Seattle-Tacoma, Washington, USA
Table of Contents
Overview - Seattle-Tacoma
Located between Lake Washington and the Puget Sound, Seattle is the seat of King County and the largest city by population in Washington. It has approximately 724,000 inhabitants in the city proper as of 2017. Further south, Tacoma is the seat of Pierce County and is the third largest city by population in Washington with approximately 213,000 inhabitants in the city proper as of 2017. The Seattle metropolitan area (Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue) comprised 3,939,363 residents as of the 2017 US Census Bureau Estimate.
The Puget Sound's rapid transit network consists of two light rail services. It also has two commuter rail services. Seattle is also served by two modern streetcar services and a short straddle beam monorail people mover, while Tacoma is served by a modern streetcar service. It also has three arterial bus rapid transit services in Snohomish County. There is also a BRT-Lite/arterial BRT/rapid bus network within Seattle, which is partially covered on this website.
Link Light Rail
Opened 2003, Link Light Rail consists of two light rail services and a modern streetcar service that serve the Seattle Metropolitan Region (Puget Sound).
Link 1 Line
The Link 1 Line of the Link Light Rail is a light rail service on a North-South alignment, running from Lynnwood City Center in the north to Angle Lake in the south via the Seattle Transit Tunnel in Downtown Seattle and Seattle Tacoma International Airport, serving 23 stations.
The Link 1 Line was opened in July 2009 and the last extension to the line was in August 2024 to Lynnwood City Center. The Link 1 Line is owned by Sound Transit and operated by King County Metro.
| Service | M-F Midday | M-F Rush | Sat. | Sun. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Link 1 | 10' | 8' | 10' | 10' |
Schedules -- Last Updated: Apr 27, 2024
Link 2 Line
The Link 2 Line of the Link Light Rail is a light rail service on a North-South alignment, running from Redmond Technology in the north to South Bellevue in the south, serving 8 stations.
The Link 2 Line was opened in April 2024. The Link 2 Line is owned by Sound Transit and operated by King County Metro.
| Service | M-F Midday | M-F Rush | Sat. | Sun. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Link 2 | 10' | 10' | 10' | 10' |
Schedules -- Last Updated: Apr 27, 2024
Tacoma Link T Line
The Tacoma Link T Line of the Link Light Rail is a modern streetcar service on an upside down U-shaped alignment. It runs from St Joseph in the southwest to Tacoma Dome in the southeast, serving 12 stations.
The Tacoma Link T Line was opened in August 2003 and the last expansion was the extension to St Joseph in September 2023. The Tacoma Link T Line is owned and operated by Sound Transit.
| Service | M-F Midday | M-F Rush | Sat. | Sun. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma Link T | 12' | 12' | 12' | 20' |
Schedules -- Last Updated: Apr 15, 2024
Seattle Center Monorail
Opened March 1962 for the Century 21 Exposition, the Seattle Center Monorail consists of a single straddle beam monorail people mover service in downtown Seattle.
Seattle Center Monorail
The Seattle Center Monorail is a straddle beam monorail people mover service shuttling between two stations - Seattle Center in the northwest and Westlake Center in downtown Seattle.
The Seattle Center Monorail was opened in March 1962.
| Service | M-F Midday | M-F Rush | Sat. | Sun. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monorail | 10' | 10' | 10' | 10' |
Schedules -- Last Updated: Apr 15, 2024
Seattle Streetcar
Opened December 2007, the modern Seattle Streetcar consists of two modern streetcar services in downtown Seattle.
As of July 2019, a city center connector between the two lines is being considered.
South Lake Union Streetcar
The South Lake Union Streetcar is a modern streetcar service. It runs from the Westlake transit center to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and serves 11 stops.
The South Lake Union Streetcar was opened in December 2007. The South Lake Union Streetcar is owned by the City of Seattle and operated by King County Metro.
| Service | M-F Midday | M-F Rush | Sat. | Sun. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Lake Union | 12' | 12' | 15' | 15' |
Schedules -- Last Updated: Apr 15, 2024
First Hill Streetcar
The First Hill Streetcar is a modern streetcar service. It runs from Pioneer Square to Capitol Hill and serves 10 stops.
The First Hill Streetcar was opened in January 2016. The First Hill Streetcar is owned by the City of Seattle and operated by King County Metro.
| Service | M-F Midday | M-F Rush | Sat. | Sun. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Hill | 15' | 12' | 15' | 18-25' |
Schedules -- Last Updated: Apr 15, 2024
King County RapidRide
Opened October 2010, King County RapidRide consists of eight BRT-Lite, arterial bus rapid transit, and rapid bus services serving King County. Only one of the lines is featured on this website.
