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95-617: Sound Transit ( ST ), officially the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority , is a public transit agency serving the Seattle metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Washington . It manages the Link light rail system in Seattle and Tacoma , regional Sounder commuter rail , and Sound Transit Express bus service. The agency also coordinates the regional ORCA fare card system, which

190-454: A guideway . This is an uncommon mode of transportation (excluding elevators ) due to the complexity of automation. A fully implemented system might provide most of the convenience of individual automobiles with the efficiency of public transit. The crucial innovation is that the automated vehicles carry just a few passengers, turn off the guideway to pick up passengers (permitting other PRT vehicles to continue at full speed), and drop them off to

285-508: A 0.8 percent motor vehicle excise tax , a 0.8 percent rental car tax, and a property tax of up to 25 cents per $ 1,000 in assessed value. The remaining 37 percent includes grants and bonds from the federal government, loans, interests, and passenger fares. The agency has three major ballot measures that were approved by voters to fund system expansion: Sound Move (1996), Sound Transit 2 (2008), and Sound Transit 3 (2016). Planning and construction of new transit projects

380-778: A 20 January 1956 report in the Los Angeles Times . It refers to the nominal scenario whereby a passenger is driven to the station by spouse or partner , then they kiss each other goodbye before the passenger catches the train. Deutsche Bahn has announced that it will be changing the English expressions for Kiss and Ride, Service Points and Counters to German ones. In Italy the new Bologna Centrale railway station uses "kiss and ride" signs. Some high-speed railway stations in Taiwan have signs outside stations reading "Kiss and Ride" in English, with Chinese characters above

475-543: A body of water. A foot-passenger ferry with many stops is sometimes called a water bus . Ferries form a part of the public transport systems of many waterside cities and islands, allowing direct transit between points at a capital cost much lower than bridges or tunnels, though at a lower speed. Ship connections of much larger distances (such as over long distances in water bodies like the Mediterranean Sea ) may also be called ferry services. A report published by

570-400: A cost of $ 3.9 billion. By proposing a much smaller light rail system, the remaining funds could be used for the two other services, ensuring that the entire Seattle area received services from the measure. Sound Transit started out in scandal. The agency faced a crisis of financial mismanagement and poor planning, and federal officials ordered an audit in 2000 and pulled promised funding. After

665-420: A decline in public transport usage. A number of sources attribute this trend to the rise in popularity of remote work, ride-sharing services, and car loans being relatively cheap across many countries. Major cities such as Toronto, Paris, Chicago, and London have seen this decline and have attempted to intervene by cutting fares and encouraging new modes of transportation, such as e-scooters and e-bikes. Because of

760-552: A few stops per city. These services may also be international. High-speed rail is passenger trains operating significantly faster than conventional rail—typically defined as at least 200 kilometres per hour (120 mph). The most predominant systems have been built in Europe and East Asia, and compared with air travel, offer long-distance rail journeys as quick as air services, have lower prices to compete more effectively and use electricity instead of combustion. Urban rail transit

855-469: A full-time basis from 1973. Better Choice Parking first offered an airport park and ride service at London Gatwick Airport in 1978. Oxford now operates park and ride from 5 dedicated parking lots around the city. As of 2015, Oxford has the biggest urban park & ride network in the UK with a combined capacity of 5,031 car parking spaces. Some railway stations are promoted as a park and ride facility for

950-408: A name for using cycle boxes or racks near public transport terminals, mostly together with P & R parking lots. This system can be promoted through integrated fare and tickets with public transport system. Many railway stations and airports feature a "kiss-and-ride" or "kiss-and-fly" area in which cars can stop briefly to discharge or, less commonly, pick up passengers. The term first appeared in

1045-676: A railway with freight trains . A rapid transit railway system (also called a metro, underground, heavy rail, or subway) operates in an urban area with high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Heavy rail is a high-capacity form of rail transit, with 4 to 10 units forming a train, and can be the most expensive form of transit to build. Modern heavy rail systems are mostly driverless, which allows for higher frequencies and less maintenance cost. Systems are able to transport large numbers of people quickly over short distances with little land use. Variations of rapid transit include people movers , small-scale light metro and

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1140-450: A search for scarce, expensive city-centre parking. They may well reduce congestion by assisting the use of public transport in congested urban areas. There is not much research on the pros and cons of park and ride schemes. It has been suggested that there is "a lack of clear-cut evidence for park and ride's widely assumed impact in reducing congestion". Park and ride facilities help commuters who live beyond practical walking distance from

