The regularly scheduled Spring 2019 Metro service changes go into effect on March 23, and there are two significant changes on Mercer Island this year.

Route 201, which served an average of only eight riders daily, will end. However, the service hours will be reinvested to provide long-desired hourly Saturday service on Route 204.

“This will be welcome news to the nearly 70 Route 204 bus riders who, in late 2017, submitted a signed petition to King County and the city council requesting the addition of weekend hours,” according to the city’s weekly newsletter.

Route 204 will be converted to a DART route with flexible service areas in both south and north Mercer Island. Trips in flexible service areas are allowed outside of peak hours and must be requested in advance. DART buses are smaller and will look similar to the current Route 630 bus.

The city, King County and Seattle also have ensured that the popular Route 630 will continue into 2020. Due to its success, Route 630 will then move out of pilot project status and into sustained service as a regular route.

Seven bus routes will shift permanently from the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel (DSST) to Seattle surface streets, which will impact area traffic.

See www.kingcounty.gov/metro for more.