Since the COVID 19 pandemic, ridership on Sounder trains has been less than half of 2019 levels. Sound Transit is working to address this by adding more parking, but the issues are more fundamental than not being able to find a place to park.
P.S. If this train ran more often, I would have been able to get more B-Roll.
Sources:
Sound Transit Ridership
https://www.soundtransit.org/ride-with-us/system-performance-tracker/ridership
Star-studded success: Record ridership days on Sound Transit Link propels region’s public transportation during All-Star Game, Taylor Swift concert weekend
https://kingcounty.gov/en/legacy/elected/executive/constantine/news/release/2023/august/11-transit-ridership-records#:~:text=Sound%20Transit%20Link%20light%20rail%20set%20its%20new,an%20all-time%20high%20of%20136%2C800%20on%20July%2023.
Sounder Timetables
https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/schedule-sounder.pdf
Seattle Commute Survey
https://www.commuteseattle.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2022-Seattle-Commute-Survey-Report.pdf
Remote work in Seattle remains above U.S. average
https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/09/19/remote-work-jobs-seattle-wfh-statistics
Seattle’s downtown needs office workers. Do workers need offices?
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/seattles-downtown-needs-office-workers-do-workers-need-offices/
Lagging behind national trend, Seattle workers not in hurry to return to the office
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/lagging-behind-national-trend-seattle-workers-not-in-hurry-to-return-to-the-office/
Riders slow to return to the Sounder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_HQJpPFu3g
As people work from home, Sound Transit bets $350M on 3 new parking garages
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/as-people-work-from-home-sound-transit-bets-350m-on-3-new-parking-garages/
Parking Project Plans
https://sumnergarage.participate.online/#design
https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/auburn-station-parking-access-improvements
https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/kent-station-parking-access-improvements
Sounder trains’ future in limbo as riders are slow to return
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/sounder-trains-future-in-limbo-as-ridership-is-slow-to-return/
Map of the Week: Seattle’s New Long-Range Rail Plan Goes Big
https://www.theurbanist.org/2023/08/30/map-of-the-week-seattles-new-long-range-rail-plan-goes-big/
Amtrak Host Railroad Report Card
https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/HostRailroadReports/Amtrak-2022-Host-Railroad-Report-Card.pdf
Sounder South trains: so popular, Sound Transit’s trying to add more
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/sounder-south-trains-so-popular-sound-transits-trying-to-add-more/
Sounder FAQ
https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/sounder-south-faq-december-2019.pdf
Alan Fisher | US Railroads Should Be Nationalized
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKHYQ4ptA8Q