Sound Transit Express


Sound Transit Express is a network of regional express buses, operated by the multi-county transit agency, Sound Transit. The routes connect major regional hubs throughout 53 cities in three counties in the Puget Sound region. Sound Transit Express ranks first in the nation in the number of commuter bus passengers carried and in vehicle miles driven. The first nine routes began operating in September 1999.
Unlike a typical transit bus, Sound Transit Express routes typically make limited stops as they travel longer distances on the freeways. Most routes operate seven days a week, with runs throughout the day. Where available, buses use transit-only lanes, high-occupancy vehicle lanes, high-occupancy toll lanes, express lanes and direct access ramps to speed travel times.
While Sound Transit oversees, plans, and funds the service, operation and maintenance of the buses is contracted out to Community Transit, King County Metro and Pierce Transit.

Fares

ST Express uses a flat fare system, where each ride costs the same regardless of distance.
The fares are as follows:
Paper transfers are not accepted or issued on Sound Transit routes. Passengers who use ORCA may transfer between ST routes or routes operated by most other agencies within two hours of initial payment. If the fare for the second route is higher, the difference will be charged.

Routes

27 Sound Transit Express bus routes are overseen by the agency. Buses are operated under contract by King County Metro, Pierce Transit and Community Transit. When Sound Transit implements a new bus route, changes are frequently made to existing routes that serve the area to avoid overlapping.
The ST Express routes and operators are as follows:
RouteOff-Peak ServiceWeekend ServiceStartViaEndOperator
508Downtown SeattleI-5Mountlake Terrace Transit CenterCommunity Transit
510Downtown SeattleI-5, South Everett Freeway StationEverett Station
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Downtown Everett 		Community Transit
511Downtown SeattleI-5, Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station, Lynnwood Transit CenterAsh Way Park & RideCommunity Transit
512Downtown SeattleI-5 & NE 45th, I-5 & NE 145th, Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station, Lynnwood Transit Center, Ash Way Park & Ride, South Everett Freeway StationEverett Station
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Downtown Everett 		Community Transit
513Downtown SeattleMountlake Terrace Freeway Station, Eastmont Park & RideSeaway Transit CenterCommunity Transit
522Downtown SeattleLake City Way, Bothell Way NE, Ballinger Way, Kenmore Park & Ride, University of Washington, Bothell/Cascadia CollegeWoodinville Park & RideKing County Metro
532Downtown BellevueBellevue Transit Center, Totem Lake Freeway Station, Brickyard Freeway Station, I-405 & NE 195th, Canyon Park Park & Ride, Ash Way Park & Ride, South Everett Freeway StationEverett StationCommunity Transit
535Downtown BellevueBellevue Transit Center, Totem Lake Freeway Station, Brickyard Freeway Station, Bothell Park & Ride, University of Washington, Bothell/Cascadia College, Canyon Park Park & Ride, Alderwood MallLynnwood Transit CenterCommunity Transit
541University District University of Washington, University of Washington station, Evergreen Point Freeway Station, Yarrow Point Freeway Station, Redmond Technology StationOverlake Park & RideKing County Metro
542Green Lake P&R
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University District 		University of Washington, University of Washington station, Evergreen Point Freeway Station, Yarrow Point Freeway Station, Overlake Transit Center, SR-520 & NE 51st Freeway Station, Downtown RedmondRedmond Transit CenterKing County Metro
544South Lake Union Evergreen Point Freeway Station, Yarrow Point Freeway Station, Redmond Technology StationOverlake Park & RidePierce Transit
545Downtown SeattleCapitol Hill, Montlake Freeway Station, Evergreen Point Freeway Station, Yarrow Point Freeway Station, Overlake Transit Center, SR-520 & NE 51st Freeway Station, Downtown Redmond, Redmond Transit CenterBear Creek Park & RideKing County Metro
550Downtown SeattleMercer Island Park & Ride, South Bellevue Park & Ride, Bellevue, Bellevue Transit CenterBellevue King County Metro
554Downtown SeattleMercer Island Park & Ride, Eastgate Freeway Station, Issaquah Transit Center, Issaquah Highlands Park & RideIssaquah Highlands Park & Ride
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Redmond 		King County Metro
555Northgate Transit CenterMontlake Freeway Station, Evergreen Point Freeway Station, Yarrow Point Freeway StationBellevue Transit CenterKing County Metro
556Northgate Transit CenterUniversity District, University of Washington, University of Washington station, Evergreen Point Freeway Station, Yarrow Point Freeway Station, Bellevue Transit Center, South Bellevue Park & Ride, Eastgate Freeway Station, Issaquah Transit CenterIssaquah Highlands Park & RideKing County Metro
560Bellevue Bellevue Transit Center, Newport Hills Park & Ride, Kennydale Freeway Station, Renton, Renton Transit Center, Sea-Tac Airport, SeaTac/Airport Station, Burien Transit CenterWestwood VillagePierce Transit
566Overlake Transit Center
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Renton Transit Center 		Bellevue Transit Center, Newport Hills Park & Ride, Kennydale Freeway Station, Renton, Renton Transit Center, Kent Station, Auburn Park & RideAuburn StationPierce Transit
567Overlake Transit CenterBellevue Transit CenterKent StationPierce Transit
574Sea-Tac AirportSeaTac/Airport Station, Kent/Des Moines Freeway Station, Star Lake Freeway Station, Federal Way Transit Center, Tacoma Dome Station, SR-512 Park & RideLakewood Transit CenterPierce Transit
577Downtown SeattleI-5Federal Way Transit CenterPierce Transit
578Downtown SeattleFederal Way Transit Center, Auburn Station, Sumner StationPuyallup StationPierce Transit
580Puyallup StationFairground Red Lot, South Hill Park & Ride, SR 512 , I-5/SR 512 Park & Ride South Hill Park & Ride
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Lakewood Station 		Pierce Transit
586University District University of Washington Medical Center, SR-520, I-5Tacoma Dome StationPierce Transit
590Downtown SeattleSODO Busway, Tacoma Dome StationTacoma Dome Station
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Downtown Tacoma 		Pierce Transit
592Downtown SeattleSR-512 Park & Ride, Lakewood StationDuPont StationPierce Transit
594Downtown SeattleSODO Busway, Tacoma Dome Station, University of Washington Tacoma, Downtown Tacoma, SR-512 Park & RideLakewood Station
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DuPont Station 		Pierce Transit
595Downtown SeattleSODO Busway, Tacoma Community College Transit Center, Narrows Park & Ride, Kimball Drive Park & RideGig Harbor Pierce Transit
596Sumner StationSR-410Bonney Lake Park & RidePierce Transit

