We know there are no excuses for posting this video so late, as the event took place last Sunday (Jan. 10th), but, um…we left our Flip camera in our other pants, and since we weren’t wearing any to begin with…

Actually, we hate to just throw up lame raw video, and editing takes time, and um…there’s that whole “other pants” thing again.

But first, a little interesting behind-the-scenes backstory:

Two days before the pantsless prank, we received the following email from Emerald City Improv’s Kelsey Wildstone:

First, please remember that we’re trying to be inconspicuous here.

If you’d like to film the event with a motion camera, try to find a way to disguise your camera in a box or something to make it a sort of “hidden camera”.

Use some creativity here, but the point is that we’d like to avoid people seeing you openly point a camera around.

Considering that we respect the fine art of successful pranking, and that our Publisher used to work on a hidden camera TV show (“Totally Hidden Video,” Fox), we wanted to abide by this request (unlike some local TV news stations who just showed up and shot with their huge cameras and “Reporters”). The end result was that our shooter Mark Neuman went out of his way to “disguise” our Flip camera thusly:

Okay, so here it is (finally!)…with video shot by Neuman, featuring Bart Bryan, edited by Scott Schaefer and featuring the groovy public domain hit “Midnight Special” recorded by some long-dead dude named Bill Cox in 1933, ironically during the last Great Depression when not wearing pants wasn’t a prank, it was a way of life:

Also, we were very curious to find out what the MuckyMucks at SoundTransit thought of this pantsless prank, so we sent an email to Andrew Schmid, Sound Transit Media Relations director –here’s his response:

Q: Was ST aware beforehand that this was going to happen?
A: No, we were totally caught with our… (unless you lack internet access, it was almost impossible to not know about this event).

Q: Did ST security goes pantsless?
A: No.

Q: Was security worried about this prank at all?
A: Slightly – our security is worried about everything.

Q: Did this event increase ridership? if so, by how much? (have any estimate on the # of pantsless?)
A: Yes, but the infrared technology on Link’s Automatic Passenger Counting machines is not designed to distinguish between the pant-sed and the pants challenged.

Q: Will ST tolerate future events like this?
A: So long as folks follow our code of conduct (read it here).

Q: Will ST ever sponsor future events like this?
A: No.

Q: How about creating some ST underwear for folks to wear?
A: Sorta already been done – see this.

Q: Did you, or any other ST officials, attend?
A: NO COMMENT

And in case you haven’t seen the other videos, here they are:

by Theresa Frasch

I emailed the link from The B-Town blog to my friend Pam a few days ago and said, “You are the only one I know that would do this with me. Want to?” After a little cajoling and the promise of boxers, she and her daughter agreed.

We were in the first group to get on the light rail. Everybody was assigned different stops to “de-pant.” We were stop number two. There were two guys sitting in our section looking very nervous. One of them said to the other, “I don’t think I’m going to be able to do this.” I asked which stop they were and he said, “Two.” “Well, so are we – so we’ll all do it at the same time. Remember, when the doors close”

At stop number two we were prepared. Just as the doors were closing and we were preparing to de-pant we heard a lady walking toward us. She was saying, “That is highly inappropriate.” She walked through our car repeating that phrase as we were taking our pants off. Guy number two lost his nerve! He regained it at stop number three with a little help from his new found friends.

All five of us got off at the Beacon Hill stop to mix it up a little and wait for the next train. That was pretty safe – it was underground. Then we got off at Columbia City – out in the real world, but still pretty protected. The ultimate test was the Rainier Beach stop – right in the middle of the street, nowhere to hide, traffic coming from both directions.

The train was rolling to a stop. We girls said we were going to do it. The guys said they weren’t. I told them they’d regret it if they didn’t. “Next year,” they said. The doors opened. “Come on,” I said. They protested. Finally I grabbed one and just pulled him out the door with us and the other one followed. We had so much fun watching the passersby faces! When we got back on for our final destination our new friends thanked us for “making” them go with us.

Thanks to Emerald City Improv for giving us such a good laugh and a chance to have some fun.

Here’s a Photo Slideshow of Sunday’s “No Pants!” pics, taken by various Flickr Photogs:

Click to View Photo Slideshow

Here’s a video from today’s “No Pants!” Subway ride in NYC:

Read our other coverage here.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the first in a series of reports on Sunday's "No Pants! Link Light Rail Ride," where Reporter Gina Bourdage was brave (or foolish) enough to ride public transportation and drop trou. Look for more reports soon, including a first-hand video from Bart Bryan and Mark Neuman]

by Gina Bourdage

Most days being in your undies in public would be the nightmare we just woke up from.

Today is not that day.

After a frenzied Internet campaign via Facebook, the NYC group Improv Everywhere convinced people nationwide, myself included, to ride public transit today in their skivvies.

I have had that little voice in the back of my head ask me numerous times “What the heck are you thinking?!” and to be completely honest I have tried to talk myself out of participating.

In hindsight of the type of year 2009 turned out to be, most of us could use a little more light-hearted humor in 2010.

According to the Improv Everywhere website, “not taking life too seriously” is exactly the reason behind the nationwide “No Pants!” rides on buses, trains and subways all over the country today.

So relax, take a deep breath, drop trou and enjoy life…

Yep, actually getting out of the car and taking off the pants without the little voice telling me i am officially crazy was impossible. If it weren’t for the other twenty or so fellow pantsless participants I might turn and run. It is a little odd with children pointing “Hey mommy?!” but thank goodness everyone is “decent” and there’s nothing here you wouldn’t see on a beach.

After the first stop half the train is pants free. Who knew it was so easy to get people to rock their undies in public?

Oh boy this went to another level when i just saw a pantsless family.

I am impressed with the level that we, the pantsless mob, have pulled this off. Never have I seen so many strangers be so friendly with a smile and supportive silent acknowledgment that there really is something bigger going on here.

The confused and bewildered looks of the unsuspecting other riders is worth all the initial butterflies.

I encourage everyone to be a part of something that brings people together the way this has.

