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    1. Rail

    Sound Transit required to temporarily reduce peak hour service on Link light rail

    Dec. 7, 2020
    Trains will operate every 12 minutes due to reduced operator availability as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Related To: Sound Transit
    Sound Transit
    Sound Transit 5fce59dceb051

    Sound Transit has had to temporarily reduce peak hour service on Link light rail due to rail operator staffing shortages.

    Beginning Dec. 7, trains run every 12 minutes during peak hours on weekdays. Service during other periods currently remains unchanged.

    Sound Transit says it was recently informed by King County Metro, which operates and maintains Link service under contract, that numerous factors relating to the COVID-19 pandemic are triggering a shortage of operators to operate the service at current frequencies.  Operator shortages were also a challenge when COVID-19 rates spiked back in March.

    In addition, due to reduced operator availability, Tacoma Link, which is operated directly by Sound Transit, will operate on a Sunday schedule on Dec. 12.

    ST Express and Sounder service is not affected at this time.  Sound Transit services are subject to the possibility of further increases or decreases based on staffing levels, future passenger demand and COVID-19 financial impacts.

    Sound Transit says it remains committed to working closely with its partners to continue serving the public. Efforts will continue to prioritize serving riders who depend on Sound Transit's services, including seniors, people with disabilities, Title VI protected populations (race, color, national origin), low-income and limited-English-proficiency populations.