Sound Transit Express

Sound Transit Express

Sound Transit New Flyer hybrid bus 9601 in Seattle, operated by King County Metro
Slogan Ride the wave.
Parent Sound Transit
Founded 1996
Headquarters Seattle, Washington
Locale Puget Sound region
Service area King, Pierce, and Snohomish
Service type Public Transit
Routes 27
Destinations 53
Hubs 8
Fleet 280 buses
Daily ridership 62,981 (2015, weekday average)[1]
Annual ridership 18,313,617 (2015)[2]
Fuel type Diesel
CNG
Diesel-electric hybrid
Operator Community Transit, King County Metro and Pierce Transit
Website ST Express

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.[3]

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 and direct access ramps to speed travel times.

While Sound Transit oversees, plans, and funds the service, operation and maintenance of the buses is contracted out to Community Transit (who subcontracts with First Transit), King County Metro and Pierce Transit.

Fares

ST Express uses a fare zone system, which comprises 3 regions:

The fares are as follows:

Fare type One-county Multi-county
Adult $2.75 $3.75
Senior (65+) / Disabled / Medicare
(Regional Reduced Fare Permit required)
$1.00 $1.75
Low-income
(ORCA LIFT card required)
$1.50 $2.75
Youth
(6–18 years)
$1.50 $2.75
Children
(0–5 years, with fare paying passenger)
Free

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 the fare for the second route is higher, the difference will be charged.

Routes

Sound Transit Express route 545 serving the Montlake Freeway Station

27 Sound Transit Express bus routes are overseen by the agency.[4] Buses are operated under contract[5] by King County Metro, Pierce Transit and Community Transit (who subcontracts with First Transit). 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 are as follows:[6]

Route Off-Peak
Service
Weekends Start Via End Operator
510 No
(use route 512)
No
(use route 512)
Downtown Seattle I-5, South Everett Freeway Station Everett Station

Downtown Everett (select trips only)

Community Transit
511 No
(use route 512)
No
(use route 512)
Downtown Seattle I-5, Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station, Lynnwood Transit Center Ash Way Park & Ride Community Transit
512 Yes Yes Downtown Seattle I-5 & NE 45th, I-5 & NE 145th, Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station, Lynnwood Transit Center, Ash Way Park & Ride, South Everett Freeway Station Everett Station

Downtown Everett (select trips only)

Community Transit
513 No No Downtown Seattle Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station, Eastmont Park & Ride Everett (Evergreen Way & 79th Pl SE) Community Transit
522 Yes Yes Downtown Seattle Lake City Way, Bothell Way NE, Ballinger Way, Kenmore Park & Ride, University of Washington, Bothell/Cascadia College Woodinville Park & Ride King County Metro
532 No
(use routes 535 & 512)
No Downtown Bellevue Bellevue Transit Center, Totem Lake Freeway Station, Brickyard Freeway Station, I-405 & NE 195th, Canyon Park Park & Ride, Ash Way Park & Ride, South Everett Freeway Station Everett Station Community Transit
535 Yes Saturday only Downtown Bellevue Bellevue Transit Center, Totem Lake Freeway Station, Brickyard Freeway Station, Bothell Park & Ride, University of Washington, Bothell/Cascadia College, Canyon Park Park & Ride, Alderwood Mall Lynnwood Transit Center Community Transit
540 No No University District (Seattle) University of Washington, University of Washington station, Evergreen Point Freeway Station, Yarrow Point Freeway Station, South Kirkland Park & Ride Kirkland Transit Center King County Metro
541 No
(use route 542)
No University District (Seattle) University of Washington, University of Washington station, Evergreen Point Freeway Station, Yarrow Point Freeway Station, Overlake Transit Center Overlake Park & Ride King County Metro
542 Yes No Green Lake P&R (peak)

University District (Seattle) (off-peak)

University of Washington, University of Washington station, Evergreen Point Freeway Station, Yarrow Point Freeway Station, Overlake Transit Center, SR-520 & NE 51st Freeway Station, Downtown Redmond Redmond Transit Center King County Metro
545 Yes Yes Downtown Seattle Capitol Hill (select trips), Montlake Freeway Station, Evergreen Point Freeway Station, Yarrow Point Freeway Station, Overlake Transit Center, SR-520 & NE 51st Freeway Station, Downtown Redmond, Redmond Transit Center Bear Creek Park & Ride King County Metro
550 Yes Yes Downtown Seattle (Transit Tunnel) I-90 & Rainier Ave Freeway Station, Mercer Island Park & Ride, South Bellevue Park & Ride, Bellevue, Bellevue Transit Center Bellevue (Library) King County Metro
554 Yes Yes Downtown Seattle I-90 & Rainier Ave Freeway Station, Mercer Island Park & Ride, Eastgate Freeway Station, Issaquah Transit Center, Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride

