Seattle Public Transportation
Get Going: Public Transportation in Seattle
With its location between Lake Washington and the Puget Sound, Seattle offers many public transportation options, including ferries, a monorail and electric street cars. A well-planned transportation system makes it possible for locals and tourists to move throughout Seattle and its surrounding areas without driving or owning vehicles.
A Brief History of Seattle Public Transit
Public transportation began in 1858 in Seattle with steamboat service between Seattle and towns located across Lake Union, Lake Washington and the Puget Sound. The number of steamships traveling the waterways in this area became so numerous that the boats were nicknamed the Mosquito Fleet.
In the many decades since then, Seattle has often been seen as a leader in providing effective public transportation. The city began operating the first electric streetcars west of the Mississippi in 1889 and started the nation’s first vanpool program in 1979. In the near future, it plans to expand light rail service.
Public Transportation in Seattle Today
The Seattle and Central Puget Sound areas have three main transit providers: King County Metro Transit, Community Transit and Sound Transit.
Seattle By Bus
Through the cooperation of area transportation providers, bus service is readily available throughout Seattle and the Central Puget Sound area, including Snohomish and Pierce counties.
Downtown Seattle is a ride free zone, which means that no fare is required for people traveling by bus to destinations within the central business district. Bus stops within the district are clearly marked as ride free and drivers announce when a bus is leaving the ride free area.
Metro Transit’s website offers tools such as commuter trip planners and point-to-point schedules, and includes routes and connections in King County, Snohomish County (Community Transit) and Pierce County (Pierce Transit).
Bike racks are available on buses operated by Metro Transit, which serves Seattle and King County. Bicycles may be loaded or unloaded at all bus stops except during peak hours in the ride free zones. This restriction is for protection and safety of bicyclists.
Seattle By Monorail
Another option for getting around downtown Seattle is the city’s historic monorail, which is the first full-scale monorail system in the United States. The Seattle monorail is located at the site of the 1962 World’s Fair and the Space Needle, a city landmark. It operates daily with departures from Seattle Center across from the Space Needle and from Westlake Center Mall, which is located at Fifth and Pine streets. Each one-mile trip takes two minutes.
For more information about the monorail, go to SeattleMonorail.com.
Seattle By Ferry
The Washington State Ferries system serves Seattle and eight counties in the greater Puget Sound region. People can use the ferry system to reach their final destination by foot, bicycle, motorcycle or car.
Ferries operate from the Colman Dock (Pier 52) and from Pier 50 just to the south, to destinations including Bainbridge Island, Bremerton and Vashon Island. By connecting you can also reach other destinations along Puget Sound. The Washington State ferries to Bainbridge Island and Bremerton take both cars and people traveling by foot.
The Vashon Island ferry is for walk-on passengers only and offers two trips during the morning and evening commutes. It is operated by the King County Ferry District, which also plans to add five demonstration routes to link Seattle to communities along the Puget Sound.
Another ferry option is the Elliott Bay Water Taxi, which operates from April to October, seven days a week. It provides service between West Seattle and downtown. Year-round service of the Elliot Bay Water Taxi is scheduled to begin in 2010 as part of an effort to increase passenger-only ferry service.
Seattle By Commuter Rail
Sounder Commuter Rail, operated by Sound Transit, is a commuter rail line that operates on weekdays between Everett and Seattle, and Tacoma and Seattle. A limited weekend service is offered to select events such as Mariners and Seahawks games.
Seattle By Light Rail
Light rail is scheduled to begin operating in summer 2009 to connect downtown Seattle with the Seattle-Tacoma Airport by way of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel. Sound Transit light rail trains will join Metro buses in the tunnel. Sound Transit already runs a light rail system in Tacoma.
Seattle By Streetcar
Streetcars are vehicles that run on rails but do not require an isolated corridor of their own, which makes it easier for them to share the road with bicycles, buses or cars. Seattle offers several street car options. The South Lake Union Line runs between the South Lake Union neighborhood to downtown Seattle and connects to other public transit systems.
The George Benson Line Waterfront Streetcar, a vintage trolley service, has been temporarily suspended while improvements are made to downtown Seattle's north waterfront area. In the meantime, bus service is available in the area.
Seattle By Train
Three Amtrak routes serve Seattle out of the King Street Station in downtown Seattle:
- The Cascades route connecting Vancouver, British Columbia and Seattle
- The Coast Starlight running between Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon and Seattle
- The Empire Builder running between Chicago, St. Paul, Minnesota and Seattle.