It was spoken/written once.  Obviously the statement was delusional!

Sounder Gets it Kickin'

Sounder ridership is up 28%!  28% is a MASSIVE jump.  If gas prices go up another 10-20% it actually will make the billion plus they blew on getting right of way and everything for the Sounder a deal compared to what it was!  It's one of the advantages of actual "investment" in transportation instead of temporarily blowing money on vehicles, which are generally a waste of cash and usable only about 5-10 years.

Considering how "FEW" Sounder frequencies there are the potential for increasing ridership, running more frequencies, and seeing a serious jump (let's say 50% over the next 1-2 years) is fully within reasonable expectations.  Considering that the number of persons carried is the equivalent of an entire lane of traffic at maximum throughput during rush hour, and Sound Transit could add MORE TRAINS, the potential transport of persons into and out of Seattle is huge. 

Also consider.  The trains run on time (within 1-2 minutes usually at WORSE - that's just a couple days a year IF they're delayed for some reason).  The tracks use up the equivalent of a single lane in each direction.  The tracks are also used by freight part of the day which takes thousands and thousands of trucks OFF of I-5 EACH day.  Keep in mind that the potential increase of JUST these two tracks could carry the equivalent of 4 lanes of Interstate traffic at peak throughput (yeah, that's 30 mph of 4 lanes flowing steadily).  Think about the "human" element of the development of each of the stops along the Sounder route.  These stops having sidewalks, local stores, business, and even industry in some cases.  Truly amazing what can be accomplished with a very high standard transport option (passenger rail) with class and civility.  So very different than the price noose of the auto based and incapable Interstate.

Transit in General

I've also read a few reports of transit usage being up by 14% across the country.

All these increases still only amounts to about 3-4% of the nation using transit.  In major cities that break out comes out a little better to about 15-20%.  In the REAL cities like Chicago and NY we're still at 40% and increasing.

The US just might catch up one of these days, we're finally headed in a good direction!  Imagine, people actually talking to each other again and seeing and knowing what humanity is striving towards.  Living each day knowing your neighbor and your fellow commuter.  Seeing the artists and the musicians, the engineers and the day laborers.  Putting a face on the image of riches and a face to that of poverty.

Replacing the void of mediocrity in America with ability and scalability.

...trains are impressive, so much more than piddly highways (even though I admit, I do like them too).