Redmond (185th Avenue NE & Redmond/Fall City Road, select weekday trips only)

King County Metro
555 No No Northgate Transit Center Montlake Freeway Station, Evergreen Point Freeway Station, Yarrow Point Freeway Station, Bellevue Transit Center, South Bellevue Park & Ride, Eastgate Park & Ride, Bellevue College, Issaquah Transit Center Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride King County Metro
556 No No Northgate Transit Center University District (Seattle), University of Washington, University of Washington station, Evergreen Point Freeway Station, Yarrow Point Freeway Station, Bellevue Transit Center, South Bellevue Park & Ride, Eastgate Freeway Station, Issaquah Transit Center Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride King County Metro
560 Yes Yes Bellevue (105th Ave NE & NE 2nd St) Bellevue Transit Center, South Bellevue Park & Ride, Newport Hills Park & Ride, Kennydale Freeway Station, Renton, Renton Transit Center, Sea-Tac Airport, SeaTac/Airport Station, Burien Transit Center Westwood Village Pierce Transit
566 Yes No Overlake Transit Center Bellevue Transit Center, Renton, Renton Transit Center, Kent Station, Auburn Park & Ride Auburn Station Pierce Transit
567 No
(use route 566)
No Overlake Transit Center Bellevue Transit Center Kent Station Pierce Transit
574 Yes Yes Sea-Tac Airport SeaTac/Airport Station, Kent/Des Moines Freeway Station, Star Lake Freeway Station, Federal Way Transit Center, Tacoma Dome Station, SR-512 Park & Ride Lakewood Transit Center Pierce Transit
577 Yes Yes Downtown Seattle I-5 Federal Way Transit Center Pierce Transit
578 Yes Yes Downtown Seattle Federal Way Transit Center, Auburn Station, Sumner Station Puyallup Station Pierce Transit
580 No No Puyallup Station Fairground Red Lot, South Hill Park & Ride, SR 512, I-5/SR 512 Park & Ride Lakewood Station Pierce Transit
586 No No University District (Seattle) University of Washington Medical Center, SR-520, I-5 Tacoma Dome Station Pierce Transit
590 No
(use route 594)
No
(use route 594)
Downtown Seattle SODO Busway Tacoma Dome Station Pierce Transit
592 No No Downtown Seattle SODO Busway, SR-512 Park & Ride, Lakewood Station, Hawks Prairie Park & Ride (select trips only) DuPont Station

Olympia Transit Center (select trips only)

Pierce Transit
594 Yes Yes Downtown Seattle SODO Busway, Tacoma Dome Station, University of Washington Tacoma, Downtown Tacoma, SR-512 Park & Ride Lakewood Station Pierce Transit
595 No No Downtown Seattle SODO Busway, Tacoma Community College Transit Center, Narrows Park & Ride, Kimball Drive Park & Ride Gig Harbor (Purdy Park & Ride) Pierce Transit
596 No No Sumner Station SR-410 Bonney Lake Park & Ride Pierce Transit

Fleet

Sound Transit owns a fleet of 280 buses[7] 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 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.