1235-413: A series of executives resigned in 2001, Joni Earl took the helm and is widely credited with saving the agency. Largely, this was by being more realistic and being more honest with the public — reportedly she used the slogan "Optimism is not our friend." Largely due to her efforts, by 2003 Sound Transit received a clean financial audit, and was re-rewarded the funding lost two years earlier. Despite this,

1330-585: A series of highway improvements. These changes included almost 50 miles (80 km) in new light rail lines, four new parking garages, two new Sounder stations, a streetcar line connecting First Hill , Capitol Hill , and the International District , a transit center in Bothell , and two expansion studies, one for studying rapid transit across the SR-520 floating bridge and the other studying

1425-480: A set of trolley poles for mobility. Online Electric Vehicles are buses that run on a conventional battery, but are recharged frequently at certain points via underground wires. Certain types of buses, styled after old-style streetcars, are also called trackless trolleys, but are built on the same platforms as a typical diesel , CNG , or hybrid bus; these are more often used for tourist rides than commuting and tend to be privately owned. Passenger rail transport

1520-412: A single (or return) trip, or valid within a certain area for a period of time (see transit pass ). The fare is based on the travel class, either depending on the traveled distance, or based on zone pricing . The tickets may have to be shown or checked automatically at the station platform or when boarding, or during the ride by a conductor . Operators may choose to control all riders, allowing sale of

1615-413: A smaller suburban or town center. The stations are often combined with shuttle bus or park and ride systems. Frequency may be up to several times per hour, and commuter rail systems may either be part of the national railway or operated by local transit agencies. Common forms of commuter rail employ either diesel electric locomotives, or electric multiple unit trains. Some commuter train lines share

1710-574: A station and exchange passengers. There is often a potential conflict between this objective and optimising the utilisation of vehicles and drivers. The main sources of financing are ticket revenue, government subsidies and advertising. The percentage of revenue from passenger charges is known as the farebox recovery ratio . A limited amount of income may come from land development and rental income from stores and vendors, parking fees, and leasing tunnels and rights-of-way to carry fiber optic communication lines. Most—but not all—public transport requires

1805-473: A town a few miles away, for instance Liskeard for Looe and St Erth for St  Ives , both in Cornwall , England, and Norden for Swanage , Dorset , England (by steam railway ). These help relieve traffic congestion and parking problems in the town. In contrast, some stations act as a railhead, easily accessed by road, for long-distance traffic. Names of stations in the UK with large car parks outside

1900-431: A tram line. Light rail lines are, thus, essentially modernized interurbans . Unlike trams, light rail trains are often longer and have one to four cars per train. Somewhere between light and heavy rail in terms of carbon footprint , monorail systems usually use overhead single tracks, either mounted directly on the track supports or put in an overhead design with the train suspended. Monorail systems are used throughout

1995-460: A travel office, food shop, car wash , or cafeteria may be provided. These are often encouraged by municipal operators to encourage use of park and ride. Park and ride facilities, with dedicated parking lots and bus services, began in the 1960s in the UK. Oxford operated the first such scheme, initially with an experimental service operating part-time from a motel on the A34 in the 1960s and then on

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2090-622: Is Goran Sparrman, who was appointed in 2024 following the resignation of Julie Timm. Timm was the head of the Greater Richmond Transit Company in Virginia prior to her hiring in 2022. Her predecessor was Peter Rogoff , the former Federal Transit Administrator from 2009 to 2014. Rogoff was hired in 2015 and succeeded Joni Earl , a former city administrator who became Sound Transit CEO in 2001. The agency has three oversight committees that are filled by citizens from

2185-535: Is a network of 24 limited-stop express bus routes providing regional service to cities in all three counties, primarily using a network of high-occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV lanes) on state-maintained freeways. Some routes operate seven days a week, while others are limited to rush hours only. The bus fleet is owned by Sound Transit and buses are operated and maintained under contracts with local transit authorities ( Community Transit , King County Metro , and Pierce Transit ). A bus rapid transit system, named "Stride",

2280-659: Is a system of transport for passengers by group travel systems available for use by the general public unlike private transport , typically managed on a schedule, operated on established routes, and that may charge a posted fee for each trip. There is no rigid definition of which kinds of transport are included, and air travel is often not thought of when discussing public transport—dictionaries use wording like "buses, trains, etc." Examples of public transport include city buses , trolleybuses , trams (or light rail ) and passenger trains , rapid transit (metro/subway/underground, etc.) and ferries . Public transport between cities

2375-507: Is a term used for buses operating on dedicated right-of-way, much like a light rail. Coach services use coaches (long-distance buses) for suburb-to-CBD or longer-distance transportation. The vehicles are normally equipped with more comfortable seating, a separate luggage compartment, video and possibly also a toilet. They have higher standards than city buses, but a limited stopping pattern. Trolleybuses are electrically powered buses that receive power from overhead power line by way of

