Seattle's Newest Light Rail Extension is OPEN!

[@senorspahrtan]

Love seeing content about my home town light rail! Seattle was WAYYYY behind the curve with Link, but is making up for lost time with continued updates and great service.

[@TheFourFoot]

Yes, they certainly are!

[@Noah-lj4rz]

least you're city has light rail

[@anthonybanchero3072]

We’ve learned from Portland mistakes, and some of our own. The new bus hub at Northgate has one of the closest connections with LINK yet.

[@TransitAndTeslas]

Phoenix is behind with light rail and their expansions can’t come fast enough as well!

[@carolmiller5713]

@@anthonybanchero3072 As a "pedestrian" in Seattle for 6 years I found most of the connections very good but there were a few areas. The smartest connection is to/from Sea-Tac.

[@guinessbeer]

Those new light rail trains look nice and modern! Love the lights on the doors. Seattle has to be one of the few cities in the US doing transit right. Those underground stations look like something out of Asia or new systems in Europe!

[@TheFourFoot]

Absolutely! The new trains are indeed very nice! It was nice to see the new stations which were indeed beautiful, but I was blown away by the East Link project. Having never been to Seattle before, it was hard to get a sense of the system just by reading about it, but Line 2 is going to be an absolute game changer! In a couple years, Seattle is going to have a truly wonderful network.

[@jarheadmstr]

@@TheFourFoot when does that video release

[@TheFourFoot]

“Soon” lol

[@jarheadmstr]

@@TheFourFoot Letss gooo

[@fuckheinschitt239]

Not all Asian countries have that kind of stations. I'm Asian.

[@syrax101]

I love the Seattle Lightrail! The moment they build the lightrail in Bellevue, I’m back over there lol

[@ErelH]

Great to see Seattle extending it's network, and the future extensions as well. It seems they're doing transit better than almost anyone in North America. Those new trains are beautiful as well!

[@TheFourFoot]

Most definitely!

[@coyoteprophet9734]

They learnt from Portland Oregon.

[@ErelH]

@@coyoteprophet9734 Portland has a great network but they really need to update their rolling stock

[@davidpost428]

No where near what they have done in Canada !

[@sekirokai6953]

@@coyoteprophet9734 and Los Angeles.

[@joelhurtado3652]

RM transit brought me here and I'm not disappointed.

[@TheFourFoot]

Thanks a lot!

[@chrischampagne9469]

Same.

[@santoeneokeke633]

Same

[@davidpost428]

Took the light rail from Northgate Station on the secind mornng of operation with thousands of others to see the final Mariner game of the season, getting off at Stadium Station, just a 20 minute ride. Four very long twice-articulated cars in three sections in each train. Trains were immaculate and very helpful employees to show us how to pay. It cost $5.50 round trip and I got on the first packed train each way. Saved $30 in parking plus the long wait to get into the parking garage and out. This is how I will go to games in future!

[@carolmiller5713]

I've been on light rail a few times before/after sports events & it was pretty fun - party train!

[@algalkin]

As someone who's from Europe and living in Seattle, its like USA is finally getting all the good stuff Europe has knows for ages. Public transportation is a bliss AND a true freedom and I'm happy Americans finally are realizing it.

[@carolmiller5713]

The voters in WA state wisely choose light rail vs more freeways & cars. I'm happy to see this extension open just in time for my trip from Sea-Tac airport to Northgate. Transit time? 1 hour! Hard to do that in rush hour! 🥳

[@IndustrialParrot2816]

i would to see our heavy rail system get more funding and see some F125 locomotives like they use on metrolink in california

[@xenon787]

Man, I was living in Capitol Hill two blocks from the UW Link extension when that was under construction ten years ago. It's amazing to now see the Lynnwood and Federal Way expansions under construction. Seattle certainly has made up for last time with its rail system.

[@ahrenmartin3524]

I am from Seattle, and I love the light rail.

[@coyoteprophet9734]

About time! And to think it could have been completed 20+ years ago!

[@林嫣-q4n]

The avatar is very interesting.