Manufacturer and model Image Motor Length Passengers Purchased Qty Fleet Numbers Operator
Gillig Phantom Cummins ISM 40' 42 (seated) 2001 62 9070-9089 King County Metro
Cummins ISL 2005 9090-9091[8]
2008 9092-9111 Pierce Transit
9112-9121 Community Transit
New Flyer D60LF Caterpillar C9[9] 60' 60 (seated) 2004 16 9537-9552 King County Metro
New Flyer C40LF Cummins Westport C-Gas Plus[10] 40' 39 (seated) 2001 20 9400-9419[10] Pierce Transit
New Flyer DE40LF Cummins ISL 40' 37 (seated) 2003 1[11] 9200[12] King County Metro
New Flyer DE60LF Caterpillar C9 / GM-Allison EP50 [13] 60' 57 (seated) 2004 22[11] 9600-9621[14] King County Metro
Cummins ISL / GM-Allison EP50 2008 2[11] 9622-9623
2009 13 [11] 9624-9636
Motor Coach Industries D4500CL Detroit Diesel Series 60 EGR[15] 45'[15] 57 (seated) 2005 13[16] 9700-9712 Pierce Transit
Cummins ISM 2008 7[7] 9713-9719
2009 3[7] 9720-9722
2010 17[7] 9723-9739
New Flyer D60LFR Cummins ISL9 60' 56 (seated)[17] 2010 13[18] 9553-9565 Community Transit
2011 31[19] 9566-9583
9584-9586 King County Metro
9587-9596 Community Transit
2012 14 9800-9813 King County Metro
2012 5 51214-51218 Community Transit
New Flyer DE60LFR Cummins ISL9 / Allison H 50 EP 60' 56 (seated) 2010 15[18] 9637-9647 King County Metro
2011 4[7] 9648-9651
Gillig Low Floor BRT Hybrid Cummins ISL9 / Allison H 40 EP 40' 37 (seated)[20] 2012 22[20] 9201-9222 Pierce Transit
Gillig Low Floor BRT Cummins ISL9 40' 37 (seated) 2012 2[7] 9122-9123
2015 (3)[7] (9124-9126) King County Metro
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60 Cummins ISL9 / Allison H 50 EP 60' 56 (seated) 2014 8[7] 9652-9659 King County Metro
2014 7[7] 61401-61407 Pierce Transit
New Flyer Xcelsior XD60 Cummins ISL9 60' 56 (seated) 2014 4[7] 9814-9817 King County Metro
2014 3[7] 51401-51403 Pierce Transit
Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC Cummins ISM 42' 82 (seated) 2015 5[7] 91501-91505 Community Transit
Gillig Low Floor BRTPlus CNG Cummins Westport ISL G 40' 37 (seated) 2015 17[21] 41501-41517 Pierce Transit

References

  1. "Sound Transit riders set new records for taking trains and buses in 2015" (Press release). Sound Transit. February 25, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  2. "Service Delivery: Quarterly Performance Report - Fourth Quarter, 2015" (PDF). Sound Transit. February 25, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  3. Rogoff, Peter (January 29, 2016). "CEO Report for January 29, 2016". Sound Transit. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  4. "Sound Transit: ST Express Regional Bus Service". Sound Transit. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  5. "Sound Transit: Lost & Found". Sound Transit. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  6. "Lost & Found". Sound Transit. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Draft 2015 Service Implementation Plan - Appendix B: Fleet Plans" (PDF). Sound Transit. p. 111. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  8. "ST Express 40-foot Diesel Bus Specifications (Gillig)". Sound Transit. Retrieved 2007-05-19.
  9. "ST Express 60-foot Diesel Low Floor Bus Specifications (New Flyer)". Sound Transit. Retrieved 2007-05-19.
  10. 1 2 "ST Express 40-foot CNG Bus Specifications (New Flyer)". Sound Transit. Retrieved 2007-05-19.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "MOTION NO. M2009-15: Contract with New Flyer Corporation" (PDF). Sound Transit. 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  12. "ST Express 40-foot Diesel-Electric Hybrid Bus Specifications (New Flyer)". Sound Transit. Retrieved 2007-05-19.
  13. "Hybrid Vehicle Specifications". New Flyer Industries, Inc. Archived from the original on 2007-04-16. Retrieved 2007-05-19.
  14. "New Flyer Articulated Hybrid Diesel-Electric Bus". Sound Transit. Retrieved 2007-05-19.
  15. 1 2 "ST Express 45-foot Long-Haul Bus Specifications (MCI)". Sound Transit. Retrieved 2007-05-19.
  16. "MOTION NO. M2009-09: Contract with Motor Coach Industries" (PDF). Sound Transit. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  17. "Sound Transit: Sound Transit board approves purchase of clean diesel and hybrid buses". Sound Transit. 2011-02-24. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
  18. 1 2 "MOTION NO. M2010-01: ST Express Bus Procurement – ST2 Expansion Service" (PDF). Sound Transit. 2010-01-14. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  19. "MOTION NO. M2011-05 Purchase 10 Sixty-Foot Replacement Buses" (PDF). Sound Transit. 2011-02-24. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
  20. 1 2 "MOTION NO. M2011-04 Purchase 24 Forty-Foot Replacement Buses" (PDF). Sound Transit. 2011-02-24. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
  21. "MOTION NO. M2014-06" (PDF). March 27, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2015.

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