2470-496: Is a transit technology that moves people in motor-less, engine-less vehicles that are propelled by a steel cable. There are two sub-groups of CPT— gondola lifts and cable cars (railway) . Gondola lifts are supported and propelled from above by cables, whereas cable cars are supported and propelled from below by cables. While historically associated with usage in ski resorts , gondola lifts are now finding increased consumption and utilization in many urban areas—built specifically for

2565-432: Is also used by local transit operators. In 2019, Sound Transit services carried a total of 48 million passengers and averaged over 161,000 riders on weekdays. Sound Transit was created in 1993 by King , Pierce and Snohomish counties to build a regional rapid transit system. After an unsuccessful proposal in 1995, the agency's plan for regional light rail, commuter rail, and express bus service, named "Sound Move",

2660-421: Is an all-encompassing term for various types of local rail systems, such as these examples trams , light rail , rapid transit , people movers , commuter rail , monorail , suspension railways and funiculars . Commuter rail is part of an urban area's public transport. It provides faster services to outer suburbs and neighboring satellite cities . Trains stop at train stations that are located to serve

2755-579: Is anticipated to continue until 2046 under the Sound Transit 3 plan and are forecast to cost $ 148 billion in year-of-expenditure dollars. Approximately 51 percent of the long-range budget is allocated towards capital construction, while operations and maintenance comprise up 27 percent. The 2024 budget has $ 3.1 billion in expenses and $ 2.9 billion in expected revenue; it includes $ 638 million for operations and $ 2.2 billion for capital projects. Sound Transit contracts with

2850-484: Is common with roads for automobiles. Interchanges are locations where passengers can switch from one public transport route to another. This may be between vehicles of the same mode (like a bus interchange), or e.g. between bus and train. It can be between local and intercity transport (such as at a central station or airport). Timetables (or 'schedules' in North American English ) are provided by

2945-610: Is dominated by airlines , coaches , and intercity rail . High-speed rail networks are being developed in many parts of the world. Most public transport systems run along fixed routes with set embarkation/disembarkation points to a prearranged timetable, with the most frequent services running to a headway (e.g.: "every 15 minutes" as opposed to being scheduled for any specific time of the day). However, most public transport trips include other modes of travel, such as passengers walking or catching bus services to access train stations. Share taxis offer on-demand services in many parts of

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3040-430: Is especially valuable in cases where there are capacity problems for private transport. Investments in infrastructure are expensive and make up a substantial part of the total costs in systems that are new or expanding. Once built, the infrastructure will require operating and maintenance costs, adding to the total cost of public transport. Sometimes governments subsidize infrastructure by providing it free of charge, just as

3135-410: Is funded by local sales taxes , property taxes , and motor vehicle excise taxes levied within its taxing district in portions of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. The agency has passed three major ballot measures to fund system expansion: Sound Move (1996), Sound Transit 2 (2008) and Sound Transit 3 (2016). Planning and construction of transit projects is scheduled to continue until 2041 under

3230-527: Is often styled as "Park & Ride" in marketing. In Sweden , a tax has been introduced on the benefit of free or cheap parking paid by an employer, if workers would otherwise have to pay. The tax has reduced the number of workers driving into the inner city, and increased the usage of park and ride areas, especially in Stockholm . The introduction of a congestion tax in Stockholm has further increased

3325-531: Is planned to extend the 1 Line from Angle Lake station to Redondo/Star Lake, in a plan approved by the region's voters in November 2008. Construction on the project began in 2020 and it will add 7.8-mile (12.6 km) of track with stations at Highline Community College , the Star Lake Park & Ride , and Federal Way Transit Center , primarily following Interstate 5. Under Sound Transit 3, which

3420-553: Is proposed to run from North Renton to Snohomish if additional funding beyond the Sound Transit taxes is secured. Sound Transit 3 was a ballot measure that was approved by voters during the November 2016 elections in King , Pierce , and Snohomish in Washington . The $ 53.8 billion Sound Transit 3 plan will expand the existing Link light rail system to the suburbs of Tacoma , Federal Way , Everett and Issaquah , as well as

3515-656: Is reasonably comfortable (seats, toilets, services), and can thus be scheduled and used pleasurably, productively or for (overnight) rest. Chauffeured movement is enjoyed by many people when it is relaxing, safe, but not too monotonous. Waiting, interchanging, stops and holdups, for example due to traffic or for security, are discomforting. Jet lag is a human constraint discouraging frequent rapid long-distance east–west commuting, favoring modern telecommunications and VR technologies. An airline provides scheduled service with aircraft between airports. Air travel has high speeds, but incurs large waiting times before and after travel, and

