Increase in ridership on Tacoma Link following expansion: An evaluation of the performance of new stations.
The T Line, Tacoma's streetcar system, has been experiencing a resurgence in ridership and expansion since its extension in 2023. The Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension, which added 2.4 miles to the city's streetcar line and more than doubled the number of stations, has played a significant role in this growth.
The St. Joseph Station, a terminus in the Hilltop neighborhood, has been the fifth-most active station, accruing more than 151,000 boardings. The Stadium District, serving Stadium High School, is the most active new station on the T Line, with over 158,000 boardings through July. The Hilltop District Station has been the sixth-most boarded station, with nearly 122,000 boardings since 2024. The Tacoma Dome Station, an existing station, has seen the most boardings of all stations, with about 312,000 boardings since 2024.
The T Line now has 12 stations in total and operates 162 trips on weekdays, 150 on Saturdays, and 52 on Sundays. Each of the five cars, each holding approximately 100 people, serves an average of 4,079 daily passengers as of the latest data in 2025. Monthly average daily boardings increased from 3,658 in 2019 to 4,079 as of 2025.
Fares were introduced on the T Line in 2024, costing $2 for adults. Thus far in 2025, fares have brought in $180,000. In the first full year of operation in 2024, Sound Transit collected $314,000 in fare revenues.
The city of Tacoma built the extension of the T Line, also known as Tacoma Link, in 2008 as part of the voter-approved Sound Transit 2 ballot measure. The $282 million Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension was a crucial part of this expansion.
However, the T Line is not without its challenges. The latest forecast showed a $20 million 'project affordability gap' for the T Line expansion. Sound Transit is seeking to grow the T Line to 8.4 miles with the addition of six more stations that would extend from the St. Joseph Station to Tacoma Community College by 2039.
The T Line is being used as a learning tool to identify gaps in the transit system and expansion opportunities. As Tacoma continues to grow and develop, the T Line is expected to play an increasingly important role in the city's transportation network. With its recent growth and ongoing expansion, the T Line has surpassed 1.5 million boardings since 2024.
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