LOS ANGELES — Sound Transit announced new changes that will take effect August 30 to improve the ride experience for customers.
One of the most significant changes will be the new flat fare for a single adult ride on the Link light rail. Passengers will now have to pay $3 when entering a Link light rail station.
According to Sound Transit, passengers only need to show their ORCA cards once before boarding. The light rail ride will no longer be billed using a distance-based fare system.
“This change is intended to simplify our fare structure and make it easier for you to plan and budget for your trips with Link,” Sound Transit said.
Whether a passenger is trying to catch a flight in Sea-Tac or is heading to a Mariners game, all single rides cost the same. According to Sound Transit, single rides on the T Line in Tacoma will remain at $2.
The flat rate applies only to adults. In Washington state, all young people under 18 can travel on public transportation for free. There are reduced rates for seniors and other specific groups.
The last fare increase for the Link light rail system took place in 2015. A further increase was planned for 2020, but was postponed due to the pandemic.
Another change taking effect is the replacement of Sound Transit’s unique Link station icons with three-digit station codes.
This change comes with the idea of further expanding Link’s stations and stops. Sound Transit said that under Washington state law, they are required to “have station identifiers that are not based on the Latin alphabet to better serve limited English proficiency (LEP) riders, visitors, and riders with disabilities.”
Instead of an image accompanying the station name, it will now be a three-digit code. The process to develop this new system began in 2022 with testing with LEP groups. Sound Transit also stress-tested the numbering system and conducted a cultural review to avoid negative associations.
The final change, which will take effect later this month, is the renaming of University Street Station to Symphony Station. Sound Transit said one of the main reasons for the name change was to avoid confusion with the University of Washington and U District stations. They said the new name honors the nearby Seattle Symphony.