3610-444: Is the conveyance of passengers by means of wheeled vehicles specially designed to run on railways. Trains allow high capacity at most distance scales, but require track , signalling , infrastructure and stations to be built and maintained resulting in high upfront costs. Intercity rail is long-haul passenger services that connect multiple urban areas. They have few stops, and aim at high average speeds, typically only making one of

3705-721: Is therefore often only feasible over longer distances or in areas where a lack of surface infrastructure makes other modes of transport impossible. Bush airlines work more similarly to bus stops; an aircraft waits for passengers and takes off when the aircraft is full. Bus services use buses on conventional roads to carry numerous passengers on shorter journeys. Buses operate with low capacity (compared with trams or trains), and can operate on conventional roads, with relatively inexpensive bus stops to serve passengers. Therefore, buses are commonly used in smaller cities, towns, and rural areas, and for shuttle services supplementing other means of transit in large cities. Bus rapid transit (BRT)

3800-527: The 1 Line ) began in 2009, and is the largest part of the Sound Transit system in terms of ridership. Union Station in Seattle has served as the agency's headquarters since its renovation in 1999. Sound Transit is independent of local transit agencies and is governed by an eighteen-member Board of Directors made up of elected officials from member jurisdictions and the Secretary of Transportation . It

3895-598: The 10th-busiest light rail system in the United States. Link trains generally run seven days a week at frequencies of 6 to 24 minutes, with stops spaced closely together. Most stations offer connections to nearby buses or a park and ride facility. The system is planned to expand to 83 stations and 116 miles (187 km) by 2041, with five lines serving all three counties. 1 Line and 2 Line trains are operated and maintained under contract with King County Metro and are able to carry more passengers, serving as

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3990-679: The Interstate 90 floating bridge . It would terminate at the Microsoft Redmond campus in Redmond's Overlake area. Construction began in 2016, with an initial section opening in 2024 and full completion expected in 2025. The Lynnwood Link Extension will further extend the 1 Line and 2 Line from Northgate to Lynnwood , via stations at NE 145th Street, NE 185th Street, and Mountlake Terrace . Despite concerns that President Trump's proposed budget could cut federal funding for

4085-542: The King County Sheriff's Office for police services. Deputies assigned to Sound Transit wear Sound Transit uniforms and drive patrol cars marked with the Sound Transit logo. There is currently one chief, one captain, five sergeants, four detectives, 23 patrol officers, and a crime analyst assigned full-time to Sound Transit. Sound Transit officers patrol Sound Transit property around Puget Sound including vehicles (trains & buses) and stations. Throughout

4180-485: The Washington State Legislature formed a State Rail Development Commission to study a regional transit system with light rail, commuter rail and express buses. The predecessor to Sound Transit was a 1995 ballot measure that was rejected by voters because of its $ 6.7 billion cost. The first Sound Transit ballot measure passed in 1996 as the current mix of buses, commuter rail and light rail, at

4275-482: The stagecoaches traveling a fixed route between coaching inns , and the horse-drawn boat carrying paying passengers, which was a feature of European canals from the 17th century onwards. The canal itself as a form of infrastructure dates back to antiquity. In ancient Egypt canals were used for freight transportation to bypass the Aswan cataract. The Chinese also built canals for water transportation as far back as

4370-851: The warring States period which began in the 5th century BCE. Whether or not those canals were used for for-hire public transport remains unknown; the Grand Canal in China (begun in 486 BCE) served primarily the grain trade . The bus , the first organized public transit system within a city, appears to have originated in Paris in 1662, although the service in question, Carrosses à cinq sols (English: five-sol coaches), which have been developed by mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal , lasted only fifteen years until 1677. Buses are known to have operated in Nantes in 1826. The public bus transport system

4465-583: The 20th century, Seattle planners and voters rejected various proposals for rapid transit systems. The Forward Thrust program of the late 1960s produced two ballot measures for a rapid transit system that were unable to pass with the state-required supermajority for bonds. Federal funding that was allocated to the project was instead sent to Atlanta, Georgia , forming the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority . The Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (Metro),

4560-568: The Link light rail network in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act . Costs are split equally between Sound Transit and the contracted provider within the Link corridor. The agency is not required to operate paratransit service along Sounder and Sound Transit Express routes. Sound Transit has 1,585 full-time employees as of 2023 and is headquartered at Union Station in Seattle. The interim chief executive officer (CEO) of Sound Transit