[@carolmiller5713]

Meanwhile, in LA, where I used to live, they just keep adding another lane to the freeway...

[@carolmiller5713]

Except the equipment & technology is much better now.

[@林嫣-q4n]

@@carolmiller5713 Can you communicate?

[@tangerinejaja3108]

It makes me so happy to see our city has decent public transport. I hope they continue to expand on it. After moving back from six months in London I am glad to see we have something to show for ourselves hahaha

[@jimpern]

Good for Seattle for getting this extension finished in surprisingly quick time. Not mentioned is the fact that the Northgate station also provides access to the nearby Northgate Mall shopping center, one of Seattle's largest. Having lived in Lynnwood, I'll be very interested when that extension opens.

[@kaukospots]

It wasn't mentioned because the mall no longer exists, it's mostly been half torn down already and is being replaced with an NHL practice arena, as well as a few apartment buildings and a new walkable area to replace all the parking lot the mall took up. The north and south ends are about all that's left (businesses still in place)

[@carolmiller5713]

They started building as soon as voters passed the money since the construction materials & equipment were already in place, cutting down costs as well, so each extension (I read) can go further for same $ as the first line..

[@Cheratomo]

Please keep doing videos on Seattle! I’m so enthusiastic about the developments here, it’s great to see you cover them!

[@TheFourFoot]

I definitely will!

[@kenmunozatmmrrailroad6853]

My daughter and I took a road trip to Seattle from Southern California and really enjoyed car free Seattle using light rail from a hotel opposite the airport for the entire week. I would recommend anyone doing Seattle to leave your car and enjoy with public transportation and light rail- it’s the best way to experience the city.

[@TheFourFoot]

That's awesome, and I totally agree!

[@IndustrialParrot2816]

i live in seattle i don't even have a drivers license

[@grimey78]

i live in the northern suburbs of seattle and i use this station everyday to go into my job in seattle i couldn't imagine my commute without it

[@jeffreyhare5695]

As usual your video has not disappointed. Love how clean and modern everything looks. Unfortunately for us near Louisville, KY, a repub (what else) nixed light rail from U of L to Mohammed Ali Airport and then across the Ohio river. Thank you for not caring Ann Northrup.

[@TheFourFoot]

Oh I feel you. It’s gonna be a long time before I can visit the opening of even 1 light rail station in my hometown lol

[@PNWElevatorAviation]

Aye!! I live in Portland which is only 3 Hours away and I'm moving up there next fall!!

[@Adventuregirl96]

I love the Link and use it whenever I can. Hopefully they will expand it quickly so it will be more accessible to more people.

[@thj1199]

I was living in u-district this summer and I really wish this extension had opened just a little earlier, but great to see that it is operational now!

[@TheFourFoot]

I can imagine how annoying that would have been lol

[@rwgrab]

Great video! Rode the first southbound train from Northgate at 4:51 and transferred to the first northbound train at the U-District (even found myself waiting on the platform from your footage:) ) Really enjoy your content; appreciate your covering the Link light rail extension and hope you had a nice visit.

[@TheFourFoot]

That’s awesome! I should have definitely started from Northgate, but I still enjoyed it! And yes, I definitely enjoyed my trip to Seattle!

[@anthonybanchero3072]

Rode later in the day, nobody was using it as it was too crowded. Actually, I think they did a good job with the opening. Didn’t hurt that the Mariners had a sell out for a change.

[@alejandrodelacerda5164]

You are awesome! You have the most comprehensive videos on public transit I've seen. Keep up the great work! I'm in Phoenix and there's some extensions to our light rail being built, I would love to see a video on that if you ever get the chance to come here :) I notice Phoenix is generally not covered that much by channels covering public transit. Thank you again for all you do!

[@TheFourFoot]

Been there, done that, I just need to edit the videos lol. I’d been to Phoenix before this summer when I filmed, but driving the length of the existing light rail line really hammered the point home to me that Phoenix is absolutely massive lol.

[@darkwing11]

Seattle’s light rail system was already very good the last time I was there in 2018. It will only get better once Redmond gets connected.

