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Sound Transit
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==Facilities and programs== Sound Transit is headquartered at Union Station, a former intercity train terminal in the [[Chinatown–International District, Seattle|Chinatown–International District]] neighborhood of Seattle. The agency moved into the building on November 1, 1999, after it was acquired and renovated at a cost of $23.5{{nbsp}}million.<ref name="PI-Move1999"/> The station's former [[waiting room]] is open to the public and was named the Joni Earl Great Hall in 2017 for the agency's former CEO.<ref>{{cite press release |date=June 27, 2024 |title=Joni Earl Great Hall at Union Station Reopens to the Public |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/news-events/news-releases/joni-earl-great-hall-union-station-reopens-to-public |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref> Since 2009, Sound Transit has also occupied leased space in four buildings around Union Station, which is adjacent to [[King Street Station]] and the [[International District/Chinatown station|International District/Chinatown transit hub]].<ref>{{cite web |date=June 6, 2019 |title=Sound Transit Motion No. M2019-55 |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/st_sharepoint/download/sites/PRDA/FinalRecords/2019/Motion%20M2019-55.pdf |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite map |date=June 2022 |title=Sound Transit Campus Map |url=https://des.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-06/ST_CampusMap_625.pdf |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref> The system serves over 90 regional transit facilities, including 59 light rail and commuter rail stations.<ref name="Budget-Link"/><ref name="TDP2021">{{cite web |date=September 23, 2021 |title=Transit Development Plan 2021–2026 and 2020 Annual Report |pages=7–17 |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/sound-transit-tdp-2021-2026-and-2020-annual-report-20210928.pdf |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref> These include stations with [[park and ride]] lots and garages that regularly fill on weekdays; a daily fee is planned to be implemented in 2025 to manage demand at busy lots.<ref>{{cite news |last=Deshais |first=Nicholas |date=October 29, 2024 |title=Lynnwood light rail is super popular — but there's a problem |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/lynnwood-light-rail-is-super-popular-but-theres-a-problem/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref> Link light rail trains are maintained at three operations and maintenance facilities in Seattle, Bellevue, and Tacoma.<ref name="TDP2021"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Olivia |date=June 30, 2024 |title=Sound Transit's light rail maintenance facility to displace residents, businesses in Federal Way |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/sound-transit-light-rail-maintenance-facility-displace-residents-businesses-federal-way/281-a34299f9-b756-48d0-8faf-ddb1e061a11a |publisher=KING 5 News |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref> The primary maintenance facilities for Sounder commuter rail and the Sound Transit Express bus network are leased or shared with their respective operators.<ref name="TDP2021"/> Sound Transit is one of seven transit agencies that accept fare payment through the [[ORCA card]] system, which allows for inter-agency transfers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Cody |date=May 2, 2022 |title=Sound Transit launches new ORCA ticketing system Monday |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/sound-transit-orca-light-rail-tickets/281-7806c1ee-538c-4a51-a943-005c78c8f4a6 |publisher=KING 5 News |accessdate=December 19, 2024}}</ref> It launched in 2009 and is administered by Sound Transit.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kamb |first=Lewis |date=August 19, 2016 |title=Sound Transit improperly sent 173,000 ORCA card users' info to political campaign |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/sound-transit-improperly-gave-173000-orca-cardholders-info-to-ballot-measure-promoters/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 19, 2024}}</ref> The original system was replaced with a second-generation platform in 2022 that is planned to have support for other forms of [[contactless payment]], including credit cards and [[mobile payment]] apps.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=May 2, 2022 |title=What you need to know about changes coming to the ORCA fare card system |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/what-you-need-to-know-about-changes-coming-to-the-orca-fare-card-system/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 24, 2024}}</ref> {{as of|2023}}, 79{{nbsp}}percent of Sound Transit fares were paid using an ORCA card;<ref name="FareReport" /> in May 2024, the system served over 431,000 customers in the Puget Sound region across all operators.<ref name="Times-ORCA2024">{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=June 26, 2024 |title=Your phone can now be an ORCA card, if you're an Android user |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/orca-sightings-finally-arrive-on-google-wallet-phone-app/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 19, 2024}}</ref> ===Transit-oriented development=== [[File:Spring District Bellevue Aerial, May 2024.