service later to better serve Sea-Tac Airport workers.

Map of proposed changes to Sound Transit route 574. — (Click to expand)

574 Lakewood – SeaTac
	Current	Proposed
Weekdays
Early morning (before 6 a.m.)	20-30 min.	20-30 min.
Morning commute (6-9 a.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Midday (9 a.m.-3 p.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Evening commute (3-6 p.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Evening (6-10 p.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Late Evening (after 10 p.m.)	60 min.	60 min.
Saturday
Day	30 min.	30 min.
Late Evening	60 min.	60 min.
Sunday
Day	30 min.	30 min.
Late Evening	60 min.	60 min.

*All times are approximate

Route 577 – Federal Way to Seattle

Increase service to every 15 minutes or better, all day, every day, between Federal Way and Seattle (combined frequency with the 578).

Map of proposed changes to Sound Transit route 577. — (Click to expand)

577/578 Federal Way – Seattle (combined frequency) Fall 2021
	Current	Proposed
Weekdays
Early morning (before 6 a.m.)	15 min.	15 min.
Morning commute (6-9 a.m.)	8-10 min.	8-10 min.
Midday (9 a.m.-3 p.m.)	30 min.	15 min.
Evening commute (3-6 p.m.)	10 min.	10 min.
Evening (6-10 p.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Late Evening (after 10 p.m.)	60 min.	60 min.
Saturday
Day	30 min.	15 min.
Late Evening	60 min.	60 min.
Sunday
Day	30 min.	15 min.
Late Evening	60 min.	60 min.

*All times are approximate

Route 578 – Puyallup to Seattle

Increase weekend service to every 30 minutes.

Map of proposed changes to Sound Transit route 578. — (Click to expand)

578 Puyallup – Seattle
	Current	Proposed
Weekdays
Early morning (before 6 a.m.)	60 min.	60 min.
Morning commute (6-9 a.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Midday (9 a.m.-3 p.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Evening commute (3-6 p.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Evening (6-10 p.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Late Evening (after 10 p.m.)	60 min.	60 min.
Saturday
Day	60 min.	30 min.
Late Evening	60 min.	60 min.
Sunday
Day	60 min.	30 min.
Late Evening	60 min.	60 min.

*All times are approximate

Route 590 – Tacoma to Seattle

Increase service to every 15 minutes or better, all day, every day, between Tacoma and Seattle(combined frequency with 594).

Map of proposed changes to Sound Transit route 590. — (Click to enlarge)

590/594 Tacoma – Seattle (combined frequency)
	Current	Proposed
Weekdays
Early morning (before 6 a.m.)	6-8 min.	6-8 min.
Morning commute (6-9 a.m.)	6-8 min.	6-8 min.
Midday (9 a.m.-3 p.m.)	30 min.	15 min.
Evening commute (3-6 p.m.)	6-8 min.	6-8 min.
Evening (6-10 p.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Late Evening (after 10 p.m.)	30 min.	30 min.
Saturday
Day	30 min.	15 min.
Late Evening	60 min.	60 min.
Sunday
Day	30 min.	15 min.
Late Evening	60 min.	60 min.

*All times are approximate

Route 592 – DuPont to Lakewood Seattle

Add stop at the Tacoma Dome to better connect with the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension and other Pierce Transit routes and improve local connections within Pierce County. This would add a direct connection between DuPont and Tacoma, which public transit doesn’t currently offer.

In addition, service would operate in Seattle via the SODO Busway with new stops at the SODO, Stadium and International District-Chinatown light rail stations (while continuing to serve existing stops on 4^th Avenue).

Map of proposed changes to Sound Transit route 592. — (Click to expand)

592 DuPont – Tacoma – Seattle (combined frequency)
	Current	Proposed
Weekdays
Early morning (before 6 a.m.)	20-30 min.	20-30 min.
Morning commute (6-9 a.m.)	20-30 min.	20-30 min.
Evening commute (3-6 p.m.)	20-30 min.	20-30 min.

*All times are approximate

Sounder South Changes

Sound Transit’s commuter rail service operates between Lakewood and Seattle on weekdays.

S Line (Sounder South)

Starting in September 2021, Sound Transit will adopt new line names for Link light rail and Sounder service. Sounder South will become the S Line, and Sounder North will become the N Line.

Sound Transit will consider restoring service to operate up to 13 round trips by September 2022. With the September 2021 service change, Sound Transit will restore Train 1507 (2:35 p.m. from Seattle to Tacoma) and its corresponding reverse train (1520, 4:06 p.m. from Tacoma to Seattle). The proposed 2022 Service Plan would build on that and bring Sounder South service back to pre-pandemic levels.

Map of proposed changes to Sound Transit Sounder South route. — (Click to expand)

Tacoma Link Changes

Tacoma’s light rail service currently operates between the Tacoma Dome and the Theater District, with six new stations opening next year.

T Line (Tacoma Link) opens Hilltop Extension mid-2022

Once the Hilltop Tacoma Link Ext. opens in 2022, Sound Transit will consider increasing frequency from every 12 minutes to every 10 minutes.

Learn more about the project here.

Map of proposed changes to Sound Transit Tacoma Link route. — (Click to expand)

T Line Tacoma Dome – Theater District – Hilltop
	Current	Proposed
Weekdays
Early morning (before 6 a.m.)	24 min.	20 min.
Morning commute (6-9 a.m.)	12 min.	10 min.
Midday (9 a.m.-3 p.m.)	12 min.	10 min.
Evening commute (3-6 p.m.)	12 min.	10 min.
Evening (6-10 p.m.)	12-24 min.	10-20 min.
Saturday
Day	12 min.	10 min.
Sunday
Day	24 min.	20 min.

Title VI

As required by the Federal Transit Administration, Sound Transit evaluates major service changes to determine if proposed changes would have a discriminatory impact.

We’ll complete a Title VI analysis as part of the 2022 Service Plan process. Learn more here.

2022 Service Plan Proposal

Welcome

What’s the annual service plan?

What’s on the horizon for 2022 service?

Tell us what you think by Aug. 22

Email us:

Call and leave a public comment:

Attend our Virtual Open House:

Attend our Virtual Public Hearing:

2022 Service Plan goals

2022 Service Plan proposal

ST Express Changes

Sounder South Changes

Tacoma Link Changes

Title VI

2022 Service Plan survey

Survey

Next steps

Project timeline

Stay engaged

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