Sound Transit's Bold New Idea: Making Riders Pay
On Aug. 27, the Sound Transit Board is expected to vote on a pilot project to install fare gates at the 14 busiest light rail stations. Sound Transit light rail has never had a gate. The most optimistic estimate is that only 63% of riders pay — and Sound Transit workers say the real number is far lower.
Estimated new revenue: $30 million a year. Cost to install: $80–$90 million. Payback period: about three years. Charlie Harger on why the "mean" idea is really just what every other transit system in the country already does.
Listen to Seattle's Morning News w/ Charlie Harger and Manda Factor every weekday at 5am on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM or go to MyNorthwest.com to learn more!