Here are some pics of the event (more to come so keep checking back, and if you participated and have some, please email us!):

Here are some pics sent in by Readers “xtina” and “hollywood,” who added:

“The ride was great…So much fun we got off and on at different spots … ending at Westlake and walked to Fox Sports Bar where we enjoyed a cold one in our undies… Way fun”

Read Report #2 here.

Sometimes when we hear about a comedy idea that’s as brilliant and hi-flippin-larious as this, we just have to post it and encourage all our Readers (or at least the ones with an actual sense of humor) to participate – we’re talking of course about the first annual “No Pants! Link Light Rail Ride” which is coming to our area this Sunday, Jan. 10th from Noon – 3pm.

The “No Pants!” idea comes from a group in New York City called “Improv Everywhere,” which puts on a “No Pants! Subway Ride” there every January. And now it’s coming to the northwest.

Ironically, or perhaps by design, this first annual pantsless event will also serve as a Seattle Singles Meet-Up. What better way to meet someone new than whilst riding pantsless on our new transportation service?

To participate, it’s quite simple – just show up on Sound Transit’s new Link Light Rail system between Noon and 3pm on Sunday, Jan. 10th. Have your pants on if you’re there early, then simply take them off while you’re riding, all the while keeping a straight face and acting like nothing’s different.

There’s a Facebook Page set up for the event here (thanks Julie Bradley for the link!).

Here are videos of the last two years of the “No Pants!” prank NYC that will give you a better idea of what to expect:

More details:

WHAT: Emerald City Improv invites you to participate in our first annual “No Pants Seattle! Light Rail Ride.”

WHEN: This SUNDAY, JANUARY 10th, from Noon – 3pm.

WHERE: Most participants will start in Downtown Seattle (most likely the Westlake Station), then ride Link Light Rail to SeaTac and back; we suggest that you board either at the Tukwila Station (which has parking) or the new SeaTac/Airport Station and ride roundtrip, thus boosting their original group.

COST: No fee other than a roundtrip ticket on Link Light Rail, which is $5.00; okay, the other cost may be your dignity, but it’s all in the name of senseless entertainment, which the world certainly needs more of…

INFO: From the Seattle Singles Meetup Group website:

Tell and invite your friends!! We want this to be epic!

Every January, Improv Everywhere in New York stages their annual “No Pants! Subway Ride.” Cities around the globe participate.

This year, Emerald City Improv in Seattle invites you to participate in our first annual “No Pants Seattle! Light Rail Ride.”

This event will occur SUNDAY, JANUARY 10th, from 12:00- 3:00.

REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION:

1. Willing to take pants off on light rail
2. Able to keep a straight face about it

WHERE TO MEET:
Meet at the plaza at 4th Ave and Pine St, across from Westlake Center, at noon.

Oh, and if you do participate, please take pics (and/or video) and email us about your experience!

The City of SeaTac announced Monday (Jan. 4th) that it has purchased a 4.23 acre chunk of land with commercial structures on it at 15247 International Blvd. for $12.7 million.

According to a press release, the property, which is located directly across the street from the new Tukwila Sound Transit Link light rail station, will be used to “construct public roads, open space and infrastructure as set forth in the Capital Improvement Plan for the Light Rail Station Area at S. 154th Street.”

The transaction closed Thursday, December 31, 2009.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the City of SeaTac,” said Mayor Ralph Shape. “The City was able to purchase a critical piece of property for future public use at $4 million less than a recent appraised value, and more than $6.4 million less than the current tax assessed value. At the same time the community will realize significant net operating income in the coming years from the current leases at the property.”

Fifteen tenants currently occupy 61,641 square feet of space at SeaTac Center, including Monte Carlo, Refugee Women’s Alliance, Pabla India Cuisine, and Pacific Highway Chiropractic.

In December 2006 the SeaTac City Council adopted the “South 154th Street Station Area Action Plan” which called for this area to be developed as a “vibrant, mixed use residential neighborhood that connects people of various backgrounds.”

The station area was envisioned to be pedestrian-oriented, visually pleasing, easily accessible, and integrated with the new light rail station across the street.

The adopted plan provided for the city to acquire property in order to build the required infrastructure such as roads and sidewalks. In May of 2009  the property went into foreclosure proceedings, and SeaTac worked through a commercial broker to ascertain the value of the land and the current tenant lease agreements.

The City of SeaTac will retain a third-party firm to manage the property.

Sea-Tac Airport will be offering a special discount for Seahawks fans, with a 50% discount on Terminal Direct parking for the final home game on Sunday, Jan. 3rd versus the Tennessee Titans.

The idea is to allow affordable parking and encourage fans to take Sound Transit’s Link light rail from SeaTac to the “Stadium” stop near Qwest Field for just $2.50 each way.

According to a press release received Wed., Dec. 30th:

Sea-Tac Airport offers special parking rate for Hawks Fans

$2 per hour in Terminal Direct for football fans connecting with Link light rail

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport invites fans to score a “TD” with a 50% discount on Terminal Direct parking for the Seahawks final home game Jan. 3 versus the Tennessee Titans.

Terminal Direct parking at Sea-Tac Airport offers the most convenient access to the airport terminal and quick connection to Link light rail’s new SeaTac/Airport Station. You’ll park on the 4th floor of the airport garage, an easy walk to the pedestrian bridge leading to the Link station.

On Jan. 3, customers parking in Terminal Direct will enjoy a $2 per hour rate if they arrive between the hours of 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. – plenty of time to experience the quick, convenient ride from SeaTac/Airport Station to stations near Qwest Field. Terminal Direct tickets during that time period will automatically be credited with the discount rate when you exit the airport parking garage.

