87-561: Sound Transit Express ( ST Express ) is a network of regional express buses, operated by the multi-county transit agency, Sound Transit . The routes connect major regional hubs throughout 53 cities in three counties ( King , Pierce , and Snohomish ) in the Puget Sound region . Sound Transit Express ranks first in the nation in the number of commuter bus passengers carried and in vehicle miles driven. The first nine routes and 114 buses began carrying passengers on September 19, 1999. In 2023,
174-435: 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 the regional rapid transit system. T Line trains are akin to streetcars , unable to be coupled into pairs, and are
261-510: 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
348-400: 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
435-500: A fleet of 360 buses operated by three different local transit agencies. Sound Transit buses are painted white with aqua, turquoise, and blue waves along the sides, representing the Puget Sound region ST Express serves, and most feature a freely-adapted representation of the Sound Transit bus and train system map on the seating fabric. Occasionally, vehicles that are not in Sound Transit livery are used on Sound Transit routes by
522-565: A larger margin for the Democrats than that seen in any previous election up to that point in time. Slightly more than 29% of Washington state's population reside in King County, making it a significant factor for the Democrats in a few recent close statewide elections. In the 2000 Senate election , King County's margin of victory pushed Maria Cantwell 's total over that of incumbent Republican Slade Gorton , defeating and unseating him in
609-513: A peninsular independence movement; King County lost what is now Kitsap County but preserved its entertainment industry. Coal was discovered in 1853 by M. Bigelow along the Black River , and in subsequent decades several companies formed to mine coal around Lake Washington and deliver it to Seattle. The Seattle and Walla Walla Railroad started servicing the Renton coal fields in 1877, and
696-540: A prominent activist and leader during the civil rights movement . The change was approved by the state government in 2005. It is one of three Washington counties that are included in the Seattle – Tacoma – Bellevue metropolitan statistical area along with Snohomish County to the north and Pierce County to the south. About two-thirds of King County's population lives in Seattle's suburbs , which largely developed in
783-413: 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,
870-586: 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
957-418: A total of $ 123 million was spent on homelessness services by local governments in King County, including cities and the regional authority. The regional authority's five-year plan, released in 2023, estimates that $ 8 billion in capital costs would be required to build and staff 18,205 new units of temporary and transitional housing to address the homelessness crisis. The King County Executive heads
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#17327935871831044-625: 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
1131-668: Is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington . The population was 2,269,675 in the 2020 census , making it the most populous county in Washington , and the 12th-most populous in the United States. The county seat is Seattle , also the state's most populous city . Originally named after US representative, senator, and then vice president-elect William R. King in 1852, the county government amended its designation in 1986 to honor Martin Luther King Jr. ,
1218-538: 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",
1305-519: 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
1392-546: Is connected to West Seattle at Fauntleroy and also has service to Southworth in Kitsap County. The county government's Marine Division operates the King County Water Taxi , a passenger ferry service that connects Downtown Seattle to West Seattle and Vashon Island . The passenger-only Kitsap Fast Ferries system operated by Kitsap Transit connects a terminal near Colman Dock to communities on
1479-574: Is governed by an eighteen-member Board of Directors made up of elected officials from member jurisdictions and the Secretary of Transportation . It 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
1566-538: Is home two federally-recognized tribes, the Muckleshoot tribe and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe tribe, and other unrecognized groups. The Muckleshoot Indian Reservation is located southeast of Auburn and is home to a resident population of 3,606 as of the 2000 census. The Snoqualmie tribe's casino property was federally recognized as their reservation in 2006, however few tribe members live near
1653-532: 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
1740-554: 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
1827-596: Is scheduled to continue until 2041 under 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
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#17327935871831914-511: Is used in the flag. Martin Luther King Jr. had visited King County once, for three days in November 1961. According to the United States Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 2,307 square miles (5,980 km ), of which 2,116 square miles (5,480 km ) is land and 191 square miles (490 km ) (8.3%) is water. King County has nearly twice the land area of the state of Rhode Island . The highest point in
2001-770: Is vested in the King County Superior Court and the King County District Court . Seattle houses the King County Courthouse . The county government manages elections, records, licensing, parks, wastewater treatment, and public health, among other duties. It also handles the criminal legal and incarceration system for all cities and unincorporated areas within King County. It has a sheriff's department that also provides basic policing to unincorporated areas. The Department of Local Services, established in 2019, serves as
2088-529: 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 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