Fleet

Sound Transit owns a fleet of 360 buses operated by three different local transit agencies. Sound Transit buses are painted white with aqua, turquoise, and blue waves along the sides, representing the Puget Sound region ST Express serves, and most feature a freely-adapted representation of the Sound Transit bus and train system map on the seating fabric.
Occasionally, vehicles that are not in Sound Transit livery are used on Sound Transit routes by the operating agencies. Also, Sound Transit vehicles may also be used by the local agencies for other commuter routes. This is due to vehicles having mechanical problems, vehicle allocation issues, and assignment errors.
Manufacturer and modelImageMotorLengthPassengersPurchasedQtyFleet NumbersOperator
Gillig PhantomCummins ISL40'42 2008229092-9113Pierce Transit
Gillig PhantomCummins ISL40'42 200889114-9121Community Transit
New Flyer D60LFCaterpillar C960'56 2004169537-95529539-9540, 9542-9543, 9545, 9547-9548 and 9550 retired from KCM. Community Transit / Pierce Transit
New Flyer DE60LFCaterpillar C9 / GM-Allison EP5060'56 2004229600-9621King County Metro
New Flyer DE60LFCummins ISL / GM-Allison EP5060'56 200829622-9623King County Metro
New Flyer DE60LFCummins ISL / GM-Allison EP5060'56 2009139624-9636King County Metro
Motor Coach Industries D4500Detroit Diesel Series 60 EGR45'57 2005139700-9712Pierce Transit
Motor Coach Industries D4500CLCummins ISM45'57 200879713-9719Pierce Transit
Motor Coach Industries D4500CLCummins ISM45'57 200939720-9722Pierce Transit
Motor Coach Industries D4500CLCummins ISM45'57 2010179723-9739Pierce Transit
New Flyer D60LFRCummins ISL960'56 2010139553-9565Community Transit
New Flyer D60LFRCummins ISL960'56 2011189566 / 9567-9583Community Transit / King County Metro
New Flyer D60LFRCummins ISL960'56 201139584-9586King County Metro
New Flyer D60LFRCummins ISL960'56 2011109587-9596King County Metro
New Flyer D60LFRCummins ISL960'56 2012149800-9813King County Metro
New Flyer D60LFRCummins ISL960'56 201259818-9822
previously 51214-51218		King County Metro
New Flyer DE60LFRCummins ISL9 / Allison H 50 EP60'56 2010119637-9647King County Metro
New Flyer DE60LFRCummins ISL9 / Allison H 50 EP60'56 201149648-9651King County Metro
Gillig Low Floor BRT HybridCummins ISL9 / Allison H 40 EP40'35 2012229201-9222Pierce Transit
Gillig Low Floor BRTCummins ISL940'35 201229122-9123Pierce Transit
Gillig Low Floor BRTCummins ISL940'35 201539124-9126King County Metro
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60Cummins ISL9 / Allison H 50 EP60'57 201489652-9659King County Metro
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60Cummins ISL9 / Allison H 50 EP60'57 2014761401-61407Pierce Transit
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60Cummins L9 / BAE Systems HybriDrive Series-E60'52 2020319660-9690King County Metro
New Flyer Xcelsior XD60Cummins ISL960'57 201449814-9817King County Metro
New Flyer Xcelsior XD60Cummins ISL960'57 2014351401-51403Pierce Transit
Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMCCummins ISL942'82 2015591501-91505Community Transit
Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMCCummins ISL942'82 20173291701-91732Community Transit
Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMCCummins L942'82 20201391901-91913Community Transit
Gillig Low Floor BRTPlus CNGCummins Westport ISL G40'35 20151741501-41517Pierce Transit
Gillig Low Floor BRTPlus CNGCummins Westport ISL G40'35 2016541601-41605Pierce Transit
Motor Coach Industries D4500CT CNGCummins Westport ISX12 G45'57 2016129301-9312Pierce Transit