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Sound Transit Express

{{short description|Express bus system in Seattle, Washington}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}

{{Infobox Bus transit

| name = Sound Transit Express

| logo = Sound Transit Express logo.svg

| logo_size = 250

| image = Sound Transit Express 91717 at Mountlake Terrace TC - wide view.jpg

| image_size = 250

| image_caption = A double-decker Sound Transit Express bus on Route 513 at Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station

| company_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

| alliance =

| routes = 23

| destinations =

| stops =

| hubs = 8

| stations =

| lounge =

| fleet = 312 buses

| ridership = {{American transit ridership|WA Seattle Sound Transit MB daily}} ({{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}}

| annual ridership = {{American transit ridership|WA Seattle Sound Transit MB annual}} ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}

| fuel_type = CNG, Diesel, and Diesel-electric hybrid

| operator = Community Transit, King County Metro, and Pierce Transit

| ceo =

| website = {{URL|https://www.soundtransit.org/}}

}}

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.{{Cite web|title = CEO Report for January 29, 2016|url = http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/CEO-Corner|website = Sound Transit|access-date = February 1, 2016|last = Rogoff|first = Peter|date = January 29, 2016}} The first nine routes and 114 buses began carrying passengers on September 19, 1999.{{cite news |last=Collins |first=Eric |date=September 20, 1999 |title=Sound Transit's airport bus hits road |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113601841/sound-transits-airport-bus-hits-road/ A1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113601845/sound-transits-airport-bus-hits-road/ A10] |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113601841/sound-transits-airport-bus-hits-road/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 24, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Regional transit history 1997 - 2003|url=http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/Reports/1997---2003|publisher=Sound Transit|access-date=March 11, 2017}} In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the system had a ridership of {{American transit ridership|WA Seattle Sound Transit MB annual}}, or about {{American transit ridership|WA Seattle Sound Transit MB daily}} per weekday as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}.

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,{{cite news |last=Gutman |first=David |date=November 9, 2018 |title=Buses can avoid morning congestion by using I-5 shoulder lane in Snohomish County |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/buses-can-avoid-congestion-by-using-i-5-shoulder-lane-in-snohomish-county/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=June 24, 2023}} 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 Transdev), King County Metro and Pierce Transit.{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Matthew |date=December 10, 2015 |title=Q. Who's driving those Sound Transit buses and trains? |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/blog/platform/q-who-s-driving-those-sound-transit-buses-and-trains |work=The Platform |publisher=Sound Transit |access-date=June 1, 2021}}

Fares

ST Express uses a flat fare system, where each ride costs the same regardless of distance.

The fares are as follows:

class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
Fare typeAll
Adult$3.25
Senior (65+) / Disabled / Medicare
(Regional Reduced Fare Permit required)		$1.00
Low-income
(ORCA LIFT card required)

|$1.00

Youth
(6–18 years)		Free
Children
(0–5 years, with fare paying passenger)		colspan=2| 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

File:545 Eastbound at Montlake (5140048599).jpg

23 Sound Transit Express bus routes are overseen by the agency.{{cite web|url=http://www.soundtransit.org/stexpress |title=Sound Transit: ST Express Regional Bus Service |access-date=November 10, 2009 |publisher=Sound Transit }} Buses are operated under contract by King County Metro, Pierce Transit and Community Transit (who subcontracts with Transdev).{{cite web |title=Lost and found |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/help-contacts/lost-found |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=October 3, 2021}} 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|2024|9|14|lc=y|df=US}} are:{{cite press release |date=March 22, 2024 |title=Sound Transit announces March 2024 Service Change |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/news-events/news-releases/sound-transit-announces-march-2024-service-change |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=March 30, 2024}}

{{clear}}

class="sortable wikitable"

! width=5% | Route

! width=10% | Off-peak service

! width=10% | Weekend service

! width=15% | Start

! width=40% | Via

! width=15% | End

! width=5% | Operator

510

| {{no|No
(use route 512)}}

| {{no|No
(use route 512)}}

| Downtown Seattle

| I-5, South Everett Freeway Station, Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station

| rowspan="2" | Everett Station

----

Downtown Everett (select trips only)

| rowspan="4" | Community Transit

512

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| rowspan="3" | Lynnwood City Center Station

| Ash Way Park & Ride, South Everett Freeway Station

513

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| Ash Way Park & Ride, Eastmont Park & Ride

| Seaway Transit Center

515

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

|I-5, Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station

|Downtown Seattle

522

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| Roosevelt Station

| Lake City Way, Bothell Way NE, Ballinger Way, Kenmore Park & Ride

| University of Washington, Bothell/Cascadia College

----

Woodinville Park & Ride (select trips only)