[@mwww12310]

Greetings from Sydney. Really enjoyed this video!

[@TheFourFoot]

Thanks a lot!

[@goblin-king5582]

Woo woo, waiting on that Eastside Link in 2023.

[@Abdulis2cool]

Man this guy is dedicated! How can you possibly fly so many places to bring us footage? Thanks for what you do :)

[@TheFourFoot]

Lol, well I don’t have many other hobbies…

[@MarloSoBalJr]

@@TheFourFoot I hear that!

[@AA_8184_1]

Another great video! Great to see progress in Seattle!

[@TheFourFoot]

Thanks a lot! It certainly is!

[@kanazef]

Look good, congrats seattle. im from indonesia, great video bro. 👍

[@TheFourFoot]

Thanks a lot!

[@modigabdi503]

Thanks for your visit.

[@austinwong7023]

1:01 - You mean mean "Westlake"? lol 2:53/3:38 - Us locals usually say "rose-a-velt" not "roos-a-velt". Like the 26th and 32nd presidents.

[@leiag201]

I LOVE the new U district station, just a stones throw from where I live

[@bonitaextra6904]

Minus the tunnel segment, the soon to be open Mid Coast LRT San Diego trolley extension is similar with at grade and areal structures serving UC San Diego.

[@yegfreethinker]

Siemens makes damn fine trains we use them here in Edmonton too, on two interconnected lines.

[@lesliengo8347]

I would love to try riding on one of these light rail trams one day. Although I live north of the border, I appreciate that there are cities that are building for people and not for cars, and I enjoy riding elevated rail trams

[@davidhudson2527]

The pedestrian bridge built over Interstate 5 at Northgate is named the John Lewis Memorial Bridge. Named after the late congressman, civil rights activist and pioneer John Lewis. 🙏🏾

[@TheFourFoot]

I definitely should have mentioned that!

[@denniswilken5087]

LOOKS GREAT TOO BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF HEAVY TRAFFIC.

[@dha6232]

Quality over quantity! I always look forward to what you produce.

[@林嫣-q4n]

You are an old fan of his, aren't you?

[@MarloSoBalJr]

I plan to head to Seattle by 2024. Hopefully by that time, Line 2 and both of Line 1's extensions would be completed

[@chrischampagne9469]

Line 2 will be open in 2023. Not sure when exactly in 2024 the extensions will open.

[@brianmccarty2636]

Funny,I drive by the Northgate station every day and had no idea the train went underground and that there were underground stations there lol.

[@TheFourFoot]

Nice lol

[@iamzuckerburger]

Thanks for the cool videos John!

[@MrLukealbanese]

Wow, lovely job!!

[@TheFourFoot]

Thank you!

[@林嫣-q4n]

What is your job?

[@mimisam18]

Thank you!

[@maxtransit3526]

>Be John >Live in Nebraska >Go to Seattle for the first time >Only visit to see the opening of the Link's LRT I better see you in Massachusetts when Union Square opens in Sommerville, John! Other than that, great video man! You never cease to amaze me!

[@TheFourFoot]

There comes a point in every foamers life where the golden spike tower just doesn’t do it for em anymore lol. I can assure you that I won’t be there for the union square branch….the tufts branch, however… lol

[@maxtransit3526]

@@TheFourFoot You got a point there hahaha. Well I hope to meet up with you at Tufts if not earlier!

[@TheFourFoot]

For sure!

[@ayindestevens6152]

@@TheFourFoot “Golden Spike Tower?”

[@TheFourFoot]

In North Platte, Nebraska. It’s an elevated observatory at Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard.

[@kellybrown8638]

Hello from Portland, Oregon where we have had a functional regional light rail system for THIRTY YEARS

[@glenpower1677]

RM transit also brought me to this link. Love it.

[@TheFourFoot]

Thanks a lot! There’s a lot more to come!

[@The1Justin3co]

The Roosevelt station is actually in the heart of the Roosevelt neighborhood, not just nearby as stated in the video

[@ashtonlambert7673]

It’s crazy it took em so long. Even Atlanta Georgia had a full running heavy rail system by the late 70s-80s

[@josephsmith1858]

Finally!

