Airport link makes Sound Transit line the train to somewhere

LIGHT rail to the airport begins Dec. 19. Now there's a concept, and a good one.

The true test of the usefulness of current light-rail service didn't really begin when Sound Transit light rail opened in July, running from downtown to Tukwila.

Yes, early numbers show usage so far is not overwhelming. Since light rail opened, the agency reports about 16,000 one-way trips a day, about 10,000 fewer than the agency's target by late 2010.

A far better test of the value of light rail — until subsequent additions north to Husky Stadium in 2016 — involves traffic to a significant destination with expensive or inconvenient parking, such as Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Obviously, stops downtown and near the sports stadiums have some of those same characteristics.

The airport line is not expected to have a huge impact on near-term ridership, but routing to such a logical place squelches earlier complaints that light rail is the train to nowhere.

South Tukwila, where the current route ends, was an embarrassment to transit planners who could not afford and design an airport station in time for the opening of the first segment.

The airport stop wasn't ready in the summer but it should make a difference for travelers who want a quicker, more hassle-free ride to Sea-Tac.

The very good news is the airport stop opens six days before Christmas — at the peak of the holiday travel season.

The airport segment is two weeks ahead of schedule and on budget. A bright moment for transit in our region.