| King County Metro

532

| {{no|No
(use routes 535 & 512)}}

| {{no}}

| rowspan="2" | Downtown Bellevue

| Bellevue Transit Center, Totem Lake Freeway Station, Brickyard Freeway Station (reverse peak only), I-405 & NE 195th (reverse peak only), Canyon Park Park & Ride , Ash Way Park & Ride, South Everett Freeway Station

| Everett Station

| rowspan="2" | Community Transit

535

| {{yes}}

| {{partial|Saturday only}}

| 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

542

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| U District Station

| 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

| rowspan="5" | King County Metro

545

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| rowspan="3" | Downtown Seattle

| Capitol Hill (select trips), Montlake Freeway Station (closed since 2019),{{cite news |date=May 2019 |title=Montlake Freeway Station closure begins June 22, 2019 |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/mountlake-freeway-station-closure-fact-sheet.pdf |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=November 24, 2022}} 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

550

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| Mercer Island Park & Ride, South Bellevue Park & Ride, Bellevue, Bellevue Transit Center

| Bellevue (Library)

554

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| 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)

556

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| U District Station

| 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

560

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| Bellevue Transit Center

| 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}}

| Remond Technology Station (select trips)

----

State Route 520 & NE 40th St (select trips)

| Bellevue Transit Center, Newport Hills Park & Ride (off peak only), Kennydale Freeway Station (off peak only), Renton, Renton Transit Center, Kent Station (select trips), Auburn Park & Ride (select trips)

| Kent Station (select trips) Auburn Transit Center

| King County Metro

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

| rowspan="9" | Pierce Transit

577

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| rowspan="2" | Downtown Seattle

| I-5

| Federal Way Transit Center

578

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| Federal Way Transit Center, Auburn Station, Sumner Station

| Puyallup Station

580

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| Puyallup Station

| 9th St SW

| South Hill Park and Ride

586

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| University District (Seattle)

| University of Washington Medical Center, SR 520, I-5, Federal Way Transit Center

| Tacoma Dome Station

590

| {{no|No
(use route 594)}}

| {{no|No
(use route 594)}}

| rowspan="4" | Downtown Seattle

| SODO Busway, Tacoma Dome Station

| Tacoma Dome Station

----

Downtown Tacoma (one early morning trip only)

592

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| SR 512 Park & Ride, Lakewood Station

| DuPont Station

594

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| SODO Busway, Tacoma Dome Station, University of Washington Tacoma, Downtown Tacoma, SR 512 Park & Ride

| Lakewood Station

----

DuPont Station (select trips only)

595

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| SODO Busway, Tacoma Community College Transit Center, Narrows Park & Ride, Kimball Drive Park & Ride

| Gig Harbor (Purdy Park & Ride)

596

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| Sumner Station

| SR 410

| Bonney Lake Park & Ride

Fleet

Sound Transit owns 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 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.

class="wikitable"
Manufacturer and modelImageMotorLengthPassengersPurchasedQtyFleet NumbersOperator
rowspan=1| Gillig Phantom

|rowspan=1| 150px

|rowspan=1|Cummins ISL / Allison B400R

|rowspan=1| 40'

|rowspan=1| 42 (seated)

|rowspan=1|2007

|22

|9092–9113

|Pierce Transit

rowspan=2| New Flyer DE60LF

|rowspan=2| 150px

|rowspan=2|Cummins ISL / GM-Allison EP50

|rowspan=2| 60'

|rowspan=2| 56 (seated)

| 2007–2008 || 2 || 9622–9623

|rowspan=2| King County Metro

200913{{cite web |url=http://www.soundtransit.org/documents/pdf/about/board/motions/2009/Motion%20M2009-15sr.pdf |title=MOTION NO. M2009-15: Contract with New Flyer Corporation |access-date=July 23, 2009 |year=2009 |publisher=Sound Transit |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620203815/http://soundtransit.org/documents/pdf/about/board/motions/2009/Motion%20M2009-15sr.pdf |archive-date=June 20, 2010 }}9624–9636
rowspan="1"|Gillig Low Floor BRT Hybrid

| 150px

| Cummins ISL / Allison H 40 EP

| 40'

| 35 (seated)

| 2008

| 22{{cite web | url = https://www.soundtransit.org/st_sharepoint/download/sites/PRDA/FinalRecords/2011/Motion%20M2011-04sr.pdf | title = MOTION NO. M2011-04 Purchase 24 Forty-Foot Replacement Buses | access-date = February 25, 2011 | date = February 24, 2011 | publisher = Sound Transit}}

| 6901–6930

|rowspan="4"| Pierce Transit

rowspan="3" |Motor Coach Industries D4500CL

| rowspan="3" |150px

|rowspan="3"| Detroit Diesel Series 60 EGR

| rowspan="3" |45'

| rowspan="3" |57 (seated)