[@henryostman5740]

Light Rail??? Mostly built in tunnels (used to be called subways or underground) or on high trestles (els???). Seems also to have a lot of high level platforms. I bet the price was north of a hundred million a track mile. Seems like a metro to me.

[@drscopeify]

Thanks for filming it I was not aware it already opened. The line to the east subrubs is well underway, I have been seeing it built as I drive to do shopping in the area from further out, the line runs down the middle of i90 so easy to see the progress. Most of the people using the light rail travel to the university or the airport so the new station you visited is critical for that role. In terms of actually commuting to work though, it is going well but mostly trying to get people in to Seattle for now, while most people actually commute between subrubs and not to Seattle so lots more work to be done. Major suburbs like Renton, Bothell, Issaquah are only set for stations in to the 2030s-2040s and other major suburbs have no plans for now like Auburn, Maple Valley, North Bend, Arlington, Monroe, Snohomish, Enumclaw, Bonny Lake and so on. I can see that changing but anything past 2050 is pretty wild thinking about it since that will be for the next generation.

[@KrishnaDasLessons]

The transit-oriented development near Seattle's light rail stations seems incredibly nice compared to the subpar transit-oriented development near suburban BART stations.

[@TheFourFoot]

Can’t argue with that, but real estate in Seattle is like, kind of expensive lol

[@anthonybanchero3072]

@@TheFourFoot Driving up costs.Sound Transit re-used some of the staging areas from the first phase for later phases of construction.

[@darthmaul216]

Love this

[@parasshah6241]

Just watched RM's video and saw your notification .👍🏻

[@TheFourFoot]

Nice!

[@analienmango8756]

4:02 Link is kinda infamous for having broken escalators.

[@TheFourFoot]

Let’s hope that’s the only aspect from WMATA that they try and emulate lol

[@analienmango8756]

@@TheFourFoot lol

[@S-CB-SL-Animations]

@@TheFourFoot Now that would be amazing for WMATA to have the Neon Light Rails on the escalators.

[@ohioweatherguy]

@@TheFourFoot Haha! I also immediately thought of WMATA when I first saw photos/video of the Link broken escalator on opening day (I lived in DC for 7 years and experienced more than my fair share of consistently broken/inoperable escalators... though I was someone who preferred walking up/down rather than riding them so in reality it wasn't an impediment for me unless they actually had it blocked off).

[@TheFourFoot]

Lol nice. If escalators are that problematic I’d say someone needs to invent a better design…

[@drivers99]

Did you check out the classic monorail while you were there? This makes me miss Seattle. One of the reasons I didn't mind leaving was traffic, but they hadn't built any light rail yet when I left.

[@TheFourFoot]

I didn’t have time to explore the monorail, not that I didn’t want to! Yeah that traffic is still horrible lol. I’m sure it was even worse with the Alaskan way viaduct and no light rail, though!

[@chrischampagne9469]

The monorail has actually been closed for a month of construction and will reopen this weekend. They are making major improvements to the stations.

[@TheFourFoot]

Dang, that would have made a good video lol

[@1jsaid647]

Keep it up thank you 🙏

[@ChariotManGaming85]

Seattle Light Rail Sound Transit is freaking Legit from what I'm seeing. Unlike our trains here in NYC MTA Transit. Oh yeah I forget our trains go everywhere Lol. And it's cheaper.

[@metrofilmer8894]

True although New York has more than 10.6 times as many people than Seattle with areas 1 square mile large with nearly as many people as the whole city of Seattle.

[@etunimi1208]

Congrats on a million views on your channel!

[@TheFourFoot]

Thanks!

[@PJ_Bottoms]

cant wait for the day i can get on a light rail in everett and end up at seatac airport :D.....will be about another 15 years but the day will be here lol.

[@TheFourFoot]

I'm sure it will be exciting! lol

[@thebrownguy79]

The Everett extension is what I’m eager see if it ever comes to true.

[@TheFourFoot]

Absolutely!

[@Zergcerebrates]

Wow new trains.

