as well as the regional ORCA card, a contactless proximity card with stored fares and passes. Link light rail The Link light rail system currently encompasses two lines with of track and 25 stations. The two lines, which have no direct connection, are the 1 Line between Seattle, Tukwila, and SeaTac; and the T Line in central Tacoma. Link light rail trains carried 23 million passengers in 2017, averaging 71,058 on weekdays, making it the 10th-busiest light rail system in the United States. Link trains generally run seven days a week at frequencies of 6 to 24 minutes, with stops spaced closely together. Most stations offer connections to nearby buses or a park and ride facility. The system is planned to expand to over 70 stations and by 2041, with five lines serving all three counties. 1 Line trains are operated and maintained under contract with King County Metro and are able to carry more passengers, serving as the regional rapid transit system. T Line trains are akin to streetcars, unable to be coupled into pairs, and are operated and maintained by Sound Transit staff (the only service in the system to not have operations and maintenance performed under contract). Sounder commuter rail Sounder is the regional commuter rail service managed by Sound Transit and has two lines that intersect at King Street Station in Downtown Seattle. Trains generally run during rush hours with limited service at other times, including weekend trains for sporting events. The N Line connects Seattle to Everett, stopping at two intermediate stations in Snohomish County. The S Line connects Seattle to Tacoma and Lakewood, stopping at six other stations. Trains are operated under contract by BNSF Railway on leased tracks and maintained under contract by Amtrak. Sound Transit Express Sound Transit Express is a network of 28 limited-stop express bus routes providing regional service to cities in all three counties, primarily using a network of high-occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV lanes) on state-maintained freeways. Some routes operate seven days a week, while others are limited to rush hours only. The bus fleet is owned by Sound Transit and buses are operated and maintained under contracts with local transit authorities (Community Transit, King County Metro, and Pierce Transit). Two bus rapid transit lines, on Interstate 405 and State Route 522, are planned to open in 2026–27 and be known as "Stride". Organization Management Sound Transit has 802