Sound Transit Express (ST 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 (King, Pierce, and Snohomish) 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 and 114 buses began carrying passengers on September 19, 1999. In , the system had a ridership of , or about per weekday as of .

Unlike a typical transit bus service, 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, bus bypass shoulders, and direct access ramps to speed travel times. The enabling legislation for Sound Transit requires the eventual replacement of interim express bus routes with forms of high-capacity transit, including Link light rail and bus rapid transit. As a result, many routes have been truncated or discontinued to accommodate expansions of the regional transit system.

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. There are 240 buses in the system's fleet.

Fares ST Express uses a flat fare system, where each ride costs the same regardless of distance.

The fares are as follows:

Fare type All Adult $3.00 Senior (65+) / Disabled / Medicare(Regional Reduced Fare Permit required) $1.00Low-income(ORCA LIFT card required)$1.00 Youth(6–18 years) Free Children(0–5 years, with fare paying passenger) Free

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.

Sound Transit reduced the base fare to match the Link light rail's flat $3 fare in March 2025.

Routes

25 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:

Route Off-peak service Weekend service Start Via End Operator 510 Downtown Seattle I-5, South Everett Freeway Station, Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station Everett Station

Downtown Everett (select trips only) Community Transit 512 Lynnwood City Center Station Ash Way Park & Ride, South Everett Freeway Station 513 Ash Way Park & Ride Seaway Transit Center 522 Shoreline South/148th Station 145th Street, Lake City Way, Bothell Way NE, Ballinger Way, Kenmore Park & Ride University of Washington, Bothell/Cascadia College

Woodinville Park & Ride (select trips only) King County Metro 532 Downtown Bellevue Bellevue Transit Center, Totem Lake Freeway Station, Canyon Park Park & Ride, Ash Way Park & Ride, South Everett Freeway Station Everett Station Community Transit 535 Bellevue Transit Center, Totem Lake Freeway Station, Brickyard Freeway Station, Bothell Park & Ride, University of Washington, Bothell/Cascadia College, Canyon Park Park & Ride, Alderwood Mall Lynnwood Transit Center 542 U District Station 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 Redmond Redmond Transit Center King County Metro 545 Downtown Seattle Capitol Hill (select trips), Montlake Freeway Station (closed since 2019), Evergreen Point Freeway Station, Yarrow Point Freeway Station, Overlake Transit Center, SR 520 & NE 51st Freeway Station, Downtown Redmond, Redmond Transit Center Bear Creek Park & Ride 547 (night route) Downtown Seattle Mercer Island Station, South Bellevue Station, Bellevue Transit Center, Spring District Station, Redmond Technology Station, Downtown Redmond Station Marymoor Village Station 556 Downtown Bellevue Bellevue Transit Center, South Bellevue Park & Ride, Eastgate Freeway Station, Issaquah Transit Center Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride 560 Bellevue Transit Center Newport Hills Park & Ride, Kennydale Freeway Station, Renton, Renton Transit Center, Sea-Tac Airport, SeaTac/Airport Station, Burien Transit Center Westwood Village Pierce Transit 566 Redmond Technology Station (select trips)

State Route 520 & NE 40th St (select trips) Bellevue Transit Center, Renton, Renton Transit Center, Kent Station (select trips), Auburn Park & Ride (select trips) Kent Station (select trips)

Auburn Transit Center King County Metro 574 Federal Way Downtown Station Tacoma Dome Station, SR 512 Park & Ride Lakewood Transit Center Pierce Transit 577 Downtown Seattle I-5 Federal Way Transit Center 578 Federal Way Transit Center, Auburn Station, Sumner Station Puyallup Station 590 Downtown Seattle SODO Busway, Tacoma Dome Station Tacoma Dome Station

Downtown Tacoma (one early morning trip only) 592 SR 512 Park & Ride, Lakewood Station DuPont Station 594 SODO Busway, Tacoma Dome Station, University of Washington Tacoma, Downtown Tacoma, SR 512 Park & Ride Lakewood Station

DuPont Station (select trips only) 595 SODO Busway, Tacoma Community College Transit Center, Narrows Park & Ride, Kimball Drive Park & Ride Gig Harbor (Purdy Park & Ride) 596 Sumner Station SR 410 Bonney Lake Park & Ride 597 (night route) Downtown Seattle Tukwila International Boulevard Station, SeaTac/Airport Station, Federal Way Downtown Station, Tacoma Dome Station Lakewood Station

Fleet

Sound Transit owns a fleet of 240 buses operated by three different local transit agencies: Community Transit, King County Metro, and Pierce Transit. These buses are maintained at the respective bases for the agencies in Everett, Bellevue, and Lakewood. The fleet includes articulated, double-decker, and high-floor coach buses. 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.

References

External links

ST Express Rider Guide