[@busmanchronicles6341]

Great Video 👍

[@dang5297]

Washington is such a beautiful state. Sucks its filled with terrible drivers :(

[@darthmaul216]

That’s the Californians

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

Correction: The University Link opened on March 19, 2016, but the Angle Lake station & extension opened on September 24, 2016

[@TheFourFoot]

My apologies! Lol Thank you for correcting me!

[@teamhodge6226]

I can't believe the stations don't have a safety barrier between the train and the platforms like other countries do. WTH?

[@darthmaul216]

Because we are clearly smarter and know to not walk on the rails

[@road2stamfordbridge]

That ARTIC phone wallpaper thoooo

[@James_Fitz]

Are there any bathrooms?

[@TheFourFoot]

not that I know of, unfortunately.

[@lewiss.3786]

At the Northgate station, yes.

[@MrCubsfan3]

Awesome video! Are the drone shots yours?!

[@TheFourFoot]

Yes lol. I filmed the entirety of the east link and Northgate extensions with my drone!

[@sebastianburgess3122]

Nice (partial) under-ground Tram You have there.......(a UK TrainSpotter)

[@warrenwilson4818]

Hello from St. Joseph, MO. Hey! Today is also 10-4-21. Love construction videos. More maps, please.

[@rosc2022]

Nice. Wish one could feel safe going into Seattle. ☹

[@darthmaul216]

I feel safe

[@MrSquareart]

Very very nice video!!!!!!!!

[@TheFourFoot]

Thank you VERY much!

[@calendarpage]

Boy, that would have made life so much easier for me when I commuted from Northgate to the U District! I stood at that Northgate park & ride many a day. It's amazing to see light rail up and running in Seattle. I'm not a fan of those deep stations, though. I used to work near the Dupont Circle station in DC. The escalator would go out and that was a loooong, and maybe not so safe, walk up or down those stairs. Frequently, the elevator would be out as well, so you were stuck. I see the 1st day of operation and they can't keep the escalator working; for me, not a good sign.

[@cftvnetwork]

The two D.C. Metro stations with the longest escalators: Dupont Circle and Wheaton.

[@hamstersmailman5517]

Epic!!

[@YoungPatriot-cz1sq]

Fully Completion date?

[@floccgotti7095]

Looks like the BART in the bay

[@cjwsk12]

when did this open!?!

[@arnoldjones2435]

Makes me want to move back to Seattle. I wish Denver’s light raid was this effective.

[@javierbarrero71]

The light rail here isn't that effective. There is only one line and the stops are mostly in awkward locations i.e. Capitol Hill station is not well placed.

[@guinessbeer]

@@javierbarrero71 Capitol Hill station is in the middle of Capitol Hill on Broadway. The main thoroughfare that runs across Capitol Hill. Where else would you put it?

[@javierbarrero71]

@@guinessbeer How about in between pike and pine and not on the north side of Anderson park. It takes me almost 20 min to walk to the station and I am just south of union.

[@javierbarrero71]

And Capitol Hill is a large neighborhood and it literally has ONE stop. Just one. It's not well designed.

[@KrishnaAdettiwar]

@@javierbarrero71 it should only have one stop. There are 4 stops all around Capitol Hill which already slow down the average speed of the train. If they added 2-3 stops per “large” neighborhood, the train would get so slow to get anywhere that no one would ever use it

[@dlivex9492]

Where is this from ?

[@TheFourFoot]

Seattle?

[@Improj69]

Are you gonna be in Boston when GLX opens?

[@TheFourFoot]

Definitely not the union square branch, but I would sure love to ride the Medford branch when it opens!

[@ClintonStClair]

go seattle go.

[@ChariotManGaming85]

NYC MTA Transit still the best!

[@ES-hr6vg]

Is your phone background the Anaheim Artic station?

[@TheFourFoot]

Yes lol

[@ES-hr6vg]

@@TheFourFoot I took the same pic after an Angels game.

[@sak1339]

Is there a West Seattle link or station?

