Sound Transit has expanded its Link light rail and Sounder train services, offering new transportation options for residents attending professional sports games and other events at Lumen Field in Seattle. This expansion includes the recent Link light rail extension to Federal Way, which now connects Federal Way residents to the broader transit system leading to downtown Seattle destinations.
The Link light rail now provides service to Lumen Field from the Eastside, and coupled with extensions such as the one in Federal Way, more travelers can reach events without confronting traffic, parking challenges, or fuel costs. For Federal Way residents, the Link light rail service directly links to downtown Seattle stations, providing a new way to access the stadium district. On the Eastside, the South Bellevue Station, which includes a 1,500-stall park-and-ride garage, serves as a primary hub before trains cross Lake Washington into Seattle. Sound Transit noted that this garage, along with the large park-and-ride at Marymoor Village, tends to fill up before event kickoffs.
Sound Transit reported significant increases in ridership at South Bellevue Station during recent event days. On Wednesday, September 9, the opening night of the season, nearly 5,000 riders used the station, representing a 52% increase over the prior week's baseline. On Sunday, October 4, ridership at South Bellevue reached 3,655, a 156% increase compared to an average Sunday without professional sports games in Seattle. The following Sunday, October 11, saw 3,515 riders, marking a 146% increase over the average non-sports Sunday.
In addition to light rail, Sound Transit has increased its Sounder train service for Sunday day games. An additional train has been added from both the north, starting in Everett, and the south, originating in Tacoma/Lakewood. These Sounder trains conclude their routes at King Street Station, located adjacent to Lumen Field. For those traveling from the south, this increased service offers more options to reach events. After games, North Line trains to Everett depart King Street Station 20 and 45 minutes after the event concludes, while South Line trains to Tacoma and Lakewood depart approximately 10, 20, and 45 minutes after the game ends. The first two South Line trains will depart once they are full. Sound Transit stated this additional service responds to customer demand and restores gameday Sounder service to pre-pandemic levels. More than 3,000 people are currently using the five Sounder round-trip trains provided for each Sunday game.
For more information on parking options across its system, including Link, Sounder, and ST Express, Sound Transit provides details on its website. The site allows users to filter park-and-ride lots by city or by train/bus line and also shows connections for those preferring to use transit directly to light rail instead of searching for parking. Sound Transit also offers tips for riders on crowded trains and platforms, advising travelers to spread out on platforms, use train cars away from main entryways, avoid crowding or blocking doors, and be patient, allowing others to exit before boarding.