Hawks fans riding Link to the game can skip any post-game ticket lines by getting an ORCA card from any ticket vending machine before boarding. ORCA cards can be used like cash or as a transit pass on trains, buses or ferries throughout the region. For a limited time, cards are available with no card fee. Starting Feb. 1, a standard adult or youth ORCA card will cost $5. ORCA – One Regional Card for All – will replace about 300 various passes, tickets and transfers with a single smart card. ORCA’s replacement of most paper transfer slips on Jan. 1 means ORCA can help riders avoid paying full price when they transfer. More information on ORCA is available at http://www.orcacard.com

The opening of SeaTac/Airport Station on Dec. 19 means easier access to ORCA and to Link light rail for thousands of visitors, commuters, and Sea-Tac Airport employees. Sound Transit and the Port of Seattle collaborated on the Airport Link project which included the new light rail station, pedestrian bridges connecting the station to the airport parking garage and a pick-up and drop-off area to the east serving the city of SeaTac. The Port also relocated and upgraded the Airport Expressway and the Return-to-Terminal roadway loop. A ride from SeaTac/Airport Station to Westlake Station is 36 minutes and costs $2.50.

More information available at Sound Transit’s website here.

On Saturday morning (Dec. 19th) at 10am, Sound Transit opened its Link light rail service to SeaTac with lots of ceremony, local dignitaries, curious passengers, and of course, functioning trains that now link the airport to downtown Seattle.

The first 14 miles of light rail opened from downtown Seattle to Tukwila in July. This final segment from Tukwila to SeaTac / Airport Station, built under a close partnership with the Port of Seattle, connects the airport from downtown with 13 stops serving the SeaTac, Tukwila, Rainier Valley, Beacon Hill, SODO to the final stop at Westlake.

“It’s been a heck of a journey, but we delivered on what we promised: light rail from downtown Seattle to the airport in 2009,” said Seattle Mayor and Sound Transit Board Chair Greg Nickels. “This opens an entirely new option for travelers and commuters, and represents the first steps of a truly regional network.”

Service on the 1.7-mile extension line kicked off with an inaugural ribbon cutting at the SeaTac / Airport Station before the station and trains opened for regular passenger service at 10am, and Photographer Michael Brunk was there to capture this Photo Slideshow:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

“Opening the doors to Sound Transit’s airport line in time for the holidays is great gift to residents of the Puget Sound region,” said U.S. Sen. Patty Murray. “This new line will provide fast and easy connections to downtown Seattle and a low-cost way to get around. This is just the latest in environmentally friendly transportation that will help ensure our region’s long-term economic growth.”

Sound Transit and the Port of Seattle collaborated on the Airport Link project which included the new light rail station, pedestrian bridges connecting the station to the airport parking garage and a pick-up and drop-off area to the east serving the city of SeaTac. The Port also relocated and upgraded the Airport Expressway and the Return-to-Terminal roadway loop.

“With more than 30 million passengers through Sea-Tac every year, and 15,000 airport employees, we anticipate light rail will be a welcome “green” alternative for travel to and from the airport,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner John Creighton. “Using light rail will reduce air emissions and traffic congestion. It’s good for the airport and it’s good for our region.”

The next light rail extension is scheduled to open in 2016 with service from downtown Seattle to Capitol Hill and the University of Washington. Construction is underway on that segment while Sound Transit plans for 36 more miles of light rail extensions to Lynnwood, Bellevue, Redmond, Mercer Island and Federal Way by 2023.

Link’s normal Saturday schedule will be from 5 a.m. – 1 a.m. with regular fares required. On weekdays, the first train from the airport to downtown will depart at 5:16 a.m. and the last one to downtown will leave at 12:07 a.m. The last train to Mt. Baker Station in the Rainier Valley departs at 12:46 a.m.

More detailed schedule and fare information is here: http://www.soundtransit.org/x11204.xml.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• PHOTOS: Scenes From Sound Transit’s Airport Station Sneak Peek Ride
• Sound Transit’s New Airport Station To Open Dec. 19th
• I Rode Link Light Rail & Lived To Write About It. Have You?
• Ride Sound Transit’s New Link Light Rail All Weekend For FREE
• First It Was The Third Runway – Now Sound Transit’s Light Link Rail Is Too Loud? Take Our Poll…
• Sound Transit Begins Intensive Testing Of Light Rail
• Tukwila Link Light Rail Station To Open July 18th
• It’s Going To Cost $2.50 To Take Link Rail Downtown

Thursday morning (Dec. 17th), Sound Transit held a “sneak peek” ride for the press on the section of the Link Light Rail between the Tukwila and Sea-Tac Airport stations (which opens this Saturday), and Photographer Michael Brunk was able to stowaway on board, where he took these pics:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

From Sound Transit’s website:

The extension of the popular light rail service means holiday travelers will have a reliable, one-seat ride between downtown Seattle, the city of SeaTac and the airport, taking only 36 minutes. This new station provides a smooth, green travel option for the 20,000 people who work at the airport and the 30 million who travel in and out of it every year.

The SeaTac/Airport Station is connected to the fourth floor of the airport’s main parking garage. A covered, level walkway separated from the main parking area will lead passengers to the main terminal. Station amenities include boarding pass kiosks, and in the near future, a flight time information display.

The first 13.9 miles of Link opened in July with service between downtown Seattle and Tukwila. Link service runs from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday and from 6 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.

SeaTac/ Airport Station opens just in time for the holidays: Sound Transit is the official transportation sponsor for The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring the Rockettes.

For Central Link light rail service info, visit http://www.soundtransit.org/linkschedule

Artworks at the station
The new Sea-Tac Airport Station features four art installations. “Flying Sails,” by artist Werner Klotz, spans the mezzanine and platform levels of the station. The plates feature the names of First Nation tribes from Washington state and cities from around the world that share the latitude or longitude of Seattle.

Other works include Fernanda D’Agostino’s “Celestial Navigation” at the International Blvd. plaza; Christian Moeller’s “Restless” along the International Blvd. pedestrian bridge; and an exhibit on Northwest tribal culture on the mezzanine’s north end. The interpretive exhibit by Pacific Studios showcases a cast concrete canoe, and a display explaining the history of the Native American presence in the Puget Sound region.

Friday morning (Nov. 13th), Sound Transit announced that its brand new Link Light Rail train station at Sea-Tac Airport will open at 10am Saturday, Dec. 19th.

