A previous post detailed my “doubts” about Sound Transit’s April 27th debut ridership had prompted several stops at Belred P&R. That an 8:30 am stop there noted the 300 stall P&R had approximately 30 cars. That the 2-car Starter Line train into Bellevue that stopped there seemed to have very few riders and no one got on or off. That a subsequent drive to the South Bellevue T/C found no cars on top floor for access to the light rail stop, no riders were seen exiting train though 2 riders did get on for the return.
The apparent lack of riders prompted interest in the livestream video of the May 9th Sound Transit Executive Council meeting. Yet Sound Transit CEO Goran Sparmann’s comments during the meeting regarding the first 10 days of Starter Line operation were limited to praise for a successful April 27th debut.
That changed with the livestream video of the June 4th Executive Council meeting. It began with the CEO announcing May ridership was 121,000, averaging nearly 3900 weekdays. One would have thought the early results would have merited some comment regarding ridership in the earlier meeting.
Meanwhile, my Belred stops during May reaffirmed the earlier limited parking. Other than parking at RTC access at the other stops was limited to those willing to walk to the station. While I may have erred in the number riding Starter Line trains, I’m dubious nearly 2000 commuters would choose to walk to and from station each weekday. Also, that on the return trip from Seattle, nearly 2000 commuters would get off ST550 at South Bellevue T/C to ride Starter Line back to that station.
Even more “dubious” was the CEO’s claim that completing Line 2 route across I-90 Bridge would attract 10 times the nearly 3900 riders. Sound Transit’s decision to route Line 2 though DSTT limits trains to one every 8 minutes. Each four 74-seat car train can accommodate 600 riders so 7.5 train s per hour can accommodate 4500 riders. It will take 8.5 hours to accommodate 39,000 riders with Line 2. I’m dubious 2000 commuters would choose to do so during off-peak hours.
The bottom line is the lack of cars parking in Belred limits Starter Line riders to those willing to walk to and from stations along route to South Bellevue T/C to join those riding ST550 for the commute into Seattle. That the return trip requires they transfer from ST550 at South Bellevue to ride Line 2 back to that station.
I’m dubious 2000 commuters would choose that option.
It is obvious that when they say that "on a Saturday, Sound Transit recorded 4,300 boardings" that was more than likely the opening day which fell "on a Saturday." Yes, I doubt their figures too. They have a monthly daily ridership figures chart, but they have somehow missed the Bellevue and Redmond stations off their chart. I wonder why they don't want people to see the actual figures?
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