Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) is set to review a new vision for expanding high-capacity transportation options throughout Thurston County and into the Puget Sound region on Friday, July 11.
The vision foresees a future of seamless, convenient, and sustainable transportation options within local communities and connecting to the Greater Puget Sound and beyond. It is designed to meet the needs of a growing and dynamic population.
The long-range strategy outlines three phases of improvement through 2060, beginning with the expansion of express bus and vanpool services, and planning a potential rail connection between Olympia and Sound Transit's DuPont Sounder station.
According to a TRPC staff report, the draft regional goals for high-capacity transportation include:
Regional partners expand existing high-capacity transportation options that have room to grow (express bus, Amtrak, and vanpool service), and lay the groundwork for future high-capacity options through public and private partnerships, data gathering, and advocacy.
Regional partners continue to advance high-capacity transportation options, with Sounder commuter rail service in DuPont by 2045. Local land use plans, policies and actions will support this future rail service, and align with regional transportation goals. Marine connections between the Port of Olympia and other Puget Sound locations will also continue to be explored.
The Thurston County region builds out robust high-capacity connections to Pierce County and areas north, and outlines plans for delivering additional service into and through Thurston County that best meets population needs (high-speed rail, regional rail, commuter rail, light rail, express bus and bus rapid transit). New developments in the region are aligned with and support these future transportation plans.
The vision recognized the community's need for reliable transportation. More than one-third of the U.S. population does not drive due to age, ability, income or personal choice.
"People who do not drive often rely more heavily on transit to reach education, employment, health care, and other daily needs. Improving high-capacity transportation options within and beyond Thurston County helps ensure these populations are not left behind as the region and its travel demands continue to grow," the staff report states.
TRPC staff conducted outreach by distributing surveys through local school district newsletters, and presentations at senior centers, Disability Rights Washington and the Transportation Choices Coalition to gather information.
Feedback from disability rights advocates emphasized the importance of seamless transfers, while school districts noted the need for better coordination between land use and transit development.
At its June 11 meeting, the Transportation Policy Board recommended that the TRPC approve the Regional Visioning Goal for High-Capacity Transit, which will guide regional priorities in the future.
5 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
chrispc2u
Twenty years to hook up to the light rail in DuPont? I’ll be dead by then. It’s pathetic how much more Europe and South America prioritize light rail over America.
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 Report this
Southsoundguy
This is all fantasy.
Thursday, July 10, 2025 Report this
ViaLocal
I hope this project gets off the ground. Public transportation will benefit our planet and so many people in the area.
Thursday, July 10, 2025 Report this
Callie
Before Dupont, I used to drive to Lakewood for my commute North to Tukwila. I started reading again, while I rode the Sounder, and saw the sunrise shine on Mt Rainier.
I tried the bus for my commute,too
(I've taken both regular and FLIX bus to the airport). When I moved to Olympia in 1976 there was talk of a train track down the center of I-5, but we got more lanes instead.
Thursday, July 10, 2025 Report this
KarenM
Our region is not a participant in Sound Transit. The people in the Sound Transit area are paying for the rail system. Since we are not taxing ourselves we will not have that system of train service simply by asking for it.
We DO have train service with Amtrak. And, we have increasing bus service going north.
Friday, July 11, 2025 Report this