Fare gates coming to Capitol Hill Station in $87M Sound Transit pilot

LA Metro installed new fare gates last year

Fare gates will greet riders at Capitol Hill Station by 2029 or 2030, following a vote by the Sound Transit board.

The changes will be part of an $87 million pilot program to install fare gates across 14 stations on the 1 Line and 2 Line.

The vote marks a major philosophical shift for Sound Transit where officials held for years that the cost of installing and maintaining a fare gate system would exceed revenue. Currently, Sound Transit operates under an open proof-of-payment structure across its 60-mile, 50-station network, maintaining a systemwide farebox recovery of around 11% to 14% — about half its goal.

Now, Sound Transit says, expansion, massively high rates of fare evasion, and some new math add up to a new equation.

“A new implementation study (PDF) published earlier this year determined that fare gates make financial sense now that the Link system has expanded,” the Sound Transit announcement reads. “Specifically, estimates show a breakeven point for capital and operational expenses at around two to three years after fare gate implementation.”

Sound Transit says gates have the potential “to significantly increase fare compliance rates and fare revenues.”

The change also comes amid continued public safety concerns around the system’s trains and open-access platforms.

The stations planned to be part of the fare gate pilot

Capitol Hill is one of nine core tunnel and high-traffic stations selected for the pilot, alongside International District/Chinatown, Pioneer Square, Symphony, Westlake, University of Washington, U District, Roosevelt, and Northgate. Five additional stations –SeaTac/Airport, Bellevue Downtown, Lynnwood City Center, Downtown Redmond, and Federal Way Downtown — will also receive gates.

Despite what your libertarian neighbor might think, no major urban transit system has 100% farebox recovery as a goal. A 22% farebox recovery goal means Sound Transit only expects fare revenue to cover 22 cents of every dollar spent on day-to-day light rail operations — the remaining 78% is subsidized by local taxes.

The fare gates pilot could provide the agency a path to finally meeting its mark.

The approval of the pilot comes in a whirlwind year of changed plans for Sound Transit. Earlier this year, the board approved a major package of deferrals and cuts to address a projected $34.5 billion shortfall. The new financial outlook would have Sound Transit on track for expansion to West Seattle by 2032 and Ballard by 2042.

Meanwhile, light rail has now reached the Central District as Judkins Park Station celebrated its grand opening in March, part of a full transformation into a two-line system — the original 1 Line serving the city and its north-south neighbors, and now the added 2 Line connecting Seattle to Bellevue and Redmond on the world’s first light rail on a floating bridge.

The system has seen a major jump in ridership with the expansion including Capitol Hill Station where boardings have settled around 11,000 per day — about 40% above pre-pandemic levels.

Sound Transit is giving itself a few years to sort out the mechanics and finances of the new fare plan including what kind of gates will be installed.

Some things are known. Under the planned system, Capitol Hill riders must tap ORCA cards and phones at designated entry and exit gates. Other elements including what manufacturer will pick up the contract are still to come.

Sound Transit estimates the $87 million program will reach a financial break-even point within two to three years after deployment. Its models project that the gates will generate between $33 million and $83 million in additional fare revenue per year.

Sound Transit uses a flat-fare system for the Link 1 Line and 2 Line with $3.00 one-way fare for adults, age 19 to 64. Income-qualified riders and seniors board for $1.

The rollout will also adjust on-site personnel duties. Sound Transit projects Fare Ambassadors will reduce enforcement hours by 44% and increase passenger assistance time by 33%.

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