Um, your point has changed apparently because you said “Bus transit absolutely dwarfs light rail in terms of daily ridership.” but 1) it doesn’t even if you think 26% is too small to consider. guess having 1 additional bus for every 4 currently around going between Northgate and SeaTac would be an improvement? and 2) KC Metro boards per route mile is between 1 and 2 while for the Link it is a few thousand per route mile. Link absolutely crushes buses in terms of moving people. how do you make the idea of the light rail serving many airport commuters as a point against it? I have a hard time believing you’re not a primarily car driver interested in preserving the status quo because you don’t seem to have noticed how getting around Seattle has been before and after the light rail. did you ever try to take a bus from downtown to Northgate before the new station? bus schedules would be useless half the day because they’d be stuck in car traffic. Scarlett, you seriously need to look more into how transportation works and is used before being so strong and wrong with your opinions.

1)  It’s redundant.  This probably doesn’t need any more elaboration, obviously;  every rider that is, or will be, served by light rail is currently served by bus transit.  I’m always puzzled about those who now eagerly embrace the joys of transferring because now, apparently, it’s light rail.  Some rejoice about taking a long,  two-segment light rail trip from WS to the airport, rather than a half hour direct trip on the 560.  

2)  It’s fixed infrastructure.   Unlike light rail, bus routes and scheduling can be easily  adjusted to accomodate changing demographics and the needs of riders.  And, more buses on the road = less private vehicles = less congestion.  

3)  It’s horrifically  expensive.  Nuff said.

4)  CO2 and environmental damage.  During construction these projects will spew tremendous amount of CO2 into the atmosphere and cause environmental harm.  

5)  Displacement of people and businesses.  Eminent domain – forcing someone to vacate/sell their property for the public good – is a very serious and sobering display of state power even for “mo government is better” types.  Better make damn sure its for a worthwhile cause.   

6)  Workplace is changing.   The old paradigm of shutting between work and home on trains (and buses for that matter) is probably over.  The infrastructure and routines of millions who use rail on the East Coast have been in place for many decades, unlike the West Coast.      

I used the very same KC dashboard for my numbers as you provided in your comment.  Oddly, you’re simply arguing the point that I’ve made countless times, that KC bus transit is more than capable of cavassing neighborhoods and accomodating/adjusting to meet public transportation needs.   From a more futuristic perspective, I believe that the paradigm of hordes of commuters shuttling between home and work on trains is over;  fixed light rail is resigned to becoming largely transportation nostalgic “eye candy.”   

I really miss BART. It made it possible for us to get around the bay area when we lived there–owning a car was way too expensive for us. It’s such a great area for transit in general.

In May 2023 there were some total 300,000 King County weekday boardings (bus, streetcar, etc, etc), with about 78,000 of those light rail.  These percentages were fairly static in 2023 though they haven’t been updated.  26%  is not a large number, considering that many are those going to and coming back from the airport and that these lines travel through some of the most densely populated Seattle neighborhoods where light rail should be most appealing to commuters – Beacon Hill, Capitol Hill,  Rainier Valley, downtown.   

What is my “old material” argument, BBRON?  Yeah, pretty much the same as it always has been and will continue to be:  LIght rail is a horrendously expensive,  disruptive, dislocating piece of infrastructure pork that is not living up to its rosy promises – certain nothing that improved bus transit can’t accomplish at a fraction of the cost.   

Actually, I misinterpreted the figures and am wrong in my previous post about weekday boardings of Link being nearly equal to ST Express + KC Metro boardings, and it is closer to Link being 1/4 the number of boardings than KC Metro. So a lot more bus riders, but hardly “dwarfed,” especially if you compare the number of Rapid Ride boardings vs. Link b/c, as you know, there are many, many more routes and places you can board a KC Metro bus than either Link or the Rapid Rides. There is about 30% more boardings on the Link than all Rapid Rides, and I’d say those are closer in terms of system accessible and build-out. Hopefully if Scarlett replies they can do so with some actual numbers and sources…

Greg that’s great, but when you get to Redmond or Tacoma then what ? Get on another bus or Uber, for final destination ? If one’s work location is within a few blocks of a ST stop, that’s great… but what’s the real % of people that fit this category.  Friends and I have had many conversations about this and everyone in our group would have to take at least one or more bus or walk some distance.  Between age and the time involved it’s just not feasible. I truly believe the link between WS and SODO could almost be as efficiently served by Metro or other type of bus service if we had the proper people involved. Not disturbing people’s property and cost savings would be substantial.

“Bus transit absolutely dwarfs light rail in terms of daily ridership” did you not look at the sources above? Because with what Sound transit gives out and the King County Metro stats (https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/metro/about/data-and-reports/performance-reports) they’re pretty close if you compare Link w/ ST Express + KC. Do you have any source to back up what you’re saying or is it all based on your feelings? But I guess confronting facts would make it harder to support the status quo you want to maintain. It’s getting tiring hearing nothing new or substantial from you, Scarlett. You need new material.

Have you not been in the threads with people romanticizing about where they enjoy parking their cars? You’re gonna come in here and say that PT riding is dangerous when thousands of folks are killed and maimed on highways and roads by cars? Bring in some actual facts if you want to quantify either experience: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1295843/number-fatalities-public-transit-us/ vs 772 people killed in car crashes in 2023 in WA alone; maybe take a look at this graph and reevaluate your stance: https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/home-and-community/safety-topics/deaths-by-transportation-mode/ Being that you’re in spite of having to be around other folks, I can see how me talking about how I enjoy PT would anger you. At least we can agree PT is a practical option. Not sure your point at all here besides seeing a chance to be upset.

You mean kinda like a bus?  

Oh wow, isn’t it crazy that it is cheaper and faster to drive there? How did that happen?

Your unique scenario Rhonda is called a “concern troll” and will not be the average ridership experience at all.