| 2008 || 7 || 9713–9719

200939720–9722
2010179723–9739
rowspan="7" |New Flyer D60LFR

| rowspan="3" |150x150px

| rowspan="3" | Cummins ISL9

| rowspan="3" | 60'

| rowspan="3" | 56 (seated){{cite web |url=http://www.soundtransit.org/x15192.xml |access-date=February 24, 2011 |title=Sound Transit: Sound Transit board approves purchase of clean diesel and hybrid buses |date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Sound Transit |archive-date=February 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228234910/http://www.soundtransit.org/x15192.xml |url-status=dead }}

| 2010

| 13

| 9553–9565

| Community Transit

rowspan="2" | 2011

|1

| 9566

|Community Transit

17

|9567–9583

|King County Metro

rowspan="4" |150px

| rowspan="4" |Cummins ISL9

| rowspan="4" |60'

| rowspan="4" |56 (seated)

| rowspan="2" |2011

|3

| 9584–9586

| rowspan="4" | King County Metro

10

| 9587–9596

rowspan="2" | 2012149800–9813
59818–9822
rowspan=2| New Flyer DE60LFR

|rowspan=2| 150px

|rowspan=2| Cummins ISL9 / Allison H 50 EP

|rowspan=2| 60'

|rowspan=2| 56 (seated)

| 2010

| 11{{cite web |url=http://www.soundtransit.org/documents/pdf/about/board/motions/2010/Motion%20M2010-01sr.pdf |title=MOTION NO. M2010-01: ST Express Bus Procurement – ST2 Expansion Service |access-date=January 18, 2010 |date=January 14, 2010 |publisher=Sound Transit |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620162933/http://soundtransit.org/documents/pdf/about/board/motions/2010/Motion%20M2010-01sr.pdf |archive-date=June 20, 2010 }}

| 9637–9647

|rowspan=2| King County Metro

2011

| 4

| 9648–9651

|Gillig Low Floor BRT Hybrid

|

| Cummins ISL9 / Allison H 40 EP

| 40'

| 35 (seated)

| 2012

| 22

| 9201–9222

|rowspan=3| Pierce Transit

rowspan=2| Gillig Low Floor BRT

|rowspan=2| 150px

|rowspan=2| Cummins ISL9

|rowspan=2| 40'

|rowspan=2| 35 (seated)

| 2012

| 2

| 9122–9123

2015

| 3

| 9124–9126

rowspan="3" | New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60

| rowspan="3" | 150px

|rowspan=2| Cummins ISL9 / Allison H 50 EP

|rowspan=2| 60'

|rowspan=2| 57 (seated)

| 2014

| 8{{cite web|title=Draft 2015 Service Implementation Plan - Appendix B: Fleet Plans|url=http://www.soundtransit.org/Documents/Draft%202015%20SIP%2010-10-2014(0).pdf|publisher=Sound Transit|access-date=November 8, 2014|page=111|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108220227/http://www.soundtransit.org/Documents/Draft%202015%20SIP%2010-10-2014%280%29.pdf|archive-date=November 8, 2014}}

| 9652–9659

| King County Metro

2014

| 7

| 61401–61407

| Pierce Transit

Cummins L9 / BAE Systems HybriDrive Series-E

| 60'

| 52 (Seated)

| 2020

| 31

| 9660–9690

| King County Metro

rowspan=2| New Flyer Xcelsior XD60

|rowspan=2| 150px

|rowspan=2| Cummins ISL9

|rowspan=2| 60'

|rowspan=2| 57 (seated)

| 2014

| 4

| 9814–9817

| King County Metro

2014

| 3

| 51401–51403

| Pierce Transit

rowspan="3" | Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC

| rowspan="3" | 150px

| rowspan="2" |Cummins ISL9

| rowspan="2" | 42'

| rowspan="2" | 82 (seated)

| 2015

| 5

| 91501–91505

| rowspan="3" | Community Transit

2017

|32

|91701–91732

Cummins L9

| 42'

| 82 (seated)

|2020

|13

|91901–91913

-

! rowspan="2" | Gillig Low Floor BRTPlus CNG

| rowspan="2" | 150px

| rowspan="2" | Cummins Westport ISL G

| rowspan="2" | 40'

| rowspan="2" | 35 (seated)

| 2015

| 17{{cite web|title=MOTION NO. M2014-06|url=http://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/about/board/motions/2014/Motion_M2014-06.pdf|access-date=December 31, 2015|date=March 27, 2014}}

| 41501–41517

| rowspan="2" | Pierce Transit

2016

|5

|41601–41605

-

!Motor Coach Industries D4500CT CNG

|150px

|Cummins Westport ISX12 G

|45'

|57 (seated)

|2016

|12

|9301–9312

|Pierce Transit

Retired fleet

class="wikitable"
Manufacturer and modelImageMotorLengthPassengersPurchasedRetiredQtyFleet NumbersOperatorNotes
OBI Orion V CNG (05.501)

|150px

| Cummins L10G / ZF HP500

| 40'

| 42

| 1994

| 2008

| 27

| 801–827

| Pierce Transit

| Ex-Pierce Transit; bought in 1998. Retired in 2008.