This new station will expand the system from the current end-of-line Tukwila stop that opened in July, and will provide travelers the ability to travel from downtown Seattle (or other locations along the line) directly to the airport.

Prior to its Dec. 19th opening, in order to get to the airport, riders must board a Metro bus in Tukwila. Now they can just ride along to the final stop.

“With the opening of the airport line in December, Sound Transit is giving a gift to holiday travelers by providing a fast and easy connection to downtown Seattle,” Senator Patty Murray said at Friday’s ceremony.  “We made history in July by opening the doors of light rail to the public and since that time our region has enjoyed a new convenient, environmentally-friendly, and low-cost way to get around.  This new line will continue to seamlessly connect our region’s transportation system like never before.”

The new station is located near the main airport parking garage, by the intersection of So. 176th Street and International Blvd., and includes a skybridge that will connect pedestrians to the airport ticketing concourse.

By 2020, Sound Transit is projecting that approximately 3,000 riders are expected to board trains daily at the Airport Station every day.

The next big phase of this project will be a $1.9 billion tunnel that will reach the University of Washington by 2016. Voters have also approved spending $18 billion more to extend lines stops in Federal Way, Lynnwood and Redmond.

According to spokesman Bruce Gray, train testing will begin Monday, No.v 16th between the Rainier Beach Station and the new airport stop.

Adult fare to downtown Seattle is $2.75, one way.

So far, ridership on the recently opened Seattle-Tukwila line has averaged around 16,100 per weekday in October, showing growth but still 10,000 short of the number projected for late 2010.

Story by Ralph Nichols
Photos & Video by Oran Viriyincy

With Sound Transit’s Link light rail trains running at last between Tukwila and downtown Seattle, it was time to experience this new commuter option. So with my girlfriend, I boarded a train for a round trip from the South 154th Street station late on a busy Seafair Saturday afternoon.

With lots happening downtown, we weren’t surprised to find the station’s main parking lot full. (Tukwila has Link’s only free park-and-ride lot, like those at several Metro bus stops around King County, although there is private paid parking near the Beacon Hill station.) But there were a number of empty spaces at the overflow parking lot across the street.

Five minutes after parking, we bought our tickets – $5 per person for the round trip – and one minute later boarded a train that had just come in. With trains running from Tukwila every 10 minutes at that hour, this gave us 9 minutes to look around on the inside before our journey north.

Each $4 million electric-powered car, with electricity from overhead wires, is 95 feet long – three times longer than one of Metro’s articulated buses. Each car can seat 74 passengers and accommodate a total of 200 riders with standing room only, and each train consists of two cars. The trains travel at a maximum speed of 55 mph on the elevated track near Tukwila and at 35 mph on the ground.

The train doors closed – rather quickly it seemed – at 5:50 p.m. Soon it pulled out of the station, right on time. Less than half a mile down the track, we agreed the ride was not as smooth as expected; still, the vibration isn’t bad at all. And the train moves along at a steady clip without delays for vehicles when streets intersect with the tracks.

Station stops took far less time than I expected. Passengers got on and off with ease and without delay, and we moved right along. Here is how our station stops went:

5:59 p.m. – Arrived at the Rainier Beach station.

6:00 – Depart.

6:02 – Othello station.

6:03 – Depart.

6:06 – Columbia City station.

6:07 – Depart.

6.10 – Mount Baker station.

6:10 – Depart … and head into the tunnel under Beacon Hill.

6:12 – Beacon Hill (tunnel) station.

6:13 – Depart … and back into daylight.

6:15 – SODO station.

6:15 – Depart.

6:17 – Stadium station.

6:18 – Depart … and enter the downtown bus tunnel.

6:20 – International District/Chinatown station.

6:21 – Depart.

6:23 – Pioneer Square station.

6:23 – Depart.

6:24 – University Street station.

6:25 – Depart.

6:26 – Westlake station, the end of the line.

Twenty-six minutes from Tukwila to midtown Seattle via the Rainier Valley. Not bad.

When we left Tukwila, there were about 12 riders in our car including us. Picking up more riders at most stations along the route (none at a couple), usually ranging from an additional 6 to 12 at each stop, our car was almost full of seated riders by the time we reached Westlake. No one had to stand. As we stepped off the train, it looked like its other car had carried about the same number.

Getting from the train to street level – at Pine Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues just below Nordstrom – is easy, as is returning to the train, which we did about an hour later. On the return trip, which took the same time, only 16 people were riding in both cars and only 8 beyond the Mount Baker station. It is logical to assume, given the number of cars still in the parking lot when we got back to Tukwila, that southbound ridership was much higher after events wrapped up downtown and people headed home.

Above ground, the view from a train car ranges from interesting, even scenic, along the elevated track north of the Tukwila station to very drab through part of Rainier Valley not far up the line.

A trip on Link light rail is comparable to a ride on Portland’s MAX, although a good stretch of that line parallels Interstate 84 – the major highway into that city – rather than winding through nearby neighborhoods along the way.

Sound Transit has reported that Link light rail carried an average of 12,000 riders per weekday in its first five days of regular paid service, and 16,900 riders on July 25 and 15,100 on July 26 during the first big Seafair weekend, when both the Mariners and Sounders also were in town.

With service on to Sea-Tac International Airport scheduled to begin in December, Sound Transit projects 26,600 one-way trips daily (13,300 round trips) along its 16-mile light-rail route by the end of 2010. The current trip from Tukwila to Seattle is 14 miles.

A footnote about our trip: While the actual travel time from Tukwila to Westlake was a reasonable 26 minutes, it took another 9 minutes to drive from my home and park, then another 14 minutes to get into the station, buy tickets, board a train and wait for it to depart. Riders who take light rail from other stations must walk, ride a bicycle or take a bus to get there since they have no park and ride lots.

Convenience, including time and destination, may be the determining factor for riding light rail for many commuters. I might take light rail from Tukwila to a Mariners game or dinner in the International District, but would not do so from, say, Columbia City due to lack of parking. At the same time, I probably would drive to SODO to shop or the Othello community to go to the park.

