SEATTLE — The Sound Transit light rail tracks are tired. It's been nearly 15 years since they have been replaced, and now, the wear and tear is apparent.
For this reason, Sound Transit launched a construction project earlier this week, but for many in the Seattle metro area, it feels more like an inconvenience.
"I liked it when it was like 10 minutes between every light rail. That was nice," said Jeren Totten, laughing. "A little frustrated."
Another rider, Jonathan Balraj, told KING 5 that he'd been waiting about 25 minutes for a train.
"I do wish they'd just happen faster," he said of construction efforts.
For the next three weeks, the popular rail's passengers can expect more crowded trains and longer wait times as trains go through downtown only once every 26 minutes at least.
"Sometimes there’s a whole mob of people coming by this way," said Thaddeus Spae, a busking musician at the Westlake Center on Thursday.
Spae gets a front-row seat on how Seattleites are doing amid the delays.
"They’re in a hurry," he said. "They want to get to where they’re going.”
A passenger pointed to the sign near the platform, saying: "They should be running every 8 to 10 minutes. .. it’s like 20 to 30.”
Sound Transit warned passengers of the delays, and offered its apologies in the form of loud-speaker announcements that played on loop throughout the evening.
"I’ve been here for about 20 minutes to 30 minutes I think," said Totten. "I've kind of stopped counting."
Once the train finally arrives, the cars are often full during rush hour.
"It’s just constantly filled up," said Totten.
On the weekend, the stations will close entirely in the downtown corridor. Sound Transit is urging riders to take a bus.
One teenager, James Reeve, told KING 5 the construction has already put a kink in his social plans.
"We were waiting for our friend because he actually got stuck because the train was late," said Reeve.
While he may have been annoyed at first, Reeve later looked up and listened to who was right in front of him: Spae, playing a blues song on a 12-string guitar.
"I think he was pretty good," said Reeve. "I gave him a couple bucks; he was awesome."
Even with crowds rushing by before him, the captive audience member eventually found joy in slowing down.
"It was nice to be able to just sit there and enjoy the environment, see everybody passing by, it was nice," he said.
Sound Transit’s spokesperson said the tracks need to be replaced now before the Northgate-Lynnwood extension opens later in 2024, which could mean even more passengers relying on the rail to get them into downtown.
Riders around Capitol Hill may be some of the most affected in these delays, so Sound Transit recommends researching any detours ahead of time.
Full light rail service resumes Monday, Feb. 5.