4655-515: The Netherlands many individuals use e-bikes to replace their car commutes. In major American cities, start-up companies such as Uber and Lyft have implemented e-scooters as a way for people to take short trips around the city. All public transport runs on infrastructure, either on roads, rail, airways or seaways. The infrastructure can be shared with other modes, freight and private transport, or it can be dedicated to public transport. The latter

4750-503: The Netherlands, many English terms appear in the Dutch language, and "Kiss & Ride" is one of them. Park and ride schemes do not necessarily involve public transport. They can be provided to reduce the number of cars on the road by promoting carpooling , vanpooling , and carsharing . Partly because of the concentration of riders, and thus a reduced number of vehicles, these park and ride terminals often have express transit services into

4845-595: The Seattle neighborhoods of Ballard and West Seattle . The local portion of the measure would be partially funded by increases in sales tax , motor vehicle excise tax , and property tax . The resulting transit network after the completion of Sound Transit 3 will include 62 miles (100 km) of additional light rail serving 37 new stations; the entire, 116-mile (187 km) light rail system would carry an estimated 600,000 daily passengers. A Sounder commuter rail extension to DuPont and bus rapid transit lines on State Route 522 and Interstate 405 are also part of

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4940-705: The Sound Transit 3 plan, which would expand the light rail network to 116 miles (187 km) and 83 stations. Sound Transit operates three main transit services across the Seattle metropolitan area: the Link light rail system in Seattle and Tacoma; the Sounder commuter rail system from Everett to Lakewood, via Seattle; and the Sound Transit Express bus system across the three counties. In 2019, these systems carried more than 48 million passengers, averaging 161,238 riders per day on weekdays. All three modes accept cash payment and mobile tickets as well as

5035-478: The Sound Transit district, with each seat representing approximately 145,000 people. The three county executives of King , Pierce , and Snohomish counties are members of the board and also appoint their remaining seats from local elected positions with approval of the county councils. The agency's policies are set by the board through their decisions, including maintenance of the long-range plan, budget, and project details. The full board meets at Union Station on

5130-594: The Sound Transit district. The Citizen Oversight Panel oversees compliance to board policies and financial plans, and is composed of 15 members serving four-year terms after their appointment by the board of directors. The Diversity Oversight Committee promotes employment and contracting opportunities for underprivileged groups and includes members representing community organizations and business organizations. The Citizens Accessibility Advisory Committee has 15 members who represent passengers with disabilities, mobility issues, or are senior citizens. The advisory committee monitors

5225-543: The UK National Infrastructure Commission in 2018 states that "cycling is mass transit and must be treated as such." Cycling infrastructure is normally provided without charge to users because it is cheaper to operate than mechanised transit systems that use sophisticated equipment and do not use human power . Many cities around the world have introduced electric bikes and scooters to their public transport infrastructure. For example, in

5320-487: The agency's compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other accessibility requirements. Sound Transit is governed by a board of directors with 18 members who are appointed based on their positions in regional and local governments. One seat is held by the Washington State Secretary of Transportation , while the remaining seventeen are allocated proportional to their population within

5415-713: The commuter rail hybrid S-Bahn . More than 160 cities have rapid transit systems, totalling more than 8,000 km (4,971 mi) of track and 7,000 stations. Twenty-five cities have systems under construction. People movers are a special term for grade-separated rail which uses vehicles that are smaller and shorter in size. These systems are generally used only in a small area such as a theme park or an airport. Trams (also known as streetcars or trolleys) are railborne vehicles that originally ran in city streets, though over decades more and more dedicated tracks are used. They have higher capacity than buses, but must follow dedicated infrastructure with rails and wires either above or below

5510-544: The currently funded northern terminus at Husky Stadium north to Lynnwood . To the south, the tracks will continue from the current southern terminus at Sea-Tac Airport to the northern edge of Federal Way . The proposed East Link Light Rail will depart from Downtown Seattle and end in Overlake via Bellevue . A First Hill Connector ( streetcar ) was proposed from Capitol Hill station to the Jackson Street terminus of

5605-447: The day or part of the day (known as clock-face scheduling ). Often, more frequent services or even extra routes are operated during the morning and evening rush hours . Coordination between services at interchange points is important to reduce the total travel time for passengers. This can be done by coordinating shuttle services with main routes, or by creating a fixed time (for instance twice per hour) when all bus and rail routes meet at

5700-521: The earlier crisis required Earl to drop about one-third of the originally promised light rail line. Sound Transit 2 (ST2) was part of a joint ballot measure with the Regional Transportation Investment District entitled Roads and Transit , which was presented to Snohomish, King, and Pierce county voters on November 6, 2007. Sound Transit 2 would have made a number of mass transit related improvements, as well as