2175-458: The 8th district includes areas east of Lake Sammamish and the immediate Green River Valley; and the 9th district comprises the southern areas of the county from Federal Way to Seattle, Mercer Island, and part of Bellevue. In the state legislature , the county has 17 districts that each elect two House members and one senator . The majority of state legislators from King County are Democrats; only four House members and two senators are from
2262-682: 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
2349-543: 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
2436-624: The Kitsap Peninsula . The center of population of the state of Washington in 2010 was located in eastern King County ( 47°19′51″N 121°37′12″W / 47.330750°N 121.619994°W / 47.330750; -121.619994 ( Washington center of population, 2010 ) ). King County's own center of population was located on Mercer Island ( 47°32′54″N 122°13′48″W / 47.548320°N 122.229983°W / 47.548320; -122.229983 ( King County center of population, 2010 ) ). As of
2523-648: The Muckleshoot tribal groups. In the first winter after the Denny Party landed at Alki Point , the settlement at the point consisted of a few dozen settlers and over a thousand Native Americans. The local tribes provided the settlers with construction labor, domestic service, and help with subsistence activities. On December 22, 1852, the Oregon Territory legislature formed King County out of territory from within Thurston County . The county
2610-725: The Newcastle fields in 1878. By 1880, King County produced 22% of the coal mined on the West Coast, most of that coal being found within the Renton Formation 's Muldoon coal seam. On February 24, 1986, the King County Council approved a motion to rename the county to honor civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. (no relation to William R. King), preserving the name "King County" while changing its namesake. The motion stated, among other reasons for
2697-636: The Pierce Transit of Pierce County also operate routes that serve portions of King County. Most transit modes in the county use the ORCA card , a smart fare card system introduced in 2009. The county is home to three major ferry terminals that are served by Washington State Ferries , a state-run passenger and automobile ferry system. Colman Dock in Downtown Seattle is served by routes from Bainbridge Island and Bremerton ; Vashon Island
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2784-428: 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 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
2871-623: The United States Senate . In 2004, King County gave a lead to Democrat Christine Gregoire in her 2004 victory gubernatorial election , pushing her ahead of Republican Dino Rossi , who led by 261 votes after the initial count. Rossi resided in the county at the time of the election, in Sammamish . In the 2020 presidential election , Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by earning 75% of King County votes. Governor Jay Inslee also defeated Republican challenger Loren Culp with 74% of
2958-486: 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
3045-407: The city streetcar system . Metro was the seventh-largest transit bus agency in the United States by ridership in 2019, with 121.3 million annual passenger trips and 400,000 per weekday. Sound Transit manages Link light rail , Sounder commuter rail , and Sound Transit Express buses in King County that provide connections to adjacent counties. The Community Transit of Snohomish County and
3132-639: The point-in-time count system, estimates 14,149 people in the county have experienced homelessness; the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) adopted a different methodology based on the number of people seeking services and estimated that 53,532 people in the county had been homeless at some point in 2022. According to a survey collected by service providers for the county government, 68.5 percent of respondents said they last had stable housing in King County and 10.8 percent had lived elsewhere in
3219-583: 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),
3306-528: The King County vote in the concurrent gubernatorial election . These were the largest margins by any candidate in a presidential race and a gubernatorial race since the county's creation. In 2004, voters passed a referendum reducing the size of the County Council from 13 members to 9. This resulted in all council seats ending up on the 2005 ballot. Some residents of eastern King County have long desired to secede and form their own county. This movement
3393-572: 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
3480-519: The North Pacific fishing fleet and the largest homeport for fishermen in the U.S. West Coast; four container ship terminals; two cruise ship terminals; the largest grain export terminal in the U.S. Pacific Northwest; three public marinas ; 22 public parks; and nearly 5,000 acres of industrial lands in the Ballard - Interbay and Lower Duwamish industrial centers . The King County Council
3567-749: The Republican Party. The people of King County voted on September 5, 1911, to create a Port District. King County's Port of Seattle was established as the first Port District in Washington State. The Port of Seattle is King County's only Port District. It is governed by five Port Commissioners, who are elected countywide and serve four-year terms. The Port of Seattle owns and operates many properties on behalf of King County's citizens, including Sea-Tac International Airport ; many seaport facilities around Elliott Bay , including its original property, publicly owned Fishermen's Terminal , home to
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3654-595: 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
3741-481: 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
3828-596: 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
3915-488: 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
4002-478: 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 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
4089-469: The change, that " William Rufus DeVane King was a slaveowner " who "earned income and maintained his lifestyle by oppressing and exploiting other human beings," while Martin Luther King's "contributions are well-documented and celebrated by millions throughout this nation and the world, and embody the attributes for which the citizens of King County can be proud, and claim as their own." Because only
