Sound Transit’s Colossal Failure Continues

The video of the March 5, 2026 recent Rider Experience and Operations Committee Meeting included approving the folloowing:

 

For Recommendation to the Board

C. Resolution No. R2026-04: Adopting Part Two of the 2026 Service Plan and approves major service changes to ST Express routes. 

 

It was another example justifying state Rep.Jacobsen’s depiction of Sound Transit as a “Collossal Failure”. That a staff with more than 1500 positions, an annual budget of more than a billion, and an 18 member board of directors, continuing to demonstrate an inability to provide effective public transit.  

 

Public transit should be used to provide those unable or unwilling to drive with access from near where they live to near where they want to go.  The goal being to attract sufficient numbers to reduce congestion on roadways into Seattle for those wanting to drive, and to do so in a cost effective manner. 

 

The resolution approval followed a detailed explanation of Sound Transit plans to use 1 and 2 Line light rail trains to replace ST Express routes into Seattle. The service plan introduction included the following; 

 

Part two, the Bus Service Plan, proposes minor and major ST

Express bus service changes. We hosted public engagement

on these changes in fall 2025. Board consideration will occur in

early 2026. Board action is required for the major service changes

proposed in the plan. The bus changes will come in fall 2026 at

the earliest, after the FIFA World Cup 2026.

 

The resolution approval raises some questions.  Plans to recommend such a significant change would seem to be under the purview of the Sound Transit’s System Expansion Committee. Also, why recommend board action at a March meeting to delay the changes until fall, after the FIFA World Cup? 

 

The majority of the service plan changes were to use 1 and 2 Line light rail trains to replace buses into Seattle. On the east side they’ll “”Discontinue” Route 550 and 554”, Route  556 will be routed to South Bellevue T/C..They’ve arranged with King County Metro to terminate cross lake routes on Mercer Island. 

 

Delaying the changes until 6 months after 2 Line debut in March will further detract from its limited benefits”