Tacoma light rail to remain free after major donation

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — The Tacoma light rail will remain free after a major donation from the Tacoma Business Improvement Area.

The News Tribune reports that the Sound Transit board on Thursday voted to accept a $29,000 annual donation from the business group to underwrite the costs of rising. The transit agency was set to begin charging a $1 fare later this year to help offset the cost of running the line.

BIA officials say they worried downtown businesses would be affected by a drop in ridership after a fare was instituted.

The Tacoma Link light rail is a 1.5-mile line between the Tacoma Dome and downtown. Transit officials say it cost about $4.2 million to run the line last year when nearly 1 million people rode it.