SPONSORED — No one likes sitting in traffic, and most people rank their commute as one of their grumpiest times of day. If, like most people, you don’t want to wait for an alternative to sitting in typical Seattle traffic, turn to Sound Transit’s new Link light rail stations.

New stations open

On March 19, two new Sound Transit stations opened to the public at University of Washington and Capitol Hill. Within less than two weeks, Sound Transit had already started adding third cars to its standard two-car setup to better handle the influx of eager riders.

With the arrival of April, UW students are back from spring break and Seattle Central College has resumed classes following its final exam week. Even though this brought another increase in commuters, there’s no reason to worry about the new Link light rail stations being able to accommodate current ridership.

Plans for expansion

Sound Transit plans to open several more stations in the next few years. The projected extension to Northgate in 2021 will benefit surrounding areas of Seattle, as will with the construction of Lynnwood, Bellevue, Redmond, and Kent/Des Moines lines, all of which are slated to come on line in 2023.

With these expansions in the works and ST3 on the ballot this fall to expand to areas including Federal Way, Issaquah, West Seattle, Ballard, and more, users of the new Link light rail system can rest assured that Sound Transit will continue to lead the way in finding solutions to address the region’s transit challenges.

Reasons to use the light rail

Along with these advancements, Seattle commuters can expect increased ease and speed in their travels to the following:

1. Airport drop-offs and pick-ups
2. School commutes including UW and SCC
3. Access to downtown shopping and tourism
4. Commuting to work and business meetings
5. Parking-free access to Seattle nightlife and more

The advent of increased Link light rail availability is cause for celebration, particularly because it’s both fast and affordable.

Advantages for commuters

Sound Transit’s Link light rail provides an eight-minute trip between UW and downtown Seattle, with prices ranging between $2.25-$3.25 per rider, depending on where you want to stop. Countless Seattleites are now reveling in the ever-growing accessibility provided by Sound Transit.

Success by the numbers

Link light rail ridership since the opening of UW and Capitol Hill stations has beat all expectations. By the second week of operation, the number of trips matched the projections for next year, even before the addition of Angle Lake station, which is slated to open in the fall of this year.

With these new developments, it certainly makes you stop and think about catching the train versus languishing in your car. If you want to learn more about how to ride, planning trips, getting an ORCA card and more, visit their website today.