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.[3] The first nine routes and 114 buses began carrying passengers on September 19, 1999.[4][5] In 2024, the system had a ridership of 9,325,400, or about 33,500 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2025.
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.
Routes
Sound Transit Express route 545 serving the Montlake Freeway Station
23 Sound Transit Express bus routes are overseen by the agency.[8] Buses are operated under contract by King County Metro, Pierce Transit and Community Transit (who subcontracts with Transdev).[9] 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 as of September 14, 2024[update] are:[10]
Route
Off-peak service
Weekend service
Start
Via
End
Operator
510
No (use route 512)
No (use route 512)
Downtown Seattle
I-5, South Everett Freeway Station, Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station
Bellevue Transit Center, Totem Lake Freeway Station, Brickyard Freeway Station (reverse peak only), I-405 & NE 195th (reverse peak only), Canyon Park Park & Ride , Ash Way Park & Ride, South Everett Freeway Station
Everett Station
Community Transit
535
Yes
Saturday only
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
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
Yes
Yes
Downtown Seattle
Capitol Hill (select trips), Montlake Freeway Station (closed since 2019),[11] 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
550
Yes
Yes
Mercer Island Park & Ride, South Bellevue Park & Ride, Bellevue, Bellevue Transit Center
Mercer Island Park & Ride, Eastgate Freeway Station, Issaquah Transit Center, Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride
Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride
Redmond (185th Avenue NE & Redmond/Fall City Road, select weekday trips only)
556
No
No
U District Station
University District (Seattle), University of Washington, University of Washington Station, Evergreen Point Freeway Station, Yarrow Point Freeway Station, Bellevue Transit Center, South Bellevue Park & Ride, Eastgate Freeway Station, Issaquah Transit Center
Bellevue Transit Center, Newport Hills Park & Ride (off peak only), Kennydale Freeway Station (off peak only), Renton, Renton Transit Center, Kent Station (select trips), Auburn Park & Ride (select trips)
Kent Station (select trips) Auburn Transit Center
King County Metro
574
Yes
Yes
Sea-Tac Airport
SeaTac/Airport Station, Kent/Des Moines Freeway Station, Star Lake Freeway Station, Federal Way Transit Center, Tacoma Dome Station, SR 512 Park & Ride
SODO Busway, Tacoma Community College Transit Center, Narrows Park & Ride, Kimball Drive Park & Ride
Gig Harbor (Purdy Park & Ride)
596
No
No
Sumner Station
SR 410
Bonney Lake Park & Ride
Fleet
Sound Transit owns a fleet of 360 buses[12] operated by three different local transit agencies. 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. This is due to vehicles having mechanical problems, vehicle allocation issues, and assignment errors.
.jpg)
.jpg){kind=spacer}
.jpg){kind=spacer}
.jpg){kind=spacer}
.jpg){kind=spacer}
.jpg){kind=spacer}
.jpg){kind=spacer}
.jpg){kind=spacer}
.jpg){kind=spacer}
.jpg){kind=spacer}