Breda DuoBus 350
(ADPB 350) Dual-mode

|

| Detroit Diesel 6V92TA / ZF 4HP590C

| 60'

| 63

| 1990

| 2005

| 20

| 5019–5021, 5194–5210

| King County Metro

| Leased from King County Metro Transit in 1999. Retired in 2005. Replaced by DE60LFs.

rowspan=4| Gillig Phantom 40'

| rowspan=4| 150px

| rowspan=2| Cummins ISM / Allison B400R

| rowspan=4| 40'

| rowspan=4| 42

| 1999

| 2014

| 70

| 9000–9069

| King County Metro / Pierce Transit / Community Transit

| All retired from Sound Transit Fleet.

  • As of June 2014, some of the coaches sold to Pierce Transit are temporarily wrapped in ST for PT operated routes due to a bus shortage.
  • Ben Franklin Transit purchased a handful.
  • Transit Sales International purchased some as well.
2001

| 2014

| 20

| 9070–9089

| King County Metro

| Retired in 2014.

Cummins ISL / Voith D864.5

| 2005

| 2020

| 2

| 9090–9091

| King County Metro

| Retired in 2020. Replaced by XDE60s.

Cummins ISL

| 2008

| 2020

| 8

| 9114–9121

| Community Transit

| Retired in 2020. Replaced by ADL Enviro500 MMC.

New Flyer DE40LF

| 150px

| Cummins ISB / Allison EP40

| 40'

| 34

| 2003

| 2020

| 1

| 9200

| King County Metro

| Retired in 2020. Replaced by XDE60s.

New Flyer C40LF

|

| Cummins Westport C Gas Plus / Allison B400R

| 40'

| 39

| 2001

| 2014

| 20

| 9400–9419

| Pierce Transit

| Retired in 2014. Replaced by Gillig CNG Low Floor BRT.

rowspan=3| New Flyer D60LF

|

| Detroit Diesel Series 50 / Allison B500R

| rowspan=3| 60'

| rowspan=3| 56

| 1999

| 2016

| 25

| 9500–9524

| Pierce Transit / King County Metro / Community Transit

| Retired in 2016. Some units were bought by Transit Sales International.

150px

| Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR / Allison B500R

| 2000

| 2019

| 12

| 9525–9536

| Community Transit / King County Metro

| Retired in 2019. Some units were bought by Transit Sales International.

150px

| Caterpillar C9 / Allison B500R

| 2004

| 2020

| 16

| 9537–9552

| Community Transit / King County Metro / Pierce Transit

| Retired in 2020.

New Flyer DE60LF

| 150px

| Caterpillar C9 / Allison EP50 Hybrid System

| 60'

| 56

| 2005

| 2020

| 22

| 9600–9621

| King County Metro

| Retired on Thursday, August 27, 2020; 9609K - final active unit. Replaced by XDE60s.

Motor Coach Industries D4500

|150x150px

|Detroit Diesel Series 60{{cite web |url=http://www.soundtransit.org/x4642.xml |title=ST Express 45-foot Long-Haul Bus Specifications (MCI) |access-date=May 19, 2007 |publisher=Sound Transit |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070919230823/http://www.soundtransit.org/x4642.xml |archive-date=September 19, 2007 }}

| 45'

| 57 (seated)

| 2005

| 2022

| 13{{cite web |url=http://www.soundtransit.org/documents/pdf/about/board/motions/2009/Motion%20M2009-09sr.pdf |title=MOTION NO. M2009-09: Contract with Motor Coach Industries |access-date=July 23, 2009 |publisher=Sound Transit |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620200630/http://soundtransit.org/documents/pdf/about/board/motions/2009/Motion%20M2009-09sr.pdf |archive-date=June 20, 2010 }} || 9700–9712

| Pierce Transit

| Retired on July 29, 2022; 9712P - final active unit service was on rt. 578 to Puyallup via Federal Way and I-5.

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{commons category|Sound Transit Express}}

  • [https://www.soundtransit.org/Rider-Guide/ST-Express-bus ST Express Rider Guide]

{{Puget Sound Transit}}

Category:1999 establishments in Washington (state)

Category:Bus transportation in Washington (state)

Category:Intermodal transportation authorities in Washington (state)

Category:Transportation in King County, Washington

Category:Transportation in Pierce County, Washington

Category:Transportation in Snohomish County, Washington