Streamlined service on Interstate 90, better-timed connections and more bus trips in downtown Seattle mark some of the changes to 55 bus routes starting Sept. 28 as King County Metro Transit launches its fall service revisions.
“Transit demand keeps growing, and Metro continues to create efficiencies to maintain bus service within the funds available,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “A major source of revenue expires next year, and drastic cuts are on the horizon unless stable funding can be secured to keep King County moving.”
Red timetables and a special orange rider alert will be available in coming days, and riders can go online to preview changes to routes. While Metro’s online trip planner is updated to reflect trips beginning Sept. 28 and after, the online timetables will be changed late on Friday, Sept. 27.
“Ridership continues to grow and these service adjustments are intended to better serve our customers and attract new riders,” Metro Transit General Manager Kevin Desmond said. “However, meeting the growing demand and addressing over-crowded buses isn’t possible in the face of Metro’s funding challenge, and the very real prospect of substantial service reductions in fall 2014 after our temporary funding expires.”
Highlights of upcoming Metro service changes are as follows.
Interstate 90 service improvements: To address crowding and improve travel times, new route 219 is part of a restructured network of service on I-90.
Service Partnership with City of Seattle: 5, 10, 21, 40, 41, 48, 49 and 120 target service frequency and span. Service adds on routes serving West Seattle (routes 21 & 120), Shoreline (route 5), Capitol Hill (routes 10, 48, and 49) , downtown Seattle (routes 5, 10, 21, 40, 41, 49, and 120), University District (routes 48 & 49) and southeast Seattle (route 48) are funded through a partnership between Metro and the City of Seattle.
Seattle waterfront construction reroutes: For about the next three years, routes 16, 66 and 99 will be rerouted in downtown Seattle due to the Elliott Bay Seawall and SR-99 deep bore tunnel construction projects. Buses will instead travel First Avenue.
List of routes affected by service changes, starting Sept. 28:
Metro routes 5, 10, 16, 21, 22, 30, 40, 41, 48, 49, 64, 66, 70, 71, 72, 73, 99, 110, 120, 139, 140, 152, 154, 155, 156, 169, 180, 186, 187, 193, NEW 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 214, 215, 216, 218, NEW 219, 221, 224, 234, 246, 249, 250, 311, 330, 331, 342, 358, DART routes 906, 909, 913 and 935. Sound Transit routes 510, 511, 512, 513, 540, 545, 550 and 554.
Detailed explanations of each route change are available online and on the Metro Matters blog.
