the 34-mile Sounder north line, which links Seattle to Everett, is costing much more and being used far less than anybody expected. It was originally proposed as a six-train commuter service, on the existing Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway tracks, with six stops. But as costs shot up to $368 million from a projected $132 million, the agency cut back to four trains and four stations. About 1,100 riders use the line every weekday, far below the original forecast of 2,400–3,200 riders, for an average cost of $330,000 per rider.
And than this.........
By contrast, the Sounder south route, from Seattle to Tacoma, cost $55,000 per average weekday rider$135,000 per rider for its new commuter line.
To be sure, unforeseen circumstances, including the recent recession, have contributed to reduced ridership and lower revenues, but poor negotiations are also part of the problem. Sound Transit originally estimated it would have to pay $65 million to use BNSF’s right-of-way for the Seattle-Everett route. The agency ended up paying $258 million for those rights. /q>
Sound Transit states that they have no thoughts of shutting down the Money Pit that is the North line. That the people there want it. And they have started a marketing campaign to increase ridership.
Idiots
Ed
Seattle-Everett Sounder was really done badly. They have four trains per day in each direction, only at peak times and all way too early (last train inbound leaves Everett at 7:15 AM and last train outbound leaves Seattle at 5:35 PM—IOW, the trains aren’t any use to anybody). And that’s aside from the ridiculous $10.8 million per mile for an existing railroad.