Besting all expectations, ridership numbers have increased 83 percent since Seattle's Sound Transit light rail system added two new stations, connecting downtown to the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood and the University of Washington.
The opening of two new Sound Transit stations in March of this year has resulted in a significant bump in Seattle transit ridership, according to data released by the transit agency. Josh Cohn of Next Cityreports that Sound Transit data shows that ridership in May 2016 is almost double what ridership was one month prior to the station openings. While Sound Transit had expected the number of boardings to increase to 1.8 million by September, they were surprised to achieve that goal four months early. In response, Cohn reports that the agency has increased the number of three-car trains it is running at peak hours to meet the demand.
Sound Transit recently released its May ridership report. There were over 1.77 million boardings on light rail in May 2016, an 83 percent increase over May 2015’s ridership. Perhaps even more telling, light rail had 904,000 boardings in February (the last month before the expansion), which means ridership has nearly doubled with the new stations.
The good ridership news precedes the scheduled opening of four new stations through 2021, and the proposed 62-mile expansion of the system through a ballot measure dubbed Sound Transit 3 (ST3). ST3 will go before voters this November and, if approved, would raise $54 billion through "property, sales and motor vehicle excise taxes through 2041" and a mix of Federal grants, fares, and other revenue sources.
FULL STORY: Seattle Embraces Expanded Light-Rail System
Details of the Seattle's Big ST3 Light Rail Plan
The $54 billion ST3 plan would add 62 miles of light rail over 25 years.
Checking in on the Progress of the Sound Transit 3 Plan
The Seattle area's $53.8 billion transit expansion plan is moving along in fits and starts.
The Northgate Link Extension Is Great, But Voters Want More
A recent survey of Seattle voters finds widespread support for the continued expansion of the Link light rail system in Seattle.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
