Sounder North train running mostly empty

The Sounder commuter train between Seattle and Everett has failed to meet rider goals, traveling its waterfront route about one-third full.

The trains carry about 1,100 passengers each day, far below the initial projections of 2,400 to 3,200. Each trip requires $29 in operating subsidies, according to a report from a citizens oversight panel. Farebox recovery pays just 11 percent of the cost of each passenger trip.

Kimberly Reason, a spokesperson for Sound Transit, admits ridership on the Sounder North train has been a challenge. But she says community residents continue to say they want the service.

“We had a survey this year that validated the fact that people want Sounder in their community,” Reason told KIRO Radio’s Ross and Burbank Show.

Reason says the service provides a very efficient way to travel from Everett, Mukilteo, and Edmonds to downtown Seattle, but more needs to be done to reach out to potential riders.

“We do need to invest more into getting riders aware of the line and how can we coax them,” says Reason.

While the Sounder train runs far below capacity, the report notes that the much lower-cost ST Express bus routes run overloaded.

The citizens’ panel suggests Sound Transit step up marketing of the Sounder train with a goal of doubling ridership by 2020.

More possible solutions to help ridership include adding parking and housing near train stations and synchronizing train trips with ferry dockings.

Reason says the topography of the coastline around the train has limited parking available at stations.

“We need to explore what else we can do in order to make it easy to get to the station and actually utilize the service.”

She says they’d like to avoid cuts to service, because fewer trains running makes the service even less attractive.

“The reason why train service is attractive is because you know every day there is going to be a set number of trains operating on the line, if you have fewer trains for me to take, you limit my options,” says Reason.

Exploring alternatives like improving parking, and bike and pedestrian access, are better first places to start she says.

The Sound Transit Board will have until the end of the month to respond to the report.

Meanwhile, Sounder commuter train service was delayed Tuesday morning after a semi-truck collided with the a train near the Edmonds ferry terminal.

No injuries were reported, but Sounder service in the area was delayed.