Our Vision
Seattle Subway envisions a city and region that is fully connected by fast, reliable high capacity transit; where local travel via a complete, renewably-powered rapid transit system is the best option; and where everyone in Seattle has convenient access to one of America’s foremost transit systems.
Our Mission
We accelerate rapid transit investments by organizing grassroots support for fast, reliable mobility options that reduce car use. Seattle Subway organizes a community of grassroots transit supporters to channel public demand for fast, reliable high capacity transit into tangible accomplishments. We advocate for accelerated rapid transit investments for a connected region to advance projects that reduce car use by providing all people with fast, reliable alternatives.
Who Are We?
We are an all-volunteer, grassroots organization dedicated to promoting high quality transit for Seattle and the Puget Sound Region on the fastest possible timeline. You can learn more about our team here.
What Are We Doing?
We’re advocates for expansion of Seattle’s existing subway system. That’s right…expansion of the subway we’ve already got. Sound Transit already operates subway trains from SeaTac to Northgate, and in the next few years will extend underground rail service to Lynnwood, Mercer Island and the East Side.
We envision an integrated system – some underground, some elevated, but always out of traffic – that connects the rest of the city, not only to the great neighborhoods within Seattle, but to all the great communities of our region.
Why Are We Doing It?
- Sustainability: In Seattle, 62% of greenhouse gases come from transportation alone, a much higher proportion of greenhouse gas emissions than national and global averages.
- Transit as equalizer: Access to the region’s top jobs, educational opportunities, cultural institutions, and healthcare facilities requires a car or an abundance of time transferring between different modes of transit. Car owners have an economic advantage over transit riders. Car ownership should not be a requirement in order to thrive in this region.
- Affordability: Transportation is the largest household expenditure (16%) after housing costs. Buying, maintaining, and operating cars accounts for the vast majority of these expenses. A household can save up nearly $10,000 on average by living with one less car and using public transportation.
- Gridlock, lost time, lost money: Our traffic has become a severe waste of time and money. Seattle has the sixth worst traffic in the nation. On average, Seattleites waste more than three extra days – 78 hours – due to congestion delays. This lost time costs the Seattle commuter more than $1,400 a year in estimated gas and billable hours.
- Infrastructure inadequacy: Seattle’s transportation system lacks resiliency, and is unprepared for the future where everyone needs the capacity to travel efficiently without a car.
- Road expansion: Road expansion is expensive, ineffective, and often not possible within the constraints of Seattle geography. Road expansion leads to what planners call, “induced demand,” a phenomenon where additional road space leads to additional drivers on the road.
- Safety: Riding in a car presents a risk for fatality that is about 30 times greater than riding a subway.
- User experience: Seattle has a convoluted transit system with many local bus lines serving the entire region. The city lacks a legible transit network to move quickly between neighborhoods. The more barriers that exist to using the transit system, the less effective it is.
- Public space: 95% of a car’s life is spent parked. More than a quarter of the City’s land is dedicated to cars, occupying valuable space that could be used for people, and misallocating scarce land that could otherwise be used for services, amenities, and people’s enjoyment.
Where Are We Doing It?
Our goal is to bring service to more of our favorite – and, not coincidentally, some of our fastest growing – communities. Places like Ballard, Fremont, Green Lake, Magnolia, Queen Anne, Wallingford, West Seattle, and White Center. We envision a city in which we can reach our jobs, our favorite nightspots, or any of Seattle’s wide variety of attractions quickly and efficiently, without ever getting in a car.
When Are We Doing It?
We have to start now. Building community support is just the first step, but it’s also the most important. The scope of the project is grand, as most large projects are. And the bigger the project, the longer it takes to build. We can speed up that process by coming together to demonstrate strong support for a subway and bringing the discussion to the forefront of our city’s agenda.
How Are We Doing It?
We’re building a strong base of support among the citizens of Seattle, our community and elected leaders, and a broad constituency of regional and state stakeholders to rapidly advance the next generation of funding, design, and construction of grade-separated rail mass-transit.
And we need your support! You can help us spread the word with a donation of a few dollars or a few hours of your time. Together, we’ll build a great subway for a great city.
What About Detailier Details?
Seattle Subway is a Washington State non-profit corporation, and a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization. Contributions to Seattle Subway are not tax deductible. The views expressed by Seattle Subway are solely its own and are in no way endorsed by Sound Transit or the City of Seattle.
Our friend, Seattle Subway Foundation, is a Washington State charitable non-profit corporation, and a 501(c)(3) public benefit organization. All contributions to Seattle Subway Foundation are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. The views expressed by Seattle Subway Foundation are solely its own and are in no way endorsed by Sound Transit or the City of Seattle.