5795-609: The extension was about $ 1.9 billion with half of the funding coming from a grant from the Federal Transit Administration . The South 200th Link Extension is a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) extension of the Link Light Rail system. Construction on the line began in May 2013 and opened to the public September 24, 2016. The line is elevated for its entire route and connects Seattle–Tacoma International Airport to

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5890-411: The former Waterfront Streetcar . In total, 36 miles (58 km) of new two-way light rail track were approved by this measure. Sounder Commuter Rail will receive longer and more frequent trains, for a 30% increase in service. Express Bus service will be immediately boosted (17% increase in service; 25 additional buses) and Highway 520 will receive a bus rapid transit line. A new commuter rail line

5985-525: The fourth Thursday of the month, which are open to the public and streamed online. The board selects a Chair and two Vice Chairs to serve two-year terms and also assign members to four committees: the Executive Committee, Rider Experience and Operations, System Expansion, and Finance and Audit. In the event that the Chair or Vice Chairs leave office or are otherwise unable to serve their full term,

6080-456: The location of their choice (rather than at a stop). Conventional transit simulations show that PRT might attract many auto users in problematic medium-density urban areas. A number of experimental systems are in progress. One might compare personal rapid transit to the more labor-intensive taxi or paratransit modes of transportation, or to the (by now automated) elevators common in many publicly accessible areas. Cable-propelled transit (CPT)

6175-400: The lost time and statistically higher risk of accident in private transport , together with the initial, running and parking costs. Loss of control , spatial constriction, overcrowding , high speeds/accelerations, height and other phobias may discourage use of public transport. Actual travel time on public transport becomes a lesser consideration when predictable and when travel itself

6270-462: The main urban area are often suffixed with "Parkway", such as Bristol Parkway , Tiverton Parkway , and Oxford Parkway . At Luton Airport Parkway and Southampton Airport Parkway , the stations are there to serve air as well as road passengers. In the United States , it is common for outlying rail stations to include automobile parking, often with hundreds of spaces. B & R (B + R) is

6365-517: The new Angle Lake station and park-and-ride garage at South 200th Street in SeaTac . The Northgate Link Extension was approved in the 2008 ballot measure, began construction in 2012, and was opened on October 2, 2021. It extended light rail service from the University of Washington to Northgate station , with two intermediate stops along a mostly-tunneled route in north Seattle. The T Line

6460-569: The package. The package's projects would open in stages from 2024 to 2041. University Link is a 3.5-mile (5.6 km) extension of the Central Link light rail line (now part of the 1 Line) which opened on March 19, 2016. Construction on the line began on March 6, 2009, and completed in early 2016. The line is underground for its entire route and connects downtown Seattle to the University of Washington via Capitol Hill . The cost of

6555-469: The project, in Fiscal Year 2017, Sound Transit received $ 100 million of the requested $ 1.2 billion in federal funding. This funding was followed up in Fiscal Year 2018 with another $ 100 million. At the end of Fiscal Year 2018, the full $ 1.2 billion grant, as well as $ 650 million in low-interest loans were approved by Congress, fully securing the requested federal funding. The Federal Way Link Extension

6650-492: The public transport leg of their journey and how close it leaves them to their desired destination. Timeliness is how long they must wait for the vehicle. Directness records how far a journey using public transport deviates from a passenger's ideal route. In selecting between competing modes of transport , many individuals are strongly motivated by direct cost (travel fare/ ticket price to them) and convenience , as well as being informed by habit . The same individual may accept

6745-481: The purchase of a ticket to generate revenue for the operators. Tickets may be bought either in advance, or at the time of the journey, or the carrier may allow both methods. Passengers may be issued with a paper ticket, a metal or plastic token , or a magnetic or electronic card ( smart card , contactless smart card ). Sometimes a ticket has to be validated, e.g. a paper ticket has to be stamped, or an electronic ticket has to be checked in. Tickets may be valid for

6840-619: The purposes of mass transit. Many, if not all, of these systems are implemented and fully integrated within existing public transportation networks. Examples include Metrocable (Medellín) , Metrocable (Caracas) , Mi Teleférico in La Paz , Portland Aerial Tram , Roosevelt Island Tramway in New York City, and the London Cable Car . A ferry is a boat used to carry (or ferry ) passengers, and sometimes their vehicles, across

