Rider sweepstakes herald Tacoma Link 10-year anniversary

August 6, 2013 12:32 pm
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SUMMER 2002 | Three vehicles destined for Tacoma's Link light rail system left the Skoda manufacturing facility in the Czech Republic. (TACOMA DAILY INDEX FILE PHOTO / COURTESY SOUND TRANSIT)
SUMMER 2002 | Three vehicles destined for Tacoma's Link light rail system left the Skoda manufacturing facility in the Czech Republic. (TACOMA DAILY INDEX FILE PHOTO / COURTESY SOUND TRANSIT)

Sound Transit will kick off the 10-year anniversary of the start of service for Tacoma Link light rail with an enter-to-win contest that begins this Thursday.

Service on the 1.6-mile light rail line from the Tacoma Dome Station to the Theatre District began Aug. 22, 2003.

“Sound Transit is proud of the ten years of service Tacoma Link has provided to downtown and Dome District residents and businesses,” said Pat McCarthy, Chair of the Sound Transit Board of Directors and Pierce County Executive. “Since Tacoma Link began operation, more than nine million riders have used the service. Light rail is a well-used and needed transit service that will continue to grow in popularity as work moves forward to expand its reach.”

“Since service started in 2003, Tacoma Link has become an integral part of our transportation system and community fabric,” added Sound Transit Boardmember and Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland. “On an average work day, 3,600 people ride Tacoma Link to numerous destinations along the six-station route. The City of Tacoma is pleased to be working with Sound Transit to bring this transit service to more citizens as planning efforts to expand this service to more residents and visitors.”

The sweepstakes, which runs from Aug. 8 through Aug. 31, asks riders to name their favorite destination along the Tacoma Link line. Riders can check in and share their favorite destination on Facebook using the #TLink10 hashtag. Participants can enter to win by going to the Sound Transit Facebook page, clicking on the entry form tab, and completing the form by Aug. 31. Participants must submit the entry form to be eligible to win. One entry per person is allowed.

Contestants can also complete and mail in a postcard to enter. Postcards are available at Freighthouse Square, the Tacoma Visitor Information Center, the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce Downtown On The Go office, and other locations. A complete list of where to pick up and drop off postcards is available online at soundtransit.org/Tlink10. Postcards must be submitted or postmarked by Sat., Aug. 31.

Contestants can also enter to win in person by visiting the Sound Transit booth at the Tacoma Broadway Farmers Market on Aug. 8 and Aug. 22 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Winners will be selected by random drawing on Sept. 25. The grand prize winner will receive a Tacoma Getaway package that includes an overnight stay at the Hotel Murano with parking and breakfast for two, a Savi Day Spa couple’s pedicure package, a salon treatment for two at Salon Miro, and two $20.00 gift cards at TWOKOI Japanese Cuisine. All grand prizes have been donated by participating businesses.

Ten additional participants will win an ORCA card preloaded with $25.00 in fare value. Entrants must be 18 or older, a resident of Washington state, and cannot be a Sound Transit employee or a member of the employee’s immediate family.

Celebration activities on Aug. 22 include commemorative give-aways at all Tacoma Link stations and the Farmers Market, and a special train appearance by Zap Gridlock, Sound Transit’s traffic-fighting superhero, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Winners need not be present at the random drawing to win. Winners will be notified by phone or e-mail. More information on the sweepstakes is available at soundtransit.org/Tlink10.