4176-480: The city of Seattle. According to data from the KCRHA, since late 2022 over 90 percent of shelter beds have been occupied on a consistent basis. Additional shelters, parking lots, and encampment sites are operated by charity organizations and churches in the area; during severe weather events such as heat waves and cold snaps, local governments open additional shelter spaces, but these often reach capacity. In 2021,
4263-559: The county is Mount Daniel at 7,959 feet (2,426 meters) above sea level. King County borders Snohomish County to the north, Kitsap County to the west, Kittitas County to the east, and Pierce County to the south. It also shares a small border with Chelan County to the northeast. King County includes Vashon Island and Maury Island in Puget Sound . The county has 760 lakes and 3,000 miles (4,800 km) of streams and rivers. King County has been identified as vulnerable to higher risks of flooding caused by climate change due to
4350-476: The county was 56.1% White (54.2% Non-Hispanic White ), 6.7% African American (6.5% Non-Hispanic Black), 19.9% Asian (19.8% Non-Hispanic Asian), 0.9% Pacific Islander (0.8% Non-Hispanic Pacific Islander), 0.5% Native American , 5.2% from other races, and 10.4% from two or more races . Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 10.7% of the population. As of the 2010 census , there were 1,931,249 people, 789,232 households, and 461,510 families residing in
4437-544: The county's executive branch; the position has been held by Dow Constantine since 2009. The King County Prosecuting Attorney ( Leesa Manion since 2023), Elections Director, and the King County Assessor are elected executive positions. The King County Sheriff is appointed by the county executive and approved by the county council. It was previously an elected position from 1996 until 2020 and has been held by Patti Cole-Tindall since 2022. Judicial power
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#17327935871834524-521: The county's logo from an imperial crown to an image of Martin Luther King Jr. On March 12, 2007, the new logo was unveiled. The new logo design was developed by the Gable Design Group and the specific image was selected by a committee consisting of King County Executive Ron Sims , Council Chair Larry Gossett, Prosecutor Norm Maleng , Sheriff Sue Rahr, District Court Judge Corrina Harn, and Superior Court Judge Michael Trickey. The same logo
4611-460: The county. The population density was 912.9 inhabitants per square mile (352.5/km ). There were 851,261 housing units at an average density of 402.4 per square mile (155.4/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 68.7% White (64.8% Non-Hispanic White ), 6.2% African American , 14.6% Asian , 0.8% Pacific Islander , 0.8% Native American , 3.9% from other races, and 5.0% from two or more races . Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.9% of
4698-544: 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
4785-522: 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
4872-610: 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
4959-831: The fare for the second route is higher, the difference will be charged. 23 Sound Transit Express bus routes are overseen by the agency. Buses are operated under contract by King County Metro, Pierce Transit and Community Transit (who subcontracts with Transdev ). When Sound Transit implements a new bus route, changes are frequently made to existing routes that serve the area to avoid overlapping. The ST Express routes and operators as of September 14, 2024 are: Downtown Everett (select trips only) Woodinville Park & Ride (select trips only) Redmond (185th Avenue NE & Redmond/Fall City Road, select weekday trips only) State Route 520 & NE 40th St (select trips) Downtown Tacoma (one early morning trip only) DuPont Station (select trips only) Sound Transit owns
5046-412: 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
5133-527: 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,
5220-452: The fourth quarter of 2021, the median home value in King County was $ 817,547, an increase of 19.6% from the prior year. In 2021 King County experienced its first population decline in 50 years. As of the 2020 census , there were 2,269,675 people, 917,764 households, and 537,466 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,073.0 inhabitants per square mile (414.3/km ) There were 969,234 housing units. The racial makeup of
5307-544: The late 20th century and early 21st century as bedroom communities before becoming job centers for the technology industry . When Europeans arrived in the region that would become King County, it was inhabited by several Coast Salish groups. Villages around the site that would become Seattle were primarily populated by the Duwamish people . The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe occupied the area that would become eastern King County. The Green River and White River were home for
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#17327935871835394-574: The local government for populated unincorporated areas. King County is part of four congressional districts that each elect a member of the United States House of Representatives ; the boundaries are redrawn every 10 years based on the results of the decennial census. The 1st district comprises the Eastside cities north of Bellevue ; the 7th district includes northern Seattle, West Seattle, Burien, Normandy Park, and Vashon Island;
5481-518: 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
5568-548: The number of waterways in the area. The county's oceanic ecosystems are predicted to face harmful chemical changes, while the mountainous ecosystems could experience a decrease in ice and snow. Since the mid-2000s, the county government has adopted policies to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the region. The King County Metro serves the county with local routes, paratransit , vanpools , and rideshare in select areas. It also operates an electric trolleybus network in Seattle as well as
5655-855: 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
