Last year with gas prices at all-time highs, and strong sales tax revenue (the primary income for Sound Transit) funding more routes, ridership continued its multi-year growth. But this year has seen an end to that growth. Some of the decline may be newly unemployed not needing a bus to anywhere, but the more important factor is probably lower gas prices (i.e., a cheaper car commute). Having taken the bus because of high prices, new riders experienced the convenience, the low stress, and the savings of public transportation, but without committment to the idea of public transportation. Most Americans use public transportation only when they can't afford the car.
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