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial view of the [[Spring District]], a large [[transit-oriented development]] that developed around a [[Spring District station|light rail station]] in [[Bellevue, Washington|Bellevue]].]] Several major [[transit-oriented development]] (TOD) projects were constructed around Sound Transit facilities in the 2010s and 2020s after zoning changes were approved by local governments.<ref>{{cite news |last=Whitman |first=Victor |date=March 29, 2024 |title=Eastside developers track the light rail rollout with measured optimism |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/eastside-developers-track-the-light-rail-rollout-with-measured-optimism/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Deshais |first=Nicholas |date=August 25, 2024 |title=Lynnwood light rail route brings a housing boom |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/lynnwood-light-rail-route-brings-a-housing-boom/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref> Among the largest projects is the [[Spring District]], a {{convert|36|acre|ha|adj=mid}} [[mixed-use development|mixed-use]] neighborhood in Bellevue on the 2{{nbsp}}Line that began construction in 2013.<ref>{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Brian |date=January 13, 2022 |title=On the Block: Spring District achieves LEED neighborhood standard |url=https://www.djc.com/news/re/12145817.html |work=Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce |url-access=subscription |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Stiles |first=Marc |date=September 13, 2013 |title=Construction of $2.3 billion Bellevue project starting Monday |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2013/09/construction-of-23-billion-bellevue.html |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |url-access=subscription |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref> Sound Transit's first TOD project, Senior City at [[Federal Way Transit Center]], opened in 2010 and includes 61 units of [[affordable housing]] for senior citizens. It was developed as a [[public–private partnership]] with the nonprofit Korean Women's Association on surplus land adjacent to the transit center.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 11, 2010 |title=Senior City opens in Federal Way |url=https://www.djc.com/news/re/12018782.html |work=Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce |url-access=subscription |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref> The [[Seattle Housing Authority]] redeveloped its Rainier Vista [[public housing]] complex into a [[mixed-income housing|mixed-income]] neighborhood after the nearby [[Columbia City station]] opened in 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=July 11, 2009 |title=Columbia City light-rail station: Off the beaten path |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2009396059_stcolumbiacity29m.html |work=The Seattle Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817004752/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2009396059_stcolumbiacity29m.html |archive-date=August 17, 2016 |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Levy |first=Nat |date=September 3, 2013 |title=Developers find fertile ground for apartments in Columbia City |url=https://www.djc.com/news/re/12056827.html |work=Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref> Beginning in 2015, new state legislation required Sound Transit to offer its surplus property from major construction projects to developers who would prioritize affordable housing. The "80–80–80 rule" in the legislation, later adopted by the agency in 2018, applied to 80 percent of surplus land around transit projects and required that developments designate 80 percent of residential units to residents who make 80 percent or less of the area [[median income]].<ref name="Times-TODLynnwood">{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=December 12, 2024 |title=This land handout will bring apartments to Lynnwood light rail station |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/this-land-handout-will-bring-apartments-to-lynnwood-light-rail-station/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kelety |first=Josh |date=May 1, 2018 |title=Sound Transit Plans to Facilitate Affordable Housing Near Light Rail Stations |url=https://www.seattleweekly.com/news/sound-transit-plans-to-facilitate-affordable-housing-near-light-rail-stations/ |work=[[Seattle Weekly]] |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref> {{as of|2024}}, Sound Transit's TOD program had resulted in the creation of over 2,670 affordable housing units out of 3,470 constructed at 14 stations with a total value of $1.7{{nbsp}}billion.<ref name="Times-TODLynnwood"/><ref name="ST-TOD">{{cite web |title=Transit-oriented development |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/creating-vibrant-stations/transit-oriented-development |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref> Some of the developments also include community amenities, such as [[childcare]] facilities, medical clinics, and job-training centers.