To read the Tacoma Daily Index‘s complete and comprehensive coverage of a decade of downtown Tacoma’s Link light rail, click on the following links:

JANUARY 2003 | Sound Transit displays one of the Tacoma Link light rail cars in Seattle. (TACOMA DAILY INDEX FILE PHOTO)

JANUARY 2003 | Sound Transit displays one of the Tacoma Link light rail cars in Seattle. (TACOMA DAILY INDEX FILE PHOTO)

APRIL 2003 | Workers finalize the last weld connecting all the tracks for Tacoma's Link light rail. (TACOMA DAILY INDEX FILE PHOTO)

APRIL 2003 | Workers finalize the last weld connecting all the tracks for Tacoma’s Link light rail. (TACOMA DAILY INDEX FILE PHOTO)

JULY 2003 | A sign at the corner of South Commerce Street and South 9th Street alerts pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers to watch for passing Tacoma Link light rail trains, as testing of Tacoma’'s newest transportation system began. It’ was just one part of Sound Transit’'s comprehensive safety campaign. Regular passenger service begins next month. (TACOMA DAILY INDEX FILE PHOTO)

JULY 2003 | A sign at the corner of South Commerce Street and South 9th Street alerts pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers to watch for passing Tacoma Link light rail trains, as testing of Tacoma’’s newest transportation system began. It’ was just one part of Sound Transit’’s comprehensive safety campaign. Regular passenger service begins next month. (TACOMA DAILY INDEX FILE PHOTO)

AUGUST 23, 2003 | U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash) joins Cliff Fournier, 86, of Tenino, Wash., the last living trolley operator from the Tacoma Railway and Power Co., as he rings the bell that officially launches Tacoma Link light rail. (TACOMA DAILY INDEX FILE PHOTO)

AUGUST 23, 2003 | U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash) joins Cliff Fournier, 86, of Tenino, Wash., the last living trolley operator from the Tacoma Railway and Power Co., as he rings the bell that officially launches Tacoma Link light rail. (TACOMA DAILY INDEX FILE PHOTO)

SEPTEMBER 2003 | Tacoma City Councilmember Julie Anderson, Tacoma City Councilmember Kevin Phelps, King County Executive Ron Sims, and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate Sound Transit’'s Tacoma Dome Station at Freighthouse Square. (TACOMA DAILY INDEX FILE PHOTO)

SEPTEMBER 2003 | Tacoma City Councilmember Julie Anderson, Tacoma City Councilmember Kevin Phelps, King County Executive Ron Sims, and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate Sound Transit’’s Tacoma Dome Station at Freighthouse Square. (TACOMA DAILY INDEX FILE PHOTO)

DECEMBER 2004 | Lakewood City Councilmember Claudia Thomas (right) speaks with a Sound Transit Tacoma Link light rail passenger during a trip through downtown Tacoma following a celebration to mark Link's one-millionth passenger. (TACOMA DAILY INDEX FILE PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS)

DECEMBER 2004 | Lakewood City Councilmember Claudia Thomas (right) speaks with a Sound Transit Tacoma Link light rail passenger during a trip through downtown Tacoma following a celebration to mark Link’s one-millionth passenger. (TACOMA DAILY INDEX FILE PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS)

SEPTEMBER 2011 | Tacoma City Councilmember Jake Fey, Sound Transit Executive Director of Communications and External Affairs Ron Klein, Tacoma City Councilmember and Deputy Mayor Lauren Walker, Tacoma Economic Development Board President and CEO Bruce Kendall, and Tacoma artist Chandler O'Leary attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday to officially mark the opening of a new Link light rail station in downtown Tacoma. (TACOMA DAILY INDEX FILE PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS)

SEPTEMBER 2011 | Tacoma City Councilmember Jake Fey, Sound Transit Executive Director of Communications and External Affairs Ron Klein, Tacoma City Councilmember and Deputy Mayor Lauren Walker, Tacoma Economic Development Board President and CEO Bruce Kendall, and Tacoma artist Chandler O’Leary attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday to officially mark the opening of a new Link light rail station in downtown Tacoma. (TACOMA DAILY INDEX FILE PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS)

AUGUST 2013 | Sound Transit will kick off the 10-year anniversary of the start of service for Tacoma's Link light rail with contest to win prizes. (IMAGE COURTESY SOUND TRANSIT)

AUGUST 2013 | Sound Transit will kick off the 10-year anniversary of the start of service for Tacoma’s Link light rail with contest to win prizes. (IMAGE COURTESY SOUND TRANSIT)

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