5742-513: The operating agencies. Also, Sound Transit vehicles may also be used by the local agencies for other commuter routes. This is due to vehicles having mechanical problems, vehicle allocation issues, and assignment errors. Sound Transit Sound Transit ( ST ), officially the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority , is a public transit agency serving the Seattle metropolitan area in
5829-572: 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
5916-498: The population was claimed as members by religious congregations, although members of historically African-American denominations were underrepresented due to incomplete information. In 2014, King County had 944 religious organizations, the 8th most out of all US counties. King County has the third largest population of homeless or unsheltered people in the United States according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The agency's January 2023 report, based on
6003-445: The population. In terms of ancestry, 17.1% were German , 11.6% were English , 11.1% were Irish , 5.5% were Norwegian , and 2.9% were American . Of the 789,232 households, 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 41.5% were non-families, and 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size
6090-473: 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
6177-494: 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
6264-715: The reservation. In 2010 statistics, the largest religious group in King County was the Archdiocese of Seattle , with 278,340 Catholics worshipping at 71 parishes, followed by 95,218 non-denominational adherents with 159 congregations, 56,985 LDS Mormons with 110 congregations, 25,937 AoG Pentecostals with 63 congregations, 25,789 ELCA Lutherans with 68 congregations, 24,909 PC-USA Presbyterians with 54 congregations, 18,185 Mahayana Buddhists with 39 congregations, 18,161 UMC Methodists with 50 congregations, 14,971 TEC Episcopalians with 35 congregations, and 12,531 ABCUSA Baptists with 42 congregations. Altogether, 37.6% of
6351-502: The service, operation and maintenance of the buses is contracted out to Community Transit (who subcontracts with Transdev ), King County Metro and Pierce Transit . ST Express uses a flat fare system, where each ride costs the same regardless of distance. The fares are as follows: Paper transfers are not accepted or issued on Sound Transit routes. Passengers who use ORCA may transfer between ST routes or routes operated by most other agencies within two hours of initial payment. If
6438-497: The state can charter counties, the change was not made official until April 19, 2005, when Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law Senate Bill 5332, which provided that "King county is renamed in honor of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr." effective July 24, 2005. The County Council voted on February 27, 2006, to adopt the proposal sponsored by Councilmember Larry Gossett to change
6525-472: The state. Approximately 57 percent of the homeless population counted by HUD in King County was classified as unsheltered, either living in vehicles, encampments in public spaces, or other places. The number of unsheltered individuals increased significantly in the late 2010s, leading to clearing of encampments and other structures by local governments. The county has 5,115 emergency shelter beds and tiny house villages, of which 67 percent are in
6612-556: The system had a ridership of 8,565,100, or about 31,100 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024. Unlike a typical transit bus, Sound Transit Express routes typically make limited stops as they travel longer distances on the freeways. Most routes operate seven days a week, with runs throughout the day. Where available, buses use transit-only lanes , high-occupancy vehicle lanes , high-occupancy toll lanes , express lanes , bus bypass shoulders , and direct access ramps to speed travel times. While Sound Transit oversees, plans, and funds
6699-455: 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 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
6786-595: 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
6873-413: 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 ,
6960-472: Was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age was 37.1 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 68,065 and the median income for a family was $ 87,010. Males had a median income of $ 62,373 versus $ 45,761 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 38,211. About 6.4% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over. King County
7047-729: 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 . King County, Washington King County
7134-614: 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", 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;
7221-497: Was established in 1969 and consists of nine members elected by districts to four-year terms. King County and Seattle are strongly liberal; the area is a bastion for the Democratic Party . No Republican presidential candidate has carried the county votes since Ronald Reagan 's landslide reelection victory in 1984 . In the 2008 election , Barack Obama defeated John McCain in the county by 42 percentage points,
7308-640: 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
7395-728: 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
7482-566: Was most vocal in the mid-1990s (see Cedar County, Washington ). It has recently been revived as Cascade County. According to a map published by the Seattle Times , four different geographic borders were considered. Additional plans (see Skykomish County, Washington ) also exist or have existed. School districts in the county include: Most of King County is served by the King County Library System , with
7569-683: Was named after Alabamian William R. King , who had just been elected Vice President of the United States under President Franklin Pierce . Seattle was made the county seat on January 11, 1853. The area became part of the Washington Territory when it was created later that year. King County originally extended to the Olympic Peninsula . According to historian Bill Speidel , when peninsular prohibitionists threatened to shut down Seattle's saloons, Doc Maynard engineered
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