Regardless, once you’re moving on a light rail train, it’s a comfortable trip in good time to your stop. Still, at $2.3 billion for this line, it’s one expensive commute for the convenience it affords.

If you haven’t yet ridden Link light rail, here’s a video by Oran Viriyincy:

This section, approaching Tukwila Intl. Blvd., has the steepest grade in the system. You can hear the motors as the train climbs.

So…have YOU ridden Link light rail yet? Please take our poll or Comment below…

Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail opens for passenger service between Tukwila and downtown Seattle this Saturday, July 18th, with FREE rides all weekend before moving to regular paid service on Monday.

Here’s what riders can expect during opening weekend:

• Sat. 7/18 at 8:20am: Inaugural ribbon cutting at Mt. Baker Station. Immediately prior to the ceremony, news media will join the mayors of Seattle and Tukwila on the station platform as their trains arrive carrying representatives from their respective cities.
• After the ceremony: ticket-holders for the two inaugural trains (one northbound and one southbound) will move to the platform and board the trains. The majority of inaugural ride ticket holders are members of the public who received tickets through radio giveaways and other promotions.

SCHEDULES & SERVICES:

• The free opening weekend light rail service will operate with special hours:
  • Saturday – 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Sunday – 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Trains will depart each station about every 7-1/2 minutes throughout the day. Sound Transit has made provisions for a high volume of riders on the opening weekend; lines are expected. The number of riders picked up at each station will be limited to a predetermined number to preserve capacity for passengers to board at other stations. Each launch weekend train will carry about 350 riders, including standees.
• All riders must deboard upon reaching one of the line’s termini (Westlake for northbound trains and Tukwila for southbound trains). Upon reaching a terminus, riders can wait in line again to return via light rail, or choose the potentially quicker option of bypassing the light rail line and returning via free shuttle buses. Special shuttle buses will run along the route opening weekend and stop at every station. All rides are ADA accessible.

WHAT SERVICES WILL BE AT STATIONS:

• Each station will feature a welcome portal staffed by Sound Transit to provide information about wait times and answer questions about opening weekend and regular service.
• Portable restrooms will be provided at each station, along with family-friendly acoustic entertainment at all stations. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from nearby local restaurants and stores. There will be a food vendor at Tukwila International Boulevard Station.

PLEASE NOTE: Free connector buses from Tukwila to Sea-Tac International Airport will be available from July 20 through the opening of direct light rail service to the airport in December 2009. However, the connector buses will not be in service on the opening weekend.

EXPECT CROWDS

• While Sound Transit is not making a specific prediction for the number of riders on the opening weekend, provisions are in place to manage a significant turnout. In addition to the start of Link service on July 18, about 60,000 fans expected to attend a noon Sounders FC soccer match at Qwest Field. The Bite of Seattle at the Seattle Center will also draw about 450,000 people over the weekend.

GETTING TO STATIONS:

• There is no parking at Link stations in Seattle, and parking at Tukwila will be extremely limited. Riders are encouraged to bus, walk or ride their bicycle to a station. Bicyclists are encouraged to leave their bikes at special staffed “bike corrals” that will be available on opening weekend. For a list of transit centers and bus routes that can connect you with downtown Seattle on July 18 and 19, visit http://www.soundtransit.org/Projects-and-Plans/Project-Updates/Traveling-Downtown-July18-19.xml. For more information about all Sound Transit services and help planning your entire trip, visit www.soundtransit.org.

MORE INFORMATION

• For detailed maps and much more information on opening weekend and regular service see: www.soundtransit.org/linklaunch.

SOUND TWEETSIT:

• For up-to-the-second information during opening weekend events follow Sound Transit on Twitter at @ST_TravelLight (link here). We’ll tweet all day about which stations have the shortest lines, what’s happening at the stations and behind-the-scenes updates.
• Twitter updates will also be posted at www.soundtransit.org/linklaunch.

First it was SeaTac Airport’s new third runway, and now KOMO News is reporting that Sound Transit’s new Light Link rail system is too loud.

According to the story, some local residents are complaining that the new Light Link rail system is just too noisy.

One resident even bought a decibel meter and measured the noise level near his house, with measurements reaching as high as 88 decibels. An average vacuum cleaner runs between 75 to 80 decibels and airplanes on an airport tarmac around 120 decibels.

Sound Transit has apparently insulated a number of homes in the Rainier Valley, and has also installed air conditioning units in others where it was determined that noise might disrupt residents during summer’s open-window months.

We’re not sure if a class action lawsuit lies in Sound Transit’s future, so keep your ears open.

Read the full story here, and please take our poll:

Thursday, June 18th is National “Dump The Pump” day, an annual event sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association to raise awareness of the benefits of public transit.

Everyone is concerned about saving money and cutting down on expenses these days. And as local gas prices again begin to creep up to $3 a gallon, one of the easiest ways to keep more money in your wallet is to park your car at home and hop on public transportation.

Once again this year, the region’s transportation agencies are urging residents to ride a bus, train, boat, bike, take a walk, or share the ride this Thursday.

National Dump the Pump Day encourages people to ride public transportation to save money, protect the environment, reduce dependence on foreign oil, and improve our quality of life. APTA’s monthly Transit Savings Report consistently ranks the Seattle metropolitan area as one of the top ten regions for potential transit savings.

Community Transit, Everett Transit, Intercity Transit, King County Metro Transit, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit, Sound Transit and the WSDOT Ferries Division (Washington State Ferries) are joining agencies across the country to ask those who’ve never tried public transportation to get on board with saving and take a new ride on Thursday. Regular transit users are encouraged to make it a “zero drive” day, and only use transit.

“Puget Sound residents have so many great alternatives to driving—buses, streetcars, vanpools, trains, the iconic ferries, and in less than a month we’ll be adding 16 miles of light rail to that long list,” said Sound Transit CEO Joni Earl.

The agencies in the Puget Sound region share a common goal of offering safe, reliable, and low-cost transportation choices. Yet, each offers a unique array services that interconnect with other agencies to create a very useable transportation network for the region.

