Friday Roundtable: Incorrect Signs

Following the recent opening of the Federal Way Link Extension, confusion quickly set in over which 1 Line trains travel to Seattle. Once the 2 Line is connected across Lake Washington, all three Link termini will imply they are the center of the region: Lynnwood City Center, Downtown Redmond, and Federal Way Downtown. Of course, none of these locations are in Seattle, the dominant city in Puget Sound. Stephen Fesler discussed this situation in an excellent Op-Ed last week.

While the platform signs are confusing and should be updated, they are technically correct. Over the past few months, there appears to have been an uptick in incorrect signs by both Sound Transit and King County Metro. These errors may be seen as benign (and even humorous) to frequent transit riders, but they can cause confusion and frustration for infrequent or first time passengers. Transit agencies should make riding transit as clear and simple as possible.

Sound Transit

In November, Nick Sattele, co-lead of the Fix The L8 campaign, found an issue with a Reduced Service announcement. On the 1 Line diagram, Stadium station was labeled as the stop north of U District (instead of Roosevelt station). In reality, Stadium station is located south of downtown Seattle and should not have been included on the diagram.

ATTENTION: Next Saturday, November 8, STADIUM STATION will be RELOCATED to the Northgate neighborhood.Thank you for your understanding.

- Nick (@nicksattele.bsky.social) 2025-11-01T20:56:41.846Z

As many first-time Link riders start their journey at SeaTac/Airport station, it is paramount that the station has clear signs to help them navigate. Unfortunately, Sound Transit appears to have doubled down on confusing passengers at this station. A few weeks ago, AvgZing shared on Bluesky that the signs for the Federal Way Downtown platform at SeaTac/Airport station included the airplane logo. Did you know Federal Way had an airport?

Today in "excellent link light rail signage", we not only imply that federal way has a downtown, but also that it has its own airport for you to visit! Hop from SEA to FED on the link! cc @typewriteralley.bsky.social

- AvgZing (@avgzing.com) 2025-11-30T08:36:11.392Z

After returning home from a Thanksgiving trip, I noticed a new sign at SeaTac/Airport station to help visitors traveling to key destinations downtown.

The top landmarks in Seattle near each downtown Link station. Be ready to walk or roll if you plan to visit any of the landmarks listed under Symphony station.

This sign is a great idea. Unfortunately, some of the landmarks listed aren't exactly close to the station. Under Symphony station, the sign lists:

• King County Courthouse
• Smith Tower
• Pioneer Square
• Occidental Square
• Klondike Gold Rush Museum
• Ferries & Water Taxi

All of these landmarks are much closer to Pioneer Square station than to Symphony station (yes, even Pioneer Square"). The sign lists the same landmarks, as well as Seattle City Hall, under Pioneer Square station. At the very least, the landmarks for Symphony station should include Benaroya Hall, where the Seattle Symphony performs.

To Sound Transit's credit, the agency has been actively fixing these incorrect signs. The airplane logo has since been removed from the platform signs at SeaTac/Airport station, and the Landmarks in Seattle sign has been completely removed. I hope Sound Transit replaces the landmarks sign with a correct version.

King County Metro

Sound Transit is not the only transit agency in Puget Sound with incorrect signs. King County Metro maintains a map of frequent routes in downtown Seattle. This map is displayed at Link stations and major bus stops in downtown Seattle to help people find their way to various neighborhoods. Until recently, people traveling from downtown to some areas along MLK Jr Way S in Rainier Valley may have been confused as Route 106 was excluded from the map in March 2023, September 2023, March 2024.

The September 2024 edition of this map introduced a complete redesign but still excluded Route 106. The map proudly features the brand new RapidRide G Line in the center, but curiously excludes it from the destination guide at the bottom of the map. Instead, the guide recommends taking routes 2, 3, 4, and 12 to First Hill. Route 12 did not serve First Hill when this map was displayed. The destination guide is also missing a few routes, including Route 7 to Columbia City, Route 40 to Northgate, and routes 36 and 106 to Othello.

Destination guide in September 2024. (King County Metro)

The March 2025 edition of this map finally included Route 106. The destination guide also added the missing routes from the previous version (7, 36, 40, and 106). Unfortunately, guide informs passengers to board these routes from the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel. In reality, all of these routes run on 3rd Ave or Jackson St, not in the tunnel. Buses have not run in the tunnel since 2019. (And the 106 left the tunnel in 2009 when Link started in Rainier Valley.)

Destination guide in March 2025. (King County Metro)The Fall 2025 version of the Downtown Metro Service map displayed in Symphony station.

In August, Metro released the most recent version of the Downtown Metro Service map. This version still has Route 106, but the destination guide is a train wreck. For 1 Line stations, Metro has (mostly) moved away from the Northbound and Southbound terminology. Instead, the guide now says All Stations". Someone traveling to Beacon Hill may be surprised to see that, according to this guide, they can board Route 60 on 3rd Ave. This is not correct as Route 60 travels north from Beacon Hill to First Hill and Capitol Hill, not to downtown.

A few sentences ago, I mentioned that Metro has mostly moved away from the Northbound and Southbound terminology. I said this because the guide suggests boarding the 1 Line or Route 40 from Northbound" to get to Northgate. Likewise, someone going to Othello should board the 1 Line or routes 36, 106 from Southbound". That person traveling to Othello might be confused on where to board Southbound" and decide to look at the routes to Rainier Valley instead. Here they would find that they can board the 1 Line at Jackson Street" or routes 7 and 106 at All Stations". Even more confused, our hypothetical person might give up and decide to go to Seattle Center instead. The guide lists routes 1, 2, 4, 8, 13, the D Line, and the Seattle Center Monorail. Conveniently, all of these routes can be boarded from Denny Way"? Each of these routes (except the Monorail) do stop on or near Denny way, but that is the stop that serves the Seattle Center (Route 8 infamously has several stops on Denny Way).

Destination guide in August 2025. (King County Metro)

In the age of Google Maps, Apple Maps, Transit, Pantograph, and a billion other navigation apps, one may be quick to dismiss the need for clear wayfinding and navigational signs. These signs are still essential for people without smartphones and act as a way for one to double check their planned route. Passengers place a premium on information directly from the transit agency and these agencies need to do everything possible to ensure the information is up-to-date and accurate.

This is an open thread.