<ref name="Times-TODLynnwood"/><ref name="ST-TOD"/> ===Technology=== All Sound Transit buses and trains are equipped with [[GPS tracking unit]]s to monitor their positions. The information is publicly available through an [[open data]] system and published under the [[GTFS]] standard used by navigation programs and apps.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Desmond |first1=Kevin |last2=Harbour |first2=Mike |date=February 25, 2015 |title=Metro, Sound Transit: a vision of data access, customer information |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/blog/platform/metro-sound-transit-vision-data-access-customer-information |work=The Platform |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=December 18, 2024}}</ref> The backend servers for the OneBusAway app, originally developed by a [[University of Washington]] student in 2008, were acquired by Sound Transit in 2013. The app continues to be maintained by volunteers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bush |first=Evan |date=October 26, 2015 |title=Seattle-area traffic apps hungry for your data to make commute easier |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/seattle-area-traffic-apps-hungry-for-your-data-to-make-commute-easier/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 18, 2024}}</ref> In 2016, a phased rollout of [[cellular network|cellular service]] in the Link light rail tunnels began.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=August 24, 2016 |title=Mixed blessing: Cellphones to start working in light-rail tunnels |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/seattle-transit-tunnels-will-finally-get-cellphone-signals/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 25, 2024}}</ref> Since 2024, Sound Transit has offered 3D maps of select 1{{nbsp}}Line stations for accessible wayfinding through the GoodMaps app. The maps were developed through [[LiDAR]] scans and include real-time directions through the use of a phone camera.<ref>{{cite news |last=Freeman |first=Caitlyn |date=March 4, 2024 |title=Need help getting around Seattle light rail stations? This app could be useful |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/need-help-getting-around-seattle-light-rail-stations-this-app-could-help/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 18, 2024}}</ref> ===Artwork=== The [[public art]] program for Sound Transit, named STart, was established in 1998 to allocate [[percent for art|one percent]] of the local construction budget for artwork.<ref name="DJC-Artwork">{{cite news |last=Porter |first=Lynn |date=April 23, 2015 |title=Sound Transit art program helps pull commuters out of their daily grind |url=https://www.djc.com/news/co/12076902.html |work=Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref> By 2022, the agency's collection of artwork had grown to 170 permanent pieces—including murals, paintings, and large sculptures.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kiley |first=Brendan |date=December 9, 2022 |title=Public art in Seattle's light rail stations has a deeper backstory than you'd think |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/public-art-in-seattles-light-rail-stations-has-a-deeper-backstory-than-youd-think/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219094638/https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/public-art-in-seattles-light-rail-stations-has-a-deeper-backstory-than-youd-think/ |archive-date=2024-12-19 |accessdate=December 15, 2024 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> STart expenditures were estimated at $54{{nbsp}}million from 1998 to 2023.<ref name="Times-Art2020">{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=September 1, 2020 |title=Sound Transit repairs Federal Way murals the agency says were slashed in acts of racism |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/sound-transit-repairs-federal-way-murals-the-agency-says-were-slashed-in-acts-of-racism/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226051806/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/sound-transit-repairs-federal-way-murals-the-agency-says-were-slashed-in-acts-of-racism/ |archive-date=2024-12-26 |accessdate=December 15, 2024 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The program also includes temporary commissions for fences that surround construction sites.<ref name="DJC-Artwork"/><ref name="Times-Art2020"/> Sound Transit sponsors [[busking|buskers]] to perform music at its light rail stations in Seattle and donated space at [[Angle Lake station]] for an all-ages music venue in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Yamamoto |first=Alan |date=July 6, 2023 |title=Sounds of the Sound: Welcoming new locations for buskers! |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/blog/platform/sounds-sound-welcoming-new-locations-buskers |work=The Platform |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Ahmad |first=Nimra |date=October 24, 2023 |title=All-ages music venue to open at the Angle Lake light-rail station |url=https://www.cascadepbs.org/culture/2023/10/all-ages-music-venue-open-angle-lake-light-rail-station |publisher=[[Cascade PBS News]] |accessdate=December 15, 2024}}</ref>
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