Some are hosting special activities for Dump the Pump Day, and others are featuring regular services that can help you save money every day.

King County Metro Transit:
Dump the Pump Day also coincides with the start of summer, and King County Metro Transit wants people who are “staycationing” close to home this year to see how much farther their vacation/holiday dollars stretch when they travel by bus.

In addition to bus routes serving the big-city attractions in Seattle and Bellevue, Metro also has regular service to parks, beaches, malls, movie theaters, ball parks, and hiking trails. There are discounted fares for children and families to help make summertime fun more affordable.

Sound Transit:
Sound Transit, the regional provider of commuter rail and express bus service, has been calculating savings to help its customers “ride out the recession.” Riders have responded by sending in their personal savings stories. Here’s one:

“I live in Queen Anne and work for a non-profit in Redmond, about a 40 mile commute round trip each day. Last year, my employer purchased bus passes for employees and sold them to us for $30. Once I started taking the bus to work, I went from spending about $150 – $200 a month in gas to now about $30. I take the bus more than just to work now; I hardly ever even drive my car at all anymore.”

Sound Transit offers commuters throughout the region several ways to dump the pump to save money and help the environment. Sound Transit operates regional express bus service, Sounder commuter rail service, light rail in Tacoma, and on July 18, Central Link light rail line will launch service between downtown Seattle and Tukwila.

In the Puget Sound region, eight public transportation agencies carry more than 500,000 passengers every weekday and serve a population of more than 3.8 million in the five-county area.?c

Sound Transit has begun intensive testing of its new light rail system, running trains from Tukwila International Blvd. Station to Stadium Station. This is in preparation for passenger service beginning Saturday, July 18th.

Here are some pics taken Tuesday (May 19th) by Photographer Michael Brunk:

For more information, click here.

Sound Transit announced Monday (4/20) that the opening day for the Link light rail service from Tukwila to downtown Seattle will be Saturday, July 18th.

Transit Board Chair and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels made the announcement Monday at a press conference.

Fares are free for the first weekend, but after that will go to $2.50 each way for adults from Tukwila to downtown Seattle – the same as a bus ride. Youth base fares will start at $1.25 and have a maximum fare of $2.00 and Senior/disabled fares will start at $.75 and have a maximum fare of $1.25 under the adopted structure.

Link trains will run from 5am to 1am Monday through Saturday, and 6am to midnight on Sundays.

The launch will begin a new era for public transportation in the Puget Sound region, with work underway to expand the first 15 miles of light rail service to a 55-mile regional system over the next decade and a half.

“We are counting down to a milestone. On July 18, we will make history,” said Nickels. “We invite the entire community to come out and take a test ride, and enjoy a system that will grow north, south and east. Light rail will transform how we travel, how we grow and how we live.”

July’s light rail opening will launch service between Tukwila and downtown Seattle. The line includes stops in downtown Seattle, SODO, Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley neighborhoods and Tukwila.

Frequent bus connector service will carry light rail passengers between Tukwila and Sea-Tac International Airport starting Monday, July 20 until the opening of direct airport service in December.

Rides will be free opening weekend. Sound Transit will announce detailed opening celebration plans in the coming weeks. Information will be posted at http://www.soundtransit.org/linklaunch.

Construction of light rail between downtown and the University of Washington is underway, with a scheduled opening in 2016. With the passage of the Sound Transit 2 ballot measure in November 2008. light rail is scheduled to reach all the way to Lynnwood, Redmond’s Overlake area and the Star Lake/Redondo area near Federal Way by 2023.

Starting in July of this year, it’s going to cost $2.50 to take the Sound Transit Link light rail from the new Tukwila station to downtown Seattle.

On Thursday (March 26th), the Sound Transit Board adopted the fare structure for the Link light rail system that will open in July. Light rail fares will be comparable to regional buses under the distance-based system, with a $1.75 base fare plus $.05 per mile, rounded up or down to the nearest quarter.

The $2.50 fee to travel from the airport to downtown will be the same as a bus ride. Youth base fares will start at $1.25 and have a maximum fare of $2.00 and Senior/disabled fares will start at $.75 and have a maximum fare of $1.25 under the adopted structure.

“We’ve said from the start that light rail fares should be in line with local bus services, and today’s decision does just that,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.

The fare structure supports Sound Transit’s goal of recovering 52 percent of annual operational costs by 2017.

The fares will apply on the whole light rail line, including the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel (DSTT). The Board considered offering free service in the DSTT, which would have required increasing the base fare by $.25, for a maximum fare of $2.75. Sound Transit conducted extensive public outreach on the options, collecting nearly 200 comments via the web, phone and 16 events. Overall, opinions between the two options were virtually split. The majority of comments at 10 meetings in the Rainier Valley and Beacon Hill — areas that are home to many future Link riders — favored the lower base fare achieved by charging for trips in the DSTT.

Link light rail is on schedule to open for passenger service between downtown Seattle and Tukwila in July and to Sea-Tac International Airport by the end of the year. Buses will carry passengers between Tukwila and the airport until the direct airport connection opens in December.

More information about the new fare structure can be found here: www.soundtransit.org/linkfares.

The 360-degree view of the new Tukwila Sound Transit Link Station above is courtesy Francis Zera Photography / zeraphoto.com, created for client PCL Construction.

The Burien Transit Center is taking shape, and is reportedly on target to begin operations on Saturday, May 30th.

The center, located on SW 148th, across from the Safeway complex where Rooty’s Sports Bar used to be, will be the main transit hub for the Burien area.

Here’s a direct quote from Elizabeth Morgan, Project Manager for King County:

The Burien Transit Center construction is going very well.

We are on target to open the new transit center with our June Transit Service Change process and coaches will start using the center on Saturday, May 30, 2009 with the first regular weekday of service out of the new center on Monday, June 1, 2009.

The transit center moves to the off street location off of SW 148th Street. There is one main platform that will serve the majority of service and a smaller platform that will serve ACCESS and some less frequent routes. Customers will now be able to transfer without crossing the street and will utilize our improved waiting environment.