6935-701: The railway station or bus stop. They may also suit commuters with alternative fuel vehicles , which often have reduced range, when the facility is closer to home than the ultimate destination. They also are useful as a fixed meeting place for those carsharing or carpooling or using "kiss and ride" (see below). Also, some transit operators use park and ride facilities to encourage more efficient driving practices by reserving parking spaces for low emission designs , high-occupancy vehicles , or carsharing. Many park and rides have passenger waiting areas and/or toilets. Travel information , such as leaflets and posters, may be provided. At larger facilities, extra services such as

7030-615: The reduced emissions and other environmental impacts of using public transportation over private transportation, many experts have pointed to an increased investment in public transit as an important climate change mitigation tactic. Conveyances designed for public hire are as old as the first ferry service . The earliest public transport was water transport . Ferries appear in Greek mythology writings. The mystical ferryman Charon had to be paid and would only then take passengers to Hades . Some historical forms of public transport include

7125-552: The regional ORCA card , a contactless proximity card with stored fares and passes. The Link light rail system encompasses three lines with 45.1 miles (72.6 km) of track and 43 stations. The three lines, which have no direct connection, are the 1 Line between Seattle , Tukwila , and SeaTac ; the 2 Line between Bellevue and Redmond ; and the T ;Line in central Tacoma . Link trains carried 25 million passengers in 2019, averaging 82,783 on weekdays, making it

7220-974: The regional rapid transit system. T Line trains are akin to streetcars , unable to be coupled into pairs, and are the only Sound Transit service to be directly operated and maintained by the agency rather than a contractor. Sounder is the regional commuter rail service managed by Sound Transit and has two lines that intersect at King Street Station in Downtown Seattle . Trains generally run during rush hours with limited service at other times, including weekend trains for special events. The N Line connects Seattle to Everett , stopping at two intermediate stations in Snohomish County . The S Line connects Seattle to Tacoma and Lakewood , stopping at six other stations. Trains are operated under contract by BNSF Railway on leased tracks and maintained under contract by Amtrak . Sound Transit Express

7315-494: The regional water quality agency, took over bus operations in King County and the city of Seattle on January 1, 1973, after approval from voters in response to the failure of Forward Thrust. The Puget Sound Council of Governments , an inter-county planning agency, partnered with Metro to complete a light rail corridor study in 1986. The regional transportation plan was amended the following year to include rail transit, and

7410-408: The smoke filled subway tunnels from the steam engines. In 1894, Boston built the first subway in the United States, an electric streetcar line in a 1.5-mile tunnel under Tremont Street's retail district. Other cities quickly followed, constructing thousands of miles of subway in the following decades. In March 2020, Luxembourg abolished fares for trains, trams and buses and became the first country in

7505-413: The ticket at the time of ride. Alternatively, a proof-of-payment system allows riders to enter the vehicles without showing the ticket, but riders may or may not be controlled by a ticket controller ; if the rider fails to show proof of payment, the operator may fine the rider at the magnitude of the fare. Park and ride Park and ride is abbreviated as "P+R" on road signs in some countries, and

7600-504: The track, limiting their flexibility. In the United States, trams were commonly used prior to the 1930s, before being superseded by the bus. In modern public transport systems, they have been reintroduced in the form of the light rail. Light rail is a term coined in 1972 and uses mainly tram technology. Light rail has mostly dedicated right-of-ways and less sections shared with other traffic and usually step-free access. Light rails line are generally traversed with increased speed compared to

7695-517: The transport operator to allow users to plan their journeys. They are often supplemented by maps and fare schemes to help travelers coordinate their travel. Online public transport route planners help make planning easier. Mobile apps are available for multiple transit systems that provide timetables and other service information and, in some cases, allow ticket purchase, some allowing to plan your journey, with time fares zones e.g. Services are often arranged to operate at regular intervals throughout

7790-408: The usage of park and ride. In Prague , park and ride parking lots are established near some metro and railway stations (about 17 parks near 12 metro stations and 3 train stations, in 2011). These parking lots offer low prices and all-day and return (2× 75 min) tickets including the public transport fare. Park and ride facilities allow commuters to avoid a stressful drive along congested roads and

7885-408: The use and extent of public transport. The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) is the international network for public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry. It has over 1,900 members from more than 100 countries from all over the globe. In recent years, some high-wealth cities have seen

7980-591: The use of the Woodinville Subdivision between Renton and Woodinville . The ballot measure was defeated by voters. The Sound Transit Board on July 24, 2008 voted to put a reduced Sound Transit 2 plan before voters. It passed by large margins (58% to 42%) on November 4, 2008. The financial plan for the measure shows $ 17.8 billion expenditure over 15 years, funded with a 5-10% rise in the regional general sales tax, which essentially doubles Sound Transit's revenue. Light rail service will be extended from

