Jeff Clark,
Deputy Executive Director of Financial Operations/Controller
Publish Date
September 9, 2024
Sound Transit today joined the Seattle Symphony to celebrate the Link 1 line’s newly renamed Symphony Station. The new name (formerly University Street) reduces confusion with the University of Washington and U District stations by the UW campus.
The name also highlights the station’s location beneath Benaroya Hall, a regional music mecca and home to the Grammy-winning Seattle Symphony. The symphony begins its 2024-2025 season later this week.
“Renaming University Street Station to Symphony Station is a small but important change, along with the new flat fares and more affordable ORCA day pass, to make transit more intuitive and accessible for everyone," said King County Executive and Sound Transit Board Chair Dow Constantine. "Symphony Station reflects the cultural heart of downtown Seattle and the many vibrant destinations available to riders whether they use transit to get to work, school, events, or performances."
“As the most-visited performance arts venue in Seattle, Benaroya Hall attracts thousands of people week after week to the heart of downtown to experience the Seattle Symphony in addition to a wide variety of artistic and cultural events from all parts of our diverse community. We value our strong relationship with Sound Transit, as we are all engaged in bringing people together to experience unforgettable events!” said Seattle Symphony CEO Krishna Thiagarajan.
"Seattle welcomes this harmonious moment as we introduce Symphony Station and rename University Street Station. This new station name will both make it easier for people to navigate our city and signifies our steadfast commitment to supporting a vibrant arts scene,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “Symphony Station will welcome thousands of residents and visitors to Downtown and connect them to concerts, museums, our beautiful new waterfront park, and so much more. Together, let's embark on this new journey in rhythm with the spirit of transit enthusiasm and artistic appreciation that are core to our city.”
“The debut of Symphony Station, coinciding with the onset of the Seattle Symphony’s 2024-2025 season, both increases clarity for Sound Transit passengers and celebrates downtown Seattle’s cultural resources, attractions that draw riders from throughout our region and the world,” said Sound Transit Interim CEO Goran Sparrman**.**
More than 100,000 riders board at Symphony Station every month, and thousands pass through every day. In addition to the Seattle Symphony, Symphony Station provides access to nearby Pike Place Market, the revamped Seattle waterfront and the central business district with 1 Line connections north to Lynnwood via the University of Washington and south to the SEA airport and Angle Lake.
