Editing Sound Transit (section)

==Future projects==
[[File:Mercer Island station west entrance under construction, Aug 2022 - 02.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Mercer Island station]] on the [[2 Line (Sound Transit)|2{{nbsp}}Line]] is scheduled to open in 2025]]
{{main|Sound Transit 3}}

By 2026, Sound Transit plans to open the remaining {{convert|11.8|mi|km}} and four stations of the 2{{nbsp}}Line—the western extension from South Bellevue to Downtown Seattle and the eastern extension into Downtown Redmond.<ref name="ST-Winter2024">{{cite news |date=December 13, 2024 |title=A winter update on Link projects under construction |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/blog/platform/winter-update-link-projects-under-construction |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=December 24, 2024}}</ref> The 2{{nbsp}}Line will then become an interlined service with the 1{{nbsp}}Line to Lynnwood, allowing for frequency to double on the corridor north of Seattle.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=March 8, 2024 |title=Sound Transit pulls out the stops to solve a Lynnwood train shortage |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/sound-transit-pulls-out-the-stops-to-solve-a-lynnwood-train-shortage/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 24, 2024}}</ref> The combined lines will serve an estimated 120,000 to 143,000 daily passengers when fully open.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=April 21, 2024 |title=Eastside's light rail wait is almost over with 'Starter Line' |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/eastsides-light-rail-wait-is-almost-over-with-starter-line/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 24, 2024}}</ref> The [[Federal Way Link Extension]] is scheduled to open in 2026 and will extend the 1{{nbsp}}Line south by {{convert|7.8|mi|km}} from Angle Lake to Federal Way with two intermediate stations. The design–build project was delayed two years by the need to construct an unplanned bridge over weak soil that had been revealed by a landslide during slope stabilization work.<ref name="ENR-2024"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Sailor |first=Craig |date=December 22, 2024 |title=You'll soon see light-rail trains arriving in Federal Way. When will you be able to ride? |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article296897934.htm |work=The News Tribune |accessdate=December 24, 2024}}</ref> An infill station in north Seattle at [[Pinehurst station|Pinehurst]] is also scheduled to open in 2026.<ref name="ST-Winter2024"/>

The ST3 program, scheduled to last until 2046, includes {{convert|62|mi|km}} of new light rail extensions with 37 stations, {{convert|8|mi|km}} of additional commuter rail tracks, a bus rapid transit system, and improvements to existing facilities.<ref name="ENR-2024"/><ref name="Times-Ridership2018"/> The {{convert|45|mi|km|adj=mid}} bus rapid transit system, named [[Stride (bus rapid transit)|Stride]], will have three lines that replace existing Sound Transit Express routes when they launch in 2027 and 2028.<ref name="PR-Stride2023"/><ref>{{cite news |date=March 29, 2024 |title=Spring construction check-in: Link and Stride project |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/blog/platform/spring-construction-check-link-stride-projects |work=The Platform |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=December 24, 2024}}</ref> It will use the first [[battery electric bus]]es in the Sound Transit fleet, including double-decker buses with wireless charging.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 13, 2024 |title=Supercharged – Battery electric buses will power the Stride Program |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/blog/platform/supercharged-battery-electric-buses-will-power-stride-program |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=December 24, 2024}}</ref> The timeline for the Link extensions was pushed back in a 2021 realignment of ST3 projects in response to a $6.5{{nbsp}}billion shortfall in forecast revenue due to revenue lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name="Times-Shortfall">{{cite news |last1=Lindblom |first1=Mike |last2=Baruchman |first2=Michelle |date=August 15, 2021 |title=Sound Transit faces a $6.5 billion shortfall. Here's what it might do |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/sound-transit-faces-a-6-5-billion-shortfall-heres-what-it-might-do/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 24, 2024}}</ref> Long timelines in selecting and approving route alignments and stations have also led to further delays for major ST3 projects, such as the [[Ballard Link Extension|Ballard]] and [[West Seattle Link Extension|West Seattle]] extensions in Seattle.<ref name="Times-Panel2023">{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=March 2, 2023 |title=Be bolder to get light rail done, expert panel tells Sound Transit |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/be-bolder-to-get-light-rail-done-expert-panel-tells-sound-transit/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 24, 2024}}</ref> By 2041, the Link light rail system is planned to span a total of {{convert|116|mi|km}} with five lines and 83 stations that serve a projected 750,000 daily passengers on weekdays.<ref name="Times-Shortfall"/><ref>{{cite web |date=September 12, 2024 |title=Capital Delivery Program Update |page=3 |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/st_sharepoint/download/sites/PRDA/FinalRecords/2024/Presentation%20-%20Capital%20Delivery%20Program%20Update%2009-12-24.pdf |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=December 24, 2024}}</ref> The full network will encompass {{convert|252|mi|km}} across all modes.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rogoff |first=Peter |date=October 7, 2021 |title=Sound Transit transforms travel in North Seattle |url=https://www.djc.com/news/co/12143642.html |work=Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce |accessdate=December 25, 2024}}</ref>