Key Facts about Seattle Light Rail

Most Expensive Starter Light Rail System in US History

Increased Operating Costs Compared to Express Buses

A Brief History of Light Rail

Light (low capacity) rail began as an alternative to sky high costs for heavy (high capacity) rail. San Diego initiated this trend by building their initial system on an abandoned rail line. Rail envy led to a building binge for Light Rail systems costing as much as Heavy Rail systems. Sound Transit is the worst example of this financial recklessness spending 10 to 40 times as much per mile as San Diego to build a low capacity transit system.

References & Calculations

a. SAN DIEGO GETS AN OLD-STYLE TROLLEY, The New York Times, July 26, 1981

b. $86 million(1981$) /13.5 miles = $6.4 million(1981$)/mile

c. $6.4 million(1981$)/mile * (2.6 2014$)/(1981$) = $16.6 million(2014$)/mile

d. Sound Transit Light Rail Extreme Costs chart, Sound Transit Central Link Sets Record for Most Expensive US Starter Light Rail System, ref. p) Seattle Central Link Light Rail cost $188 million(2014$) /mile

e. Sound Transit, Progress Report Link Light Rail, March 2015, 3.15 miles, $1.948 billion

f. $1.948 billion / 3.15 miles = $618million/mile.

Seattle Light Rail Key Facts

The first segment of their system between Downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport, called Seattle Central Link, cost $2.93 billion(2014$) and began service in 2009. Here are some key facts about Seattle Central Link Light Rail.

References & Calculations

a. Light Rail Now website, “New U.S. light rail transit starter systems — Comparative total costs per mile,” May 6, 2014

b. Alison, Burke, “The 10 U.S. metro rail systems that lose the most money per passenger,” June 3, 2015.

c. Sound Transit, “Central Link - Initial Segment and Airport Link Before & After Study Final Report, February 2014," p. 8, Table 2-1: Project Costs in Year of Expenditure $ 2.558 billion, p. 9, Table 2-2: Project Costs in 2009 $ 2.665 billion, 15.6 miles built (2009), 9% spent on right of way

d. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI Inflation Calculator $1 (2009$) = $1.10 (2014$)

e. 2.665 billion (2009$)*1.10 (2014$/2009$) = 2.9315 billion (2014$)

f. Sound Transit Website, “Sound Transit Operations December 2014 Service Performance Report,” 10,950,234 2014 Central link boardings Sound Transit Website, “Sound Transit Operations December 2015 Service Performance Report,” 11,707,604 2015 Central link boardings, 31% fare recovery

g. 2.9315 billion(2015$)/(11.7 million rides/year)*(365 days/year)=$91,393 (2015$/daily ride), $91,393(2015$/daily ride) * 2 daily rides/daily round trip = $182,787 per daily roundtrip $97,770 (2014$/daily ride) in 2014

h. O’ Toole, Randal, “The Best-Laid Plans: How Government Planning Harms Your Quality of Life, Your Pocketbook, and Your Future,” p 258, 2007.

i. Federal Transit Administration Data - NTD Data - Transit Agency Profiles - Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, operating expenses per passenger mile 2014 Commuter bus: $0.42, Light Rail $0.73, Street Car Rail $5.38, Commuter Rail $0.52, Light Rail/commuter bus = Light Rail/Commuter bus = .73/.42 = 1.738 74% higher light rail operating costs

j. ibid, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) operating expenses per passenger mile 2014, Light Rail/Commuter bus = .50/.84 = 0.595 40% lower light rail operating costs.

k. Light Rail, Sound Transit Light Rail Increases Travel Times Compared to Express Buses or BRT

Most Expensive Starter Light Rail System in US History

Central Link was the most expensive starter Light Rail System in US History when it opened in 2009 at $185 to $188 million(2014$)/mile. Costs have since increased for the ST2 projects with the recently opened University link reaching close to $600 million/mile. These are unimaginable amounts for a LOW capacity transit system, which Seattle light rail is.

References & Calculations

l. Light Rail Now website, "New U.S. light rail transit starter systems — Comparative total costs per mile," May 6, 2013

m. from Light Rail , Sound Transit Voter Approved Light Rail Taxpayer Funding ref k) $12.696 billion (2014$) / 36 miles = $353 million(2014$)/ mile

Increased Operating Costs Compared to Express Buses

The main justification for spending more money to build a Light Rail system, which increases cost without increasing capacity, is a lower operating cost. An appropriately used Light Rail System will have a significantly lower operating cost compared to a bus. Spending billions of dollars to build a rail system which increases operating costs compared to a bus shows either total incompetence or corruption.

References & Calculations

i. Federal Transit Administration Data - NTD Data - Transit Agency Profiles - Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, operating expenses per passenger mile 2014 Commuter bus: $0.42, Light Rail $0.73, Street Car Rail $5.38, Commuter Rail $0.52, Light Rail/commuter bus = Light Rail/Commuter bus = .73/.42 = 1.738 74% higher light rail operating costs

Increased Travel Times

Sound Transit spent almost $3 billion(2014$) to replace the 194 Express bus with a train which increases the travel time from downtown Seattle to SeaTac airport while leaving riders 0.4 miles from the airport terminal. The express bus left passengers across the street from the terminal building. It takes almost 50% longer to get from downtown Seattle to the airport counter at SeaTac using Central Link compared to the express bus during non-rush hours.

References & Calculations

r. 29 mins King Count Transit 194 Express bus schedule, 2008

s. 38 mins SeaTac to Westlake, Link weekday schedule, effective Sept 26, 2015 - Mar 25, 2016

Light Rail Reduces Passenger Comfort

While Sound Transit presents light rail as the comfortable alternative to buses the facts are that the ST Express buses are much more comfortable with reclining high backed seats than the hard backed rail car seats.

References & Calculations

r. 29 mins King Count Transit 194 Express bus schedule, 2008

s. 38 mins SeaTac to Westlake, Link weekday schedule, effective Sept 26, 2015 - Mar 25, 2016