Additionally many coaches will “layover” on site. This will increase schedule reliability and save money.

The new center has improved passenger amenities and security elements.

It also has some etched glass awnings and panels, which you can see in the photo below:

Anyone still remember when this place used to be home to Rooty’s?

This town has come a long way since the only busing done on this land was for dirty dishes.

Metro Transit, along with Sound Transit, are considering changing several area bus routes, so if you ride public transportation around here you might want to let them know your thoughts.

Here are some snippets from a Metro press release:

King County Metro Transit and Sound Transit are working together on possible changes to bus routes serving portions of Burien, Federal Way, Kent, SeaTac, Tukwila, and the Tukwila Sounder Station. The changes would be made to connect Metro buses with Sound Transit’s Link light rail and Metro’s new RapidRide service, and to improve overall bus service in southwest King County.

Link will provide frequent, fast, and reliable service between Sea-Tac International Airport, Tukwila, southeast Seattle, and downtown Seattle. RapidRide is Metro Transit’s new, streamlined bus service that will provide frequent, all-day service in five high ridership corridors. The A Line will run between Tukwila International Boulevard Link Station and Federal Way on Pacific Highway S/International Boulevard (State Route 99) beginning in 2010.

Last fall, Metro asked community members what they thought about some suggested changes. More than 1,100 people returned questionnaires or commented in other ways. Most of the comments were about the proposed routes and service levels. People also expressed concerns and made suggestions about safety, fares, travel times, transfers, reliability, and frequency of service. After considering the comments, Metro revised many of its proposals.

Tonight (Tues. Feb. 3rd) is the final “Open House” where Metro will present ideas:

FEDERAL WAY (open house)

• Tuesday, Feb. 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Federal Way Community Center, 876 S 333rd Street. Served by Metro Transit DART Route 903.

To give your feedback, go to this website, where you can read more information as well as:

• Complete a questionnaire.
• Attend an open house. Express your views directly to transit staff and members of Metro’s community sounding board. Times and places are listed above.
• E-mail your comments to metro-feedback-sw@kingcounty.gov
• Call Metro’s message line at 206-296-4511 and record your comments.
• Mail your written comments to:

King County Dept. of Transportation
Community Relations
KSC-TR-0824
201 S Jackson St.
Seattle, WA 98104

• Fax your comments to 206-263-3489

The amazingly cool 360-degree view of the new Tukwila Sound Transit Link Station is courtesy Burien’s own Francis Zera Photography / zeraphoto.com, created for his client PCL Construction (requires Quicktime to view; just click and drag your mouse/pointer over the photo and you’ll soon be dizzy from your view).

Speaking of Sound Transit, there’s an Open House this Thursday, Jan. 29th from 4-7pm for the Tukwila Station, and here are the details:

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Sound Transit (the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority) are issuing an Environmental Assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for Tukwila Commuter Rail Station.

A public hearing/open house on the Tukwila Commuter Rail Station Project and environmental documentation will be held from 4-7 PM on January 29, 2009 at the Embassy Suites located at 15920 West Valley Highway in Tukwila, Washington.

For further information on the hearing and the project, contact Paul Cornish, Sound Transit Project Manager at (206) 398-5342, or Steve Kennedy, Senior Environmental Planner.

View Larger Map

Sound Transit is offering a special sneak-peek “Ride The Lunch Bus” tour of their new Link light rail system on Friday, Jan. 16th starting at 11:30am and ending at 3pm.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “Ride The Lunch Bus” Link light rail lunch tour

WHEN: Friday, Jan. 16 starting at 11:30am and ending at 3pm

WHERE: Tours depart and return at the southwest corner of 5th Avenue & South King Street in the International District. A Sound Transit bus marked “SPECIAL” will be waiting. Lunch location: Thai Recipe Restaurant.

COST: Cost of lunch is $10 (cash only) which includes a meal, drink, and tax. RSVP by Jan. 15 to Paige Johnson at 206-398-5300 or email at: Linkconstruction@soundtransit.org

DETAILS: Here’s more info from their website:

View the newly completed SODO and Stadium light rail stations and the Operations and Maintenance facility. Catch a glimpse of the Beacon Hill Station area where miners have excavated the underground station. See the elevated Mount Baker Station and guideway. Come see Martin Luther King Jr. Way S. get a facelift with new light rail, street improvements, sidewalks, lighting and landscaping. In Tukwila, see the nearly five miles of elevated trackway that was put together by the huge overhead gantry. Finally at Sea-Tac Airport take a look at the 1.7 miles of elevated and surface trackway that will connect the Tukwila International Blvd Station to the airport. Train testing is underway — you may see the first light rail vehicle!

Sound Transit Link light rail would like to invite you to tour the entire initial segment construction. The tour is part of Link light rail’s on-going effort to mitigate construction impacts on local businesses. This is a guided bus tour that will take you to and along the current construction sites. At any time during the tour, please feel free to ask questions. The tour is then followed by lunch at a local eating establishment. You are responsible for buying your own lunch.

Tours depart and return at the southwest corner of 5th Avenue & South King Street in the International District. A Sound Transit bus marked “SPECIAL” will be waiting. Tours depart at 11:30 a.m. and return by 3 p.m.

Cost of lunch is $10 (cash only) which includes a meal, drink, and tax.

We are sorry, but due to restrictions in our insurance policies, children under 18 are not permitted on the lunch bus tour.

To RSVP, or for more information, please contact Paige Johnson at 206-398-5300 or email at: Linkconstruction@soundtransit.org. In your response, please include your name, organization, telephone number and request for accommodations.

This just in from the City of Burien:

CITIZENS INVITED TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST SOUND TRANSIT (A REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY) PROPOSITION #1, MASS TRANSIT EXPANSION

The Burien City Council will be considering a resolution regarding Proposition #1, Mass Transit Expansion, on October 20, 2008.

All interested parties that are for or against the ballot measure are invited to speak at the Council’s Regular Meeting on Monday, October 6, 2008 at 7:00 pm.

