Seattle Light Rail and Scootershare Smash Ridership Records, Buoyed by Friday World Cup Match
Sound Transit set a new highwater mark for Link light rail ridership on Friday, June 19, as Seattle hosted a World Cup soccer match between United States and Australia. Collecting an estimated 280,000 boardings, Link smashed its previous record of 220,000 light rail rides set earlier this year during the Seahawks Superbowl victory parade. Micromobility usage in the city also soared to previously unseen heights on the same day.
“Friday was a momentous day for Sound Transit, with the highest ridership in our agency history,” Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine said in a statement. “We operated at peak service well into the evening on a day our region proudly hosted both a World Cup match and a highly attended Mariners game. As our region welcomed fans from around the world, we helped ensure they got to and from games safely. I’m grateful to all our employees and partners who made this record-setting day possible.”
Meanwhile, King County Metro is touting a combined 1.1 million boardings across the two FIFA match days so far, including record ridership on the county's two water taxi routes.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson also celebrated the energy in the air and on the rails in the city and hinted at the case for further investment in transit. Wilson recently proposed doubling the size of the Seattle Transit Measure, which boosts King County Metro bus service in the city. With Seattle City Council approval, the measure will go to voters this fall.
https://www.theurbanist.org/seattle-light-rail-and-scootershare-smash-ridership-records-buoyed-by-friday-world-cup-match/