RapidRide G Line
The RapidRide G Line is a BRT-Lite service on an East-West alignment. It runs from 1st Avenue in the west to 28th Avenue East in the east and serves 16 stations of which 8 are served in a single direction only. It runs primarily along Madison, with dedicated center lanes between the 8th Avenue and 12th Avenue stations.
The RapidRide G Line was opened in September 2024. The RapidRide G Line is operated by King County Metro.
| Service | M-F Midday | M-F Rush | Sat. | Sun. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RapidRide G | 6' | 6' | 6' | 15' |
Schedules -- Last Updated: September 23, 2024
Swift Bus Rapid Transit
Opened November 2009, Swift Bus Rapid Transit consists of three arterial bus rapid transit services serving Snohomish County.
Swift Blue Line
The Swift Blue Line is an arterial bus rapid transit service on a north-south alignment. It runs from Everett Station in the north to Aurora Village Transit Center in the south primarily along Evergreen Way and serves 24 stations of which 12 are comprised of offset station pairs and two of which are in a single direction only.
The Swift Blue Line was opened in November 2009 and the latest expansion to the line was the opening of 196th St SW station in August 2023. The Swift Blue Line is operated by Community Transit.
| Service | M-F Midday | M-F Rush | Sat. | Sun. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swift Blue | 10' | 10' | 15' | 20' |
Schedules -- Last Updated: April 15, 2024
Swift Green Line
The Swift Green Line is an arterial bus rapid transit service on a north-south alignment. It runs from Seaway Transit Center in the north to Canyon Park Park & Ride in the south primarily along Airport Way and serves 18 stations of which one is served in a single direction only.
The Swift Green Line was opened in March 2019. The Swift Green Line is operated by Community Transit.
| Service | M-F Midday | M-F Rush | Sat. | Sun. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swift Green | 12' | 12' | 20' | 20' |
Schedules -- Last Updated: April 15, 2024
Swift Orange Line
The Swift Orange Line is an arterial bus rapid transit service on a northeast-southwest alignment. It runs from Edmonds College Transit Center in the southwest to McCollum Park Park & Ride in the northeast and serves 14 stations of which two are served in a single direction only.
The Swift Orange Line was opened in March 2024. The Swift Ornge Line is operated by Community Transit.
| Service | M-F Midday | M-F Rush | Sat. | Sun. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swift Orange | 10' | 10' | 15' | 20' |
Schedules -- Last Updated: April 15, 2024
Sounder Commuter Rail
Opened Sept 2000, Sounder Commuter Rail consists of two commuter rail services serving the Seattle Metropolitan Region.
Sounder S Line
The Sounder S (South) Line (Lakewood-Seattle) is a commuter rail service on a North-South alignment. It runs from Seattle in the north to Lakewood and Tacoma in the south, serving four stations.
The S Line was opened in September 2000. The S Line is operated by BNSF.
Sounder N Line
The Sounder N (North) Line (Everett-Seattle) is a commuter rail service on a North-South alignment. It runs from Everett in the north to Seattle in the south, serving nine stations.
The N Line was opened in December 2003. The N Line is operated by BNSF.
References & Helpful Links
Seattle Streetcar at Wikipedia
Sounder Commuter Rail at Wikipedia
Official Website for Sound Transit: Sound Transit
Official Website for Seattle Center Monorail: Seattle Monorail
Official Website for Seattle Streetcar: City of Seattle
Official Website for Swift BRT: Community Transit
Maps
Official System Map - Sound Transit [PDF] [Last Accessed Aug 30, 2024]
Official System Map - Seattle Streetcar [Last Accessed Apr 15, 2024]
Unofficial Map - Seattle by Oran Viriyincy (seattletransitmap.com)
Unofficial Map - SOund Transit by Not_EcoPaw (not-ecopaw.carrd.co)
Other Sources
Asset Notes
Colors used for Link Light Rail and Sounder Commuter Rail taken from Sound Transit Brand standards as of October 2, 2021 (colors prior to October 2, 2021 taken from official Sound Transit System Map as of April 2019. Sounder text color taken from official logo as of April 2019).
Color used for Seattle Streetcar taken from Seattle Streetcar System Map as of April 2019.
Colors used for Swift Blue and Green Lines taken from Swift System Map as of September 2020. Color used for Swift Orange Line taken from planning map