[@cadkoger]

Not until the 2030s. West Seattle was approved as part of Sound Transit 3, but work on all that won't fully commence until Sound Transit 2 projects complete. And they will need to bore a new tunnel downtown.

[@williamcondon7729]

Can you do something on why the Tacoma link is a different platform than the central link. When they make the connection to Tacoma Dome people will have to transfer.

[@amfm889]

That's because Tacoma Link is a streetcar, while "regular" Link is light rail. Two entirely different systems and vehicles.

[@chrischampagne9469]

Sound Transit didn't want Tacoma to feel left out, since they also pay taxes for the Link. So they gave Tacoma a streetcar and called it Link.

[@himbourbanist]

Seattle going with Light Rail is definitely...odd. I really think that a full heavy metro closer in design to the DC Metro would have really future proofed the system but it could be worse without a doubt. At least the rolling stock they chose is long and fairly fast, but I have a feeling that capacity constraints are going to surface in the coming decades.

[@notyourmama6511]

Well. Here in ottawa Ontario Canada. Our LRT sucks. Flat wheels and screeching wheels and stuck doors and cracked axles and gear boxes following off and. Derailments. Good luck.

[@wilsonedwards5235]

Hope the new stations are NOT using cheap escalators which are constantly down but not repaired. Is anyone making an analysis on the trade off between one-time purchase cost versus continuous repair cost plus penalty on the users?

[@JJR93]

I'm looking forward to the METRO expansion in Montreal, Quebec....to be fully operational in 2024.

[@alexhaowenwong6122]

Seattle is proof positive that even a super NIMBY city can and will see massive densification and mass transit expansion given very high population growth and a rapidly growing economy. Chicago is proof of the opposite--that even a relatively YIMBY city isn't going to see continued urbanization or transit expansion given a poor economy and a stagnant population.

[@TheFourFoot]

Pretty much lol

[@Tsuzyoko]

I don't understand your Chicago example, given that there are so many new skyscrapers and megadevelopments going up around the city, as well as smaller infill development taking the place of parking lots and empty lots in a lot of neighborhoods. I'd argue that the city is certainly getting denser. Chicago could certainly do more to expand its transit network, but the city has done a pretty good job of maintaining its current 110-year-old system (Belmont Flyover, new stations in the works at Damen/Lake and State/Lake, etc.) as well as the proposed Red Line extension.

[@Adelaide_Transit]

Given the ridership do you see a future where FLIRT emu's run on the network rather than siemens s700's?

[@anthonybanchero3072]

I don’t think so. They would have to fit in the existing tunnels. Could see some version of the FLIRT on SOUNDER, perhaps the RENFE Version.

[@daikon711]

without density, it will have low ridership.

[@ldbrown6641]

😎

[@merccadoosis8847]

So good to see urban areas adopting and expanding light rail service. This is a very progressive move on the part of the cities as it promotes business, facilitates local transportation for commuting and shopping purposes, and is cost effective. Bravo to you for a really good video.

[@snoopyloopy]

awesome! but you gotta think of some new names for your patreon tiers...

[@TheFourFoot]

Lol, I chose those because I work on a freight railroad, but yes, I’ll be adding more tiers eventually…

[@jo-annfat-bricks2471]

No problems with a Loud Freeway, Seattleites Do not Converse with one another, they just look at their phones with earbuds in their ears.

[@darthmaul216]

Clearly you haven’t been in Seattle much

[@chromebomb]

Who wants to start a band with me? "Deep Bore Light Rail"

[@Someonesaidthis]

Youre very handsome 😍

[@leokimvideo]

It's sort of sad how generic all the light rails systems are looking around the world now. It's like they are all derived from the same design and country.

[@Freshbott2]

There's only so many best ways to do it

[@alaindumas1824]

I had the opposite impression. These light rail stations are spectacular, and more typical of heavy rail.

[@zeruty]

The light rail is still fudging useless to me but I've had to pay for it since the beginning

[@georgemauer7854]

who are you???

[@TheFourFoot]

Me? Lol

[@stevewells7326]

Incredibly disappointed by the lack of interesting artwork in the 3 new stations.