All Sound Transit Routes Get New, Alphanumeric Names

The "Red Line" didn't fly with people living in neighborhoods historically redlined by discriminatory real estate and land use practices.

1 minute read

April 16, 2020, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

Michael B. / Flickr

Stephen Fesler reports that Sound Transit is completely rebranding its system, including changing the names of its routes to an alphanumeric system.

"The new service branding approach is much sleeker and brighter than the track Sound Transit was on last year," writes Fesler. "Pulling from international best practices, the transit agency has sought an alphanumeric approach paired with colors and shield shapes. The latter aspect is particularly noticeable with rail-based services using circle shields and bus-based services using square shields."

Source: Sound Transit

According to Fesler, Sound Transit encountered controversy after announcing a color-based naming convention for the light rail routes in the system last year. The "Red Line" name assigned to the Central Link light rail route evoked the historic practice of redlining, according to many members of the public. Now Sound Transit will follow the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority in converting the system completely to alphanumeric names.

"Sound Transit hopes to launch the new branding in 2021 when the Northgate Link light rail extension opens," according to Fesler.

FULL STORY: Alphanumeric Lines Will Replace Colors and Names of Sound Transit Services

Friday, April 10, 2020 in The Urbanist

Transportation Washington Seattle Sound Transit Public Transit Rebranding Rail Transit transit maps Rail Lines Central Link Northgate Link Extension View More

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