8075-410: The vacancy can be filled by another member for the remainder of the term. As of 2024, the board members are: Sound Transit's budget is primarily funded through local taxes levied within the regional transit district in the urbanized portions of King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. These taxes, which comprise 63 percent of the total 2017–2046 budget, are composed of a 1.4 percent sales tax ,

8170-458: The words that read "temporary pick-up and drop-off zone". Kiss and Rides are getting popular in Poland . Cities with such areas include Wrocław (since October 2011), Kraków (since 15 November 2013), Warsaw (since 2016), and Toruń (since 2016). Locally they are known by their English name, i.e. "Kiss and ride" and while the sign is non-standardized, all of them contain the letters K+R. In

8265-536: The world (especially in Europe and east Asia , particularly Japan ), but apart from public transit installations in Las Vegas and Seattle, most North American monorails are either short shuttle services or privately owned services (With 150,000 daily riders, the Disney monorail systems used at their parks may be the most famous in the world). Personal rapid transit is an automated cab service that runs on rails or

8360-544: The world to make all public transport free. The Encyclopædia Britannica specifies that public transportation is within urban areas, but does not limit its discussion of the topic to urban areas. Seven criteria estimate the usability of different types of public transport and its overall appeal. The criteria are speed, comfort, safety, cost, proximity, timeliness and directness. Speed is calculated from total journey time including transfers. Proximity means how far passengers must walk or otherwise travel before they can begin

8455-745: The world, which may compete with fixed public transport lines, or complement them, by bringing passengers to interchanges. Paratransit is sometimes used in areas of low demand and for people who need a door-to-door service. Urban public transit differs distinctly among Asia, North America, and Europe. In Asia, profit-driven, privately owned and publicly traded mass transit and real estate conglomerates predominantly operate public transit systems. In North America, municipal transit authorities most commonly run mass transit operations. In Europe, both state-owned and private companies predominantly operate mass transit systems. For geographical, historical and economic reasons, differences exist internationally regarding

8550-821: Was approved in 2016, Sound Transit services will expand with $ 54 billion in funding (combining local taxes and federal grants) over a 25-year period generally beginning with the completion of Sound Transit 2. The measure will add 62 miles (100 km) of light rail, with the completed 116-mile (187 km) system carrying an estimated 500,000 riders per day. The plan also funds Sound Transit Express bus routes, adds three bus rapid transit lines and expands Sounder commuter rail with longer trains, potentially better frequency and two additional stations in Tillicum (near Joint Base Lewis–McChord ) and DuPont . Public transit Public transport (also known as public transportation , public transit , mass transit , or simply transit )

8645-572: Was approved in November 1996. ST began operating its express bus service in September 1999, taking over existing routes from local transit agencies. The region's first commuter rail line, between Tacoma and Seattle, started in December 2000; the agency's first light rail line, Tacoma Link (now the T Line ), began service in August 2003. Light rail service in Seattle on Central Link (now

8740-787: Was built for 11 miles of track for the Union Passenger Railway in Tallahassee, Florida, in 1888. Electric streetcars could carry heavier passenger loads than predecessors, which reduced fares and stimulated greater transit use. Two years after the Richmond success, over thirty two thousand electric streetcars were operating in America. Electric streetcars also paved the way for the first subway system in America. Before electric streetcars, steam powered subways were considered. However, most people believed that riders would avoid

8835-638: Was extended to the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma on September 16, 2023. The 2.4-mile (3.9 km) extension included seven stations and cost $ 283 million to construct. A further expansion, expected to open around 2040, plans to extend the line west on South 19th Street to the Tacoma Community College campus. The 2 Line , also known as the East Link Extension , will connect Seattle to Bellevue and Redmond using

8930-726: Was funded by the Sound Transit 3 ballot measure and is scheduled to open in the late 2020s. Stride is planned to have three lines: the S1 Line on Interstate 405 between Burien and Bellevue , scheduled to open in late 2028; the S2 Line on Interstate 405 between Bellevue and Lynnwood, scheduled to open in 2029; and the S3 Line on State Route 522 between Shoreline South/148th station and Bothell , scheduled to open in 2028. Sound Transit contracts with Community Transit, King County Metro, and Pierce Transit to provide paratransit service along

9025-717: Was introduced to London in July 1829. The first passenger horse-drawn vehicle opened in 1806. It ran along the Swansea and Mumbles Railway . In 1825 George Stephenson built the Locomotion No 1 for the Stockton and Darlington Railway in northeast England, the first public steam railway in the world. The world's first steam-powered underground railway opened in London in 1863. The first successful electric streetcar

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