Harger: Sound Transit is bleeding money while Seattle debates fare gates. San Francisco just showed us exactly what they do

Sound Transit is studying a $34 million fare gate pilot at five downtown Seattle stations (Westlake, Capitol Hill, UW, University District, Northgate), with a board decision expected by Q2 2026. Currently, only 61% of Link riders pay their fare. San Francisco’s BART spent $90 million on systemwide gates and saw crime drop 41%, maintenance hours cut by 961, and $10 million in annual recovered revenue. Sound Transit faces a $34.5 billion funding gap while collecting only 12% of operating costs from fares.