The meeting will be held at the Educational Resource & Administrative Center (ERAC), 15675 Ambaum Blvd. SW (map below).

View Larger Map

According to the Port of Seattle website, a road construction project, needed to bring Link light rail to Sea-Tac Airport in 2009, will cause significant detours and closures beginning Wed. morning, Sept. 24th and continuing through 7am Thurs. Sept. 25.

So…if you’re planning on going to SeaTac Airport between then, expect traffic delays, detours, lots of signs and of course, potential road rage.

All of the following will be affected:

• Lower Airport Drive (Baggage Claim/Arrivals level). Access to the Lower Drive will be reduced to one rerouted lane. The detour route will be clearly marked.
• North Entrance to the Airport Parking Garage. The north entrance to the garage will be closed and parkers rerouted to the south garage entrance. Drivers coming to Sea-Tac from the north will be detoured from SR 518 to south I-99 and the south garage entrance. Traffic leaving the garage will not be affected and will exit to the north as always at S. 182 Street.
• Cell Phone Lot. Traffic heading from the Cell Phone Waiting Lot to the terminal will follow a detour route at S. 182 Street.
• Public Transportation. All public transportation buses (Metro Transit, Sound Transit, Pierce Transit) will both pick up and drop off passengers on I- 99. Public transit buses will not have access to the Lower Drive during this period.

The exit and entrance to the Rental Car area will not be affected by these changes. It is expected that all traffic at the Airport, even on unchanged routes, will be slowed by these detours and closures. Please allow extra time, drive slowly and cautiously, and pay close attention to highway message signage.

As it is with most construction projects, weather may play a factor, so if it rains, there’s a chance the work will be delayed.

According to The Seattle Times, Sound Transit is back on schedule to open its Tukwila airport station by Dec. 29, 2009.

Previously, a federal oversight report claimed that the station’s completion “will be delayed until the second quarter of 2010.”

When that report was released, Sound Transit did not have a detailed schedule for completing the station, and there was doubt as to whether communications systems would be ready for the entire 16-mile line that runs from downtown Seattle to the airport.

During the summer of 2009, trains should start traveling to the Tukwila station. Airport travelers will be able to board shuttle buses to the terminal until the main airport station is completed.

SOURCE:

• The Seattle Times

The Sound Transit Board is currently seeking public input on new options that would modify last year’s mass transit expansion plan to form a faster and lower-cost package, including expanding service to the Des Moines area.

“Again and again our region’s residents tell us we face an urgent need to expand mass transit,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. “These train and bus service expansions respond to that urgent call in a way that is faster and more affordable. I urge people to get involved and let us know what they think about this proposal.”

The major public involvement effort that Sound Transit launches in May will include meetings around the region as well as opportunities to comment online and by mail. In June and July the Board will consider the public priorities that are identified and whether to move forward with a 2008 measure.

The new options for a smaller package would lower the costs of last year’s Sound Transit 2 package by 41 percent to 49 percent. Sound Transit would complete these options within 12 years rather than 20 years. The options would cost 62 percent to 67 percent less than the total price tag for the roads and transit projects that together formed Proposition 1. The public is being asked to comment on whether the plan should be revised as proposed, or not.

The new 12-year options would achieve a 55 percent increase in the number of daily riders Sound Transit would serve in 2030. The new options center on a core set of investments funded by a sales tax increase of four-tenths of one percent (0.4 percent). Adding another one-tenth of one percent (for a total of 0.5 percent) would fund additional projects and services. The costs work out to an increase of about $55 (0.4 percent) or $69 (0.5 percent) a year for every adult, or either four or five cents for a $10 purchase.

The 12-year options would include funds for preliminary engineering, environmental review and early property purchase that would contribute to extending light rail to Everett and Tacoma in later phases.

Last year’s Sound Transit 2 plan called for building 50 miles of light rail over 20 years. If that plan were modified in favor of a 12-year approach, the new options propose that the expansions would include:

Link light rail: 18 to 23 miles of light rail expansions to the north, south and east, potentially serving communities including Bellevue, the Overlake area of Redmond, Mercer Island, Des Moines and Seattle’s northern University District, Roosevelt and Northgate areas. Connector light rail service would link Seattle’s International District, First Hill and Capitol Hill areas.

Sounder commuter rail: Increases of up to 90 percent in Sounder service between Tacoma and Seattle, potentially including 12 additional daily trips and platform extensions to allow longer trains.

ST Express regional bus: Service increases of 10 to 15 percent in key corridors, bus rapid transit service on State Route 520 and up to 20 miles of new arterial transit lanes.

Improved station access: Funding to increase access to transit facilities in Auburn, Edmonds, Everett, Kent, Lakewood, Lynnwood (including Ash Way and Mariner), Mukilteo, Puyallup, South Tacoma, Sumner, Tacoma and Tukwila. Projects will be tailored to the needs of each location and may include expanded parking; pedestrian improvements at or near stations; additional bus/transfer facilities for improved feeder service to stations; bicycle access and storage; and new and expanded drop-off areas to encourage ride-sharing.

Partnerships for expanded transit: Partnership funding for Eastside passenger rail on existing freight tracks; as well as for potential extensions of Tacoma Link light rail and projects in Bothell, Burien, Kirkland and Shoreline.

Public input collected in the first quarter of 2008 shows strong support for expanding the regional transit system, a perspective mirrored in a scientific telephone survey of 800 randomly selected residents. The results are available at www.soundtransit.org/future.

Sound Transit’s system of regional express buses, commuter rail and light rail currently carries about 50,000 riders each day, a number that will more than double following the 2009 opening of light rail service between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac International Airport. Construction of that light rail line is moving forward on schedule and is now 85 percent complete.

Expansion of Link light rail between downtown and the University of Washington is slated to begin this year and be completed in 2016. University Link is projected to nearly triple the regional light rail system’s ridership to more than 114,000 a day by 2030. Last month, the Federal Transit Administration awarded the University Link project its highest rating for proposed transit projects in the nation, and $100 million for the project was included in the Bush administration’s proposed FY 2009 budget.