Sound Transit experienced record ridership levels in 2014
Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
Sound Transit set an all-time annual record in 2014 for boardings on its trains and buses. The latest numbers reported reflect an increase of more than eight percent over 2013, bringing average weekday boardings to more than 109,000 for 2014 and total boardings to an estimated 33 million.
“Each year more and more people hop aboard Sound Transit’s trains and express buses,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and King County Executive Dow Constantine. “These gains mean not only happier and more productive commuters, but fewer cars on our congested roads.”
Sound Transit’s rate of ridership growth was more than four times that of transit ridership nationally. The latest American Public Transportation Association numbers show 1.8 percent growth from third quarter 2013 to third quarter 2014.
On average, Central Link light rail sees 32,924 boardings weekly, a 13.7 percent increase from 2013. Sounder commuter rail sees 12,694 riders a week, a 9.6 increase.
Annually, Central Link saw 10.9 million boardings, which is a 13 percent increase from 2013. Sounder saw 3.4 million riders, an 11 percent increase.
