Metro Transit Launches Fall Service Changes Sept. 28

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.”

Because Metro’s budget is limited, most of the schedule and route changes are only possible by redistributing existing service or making no-cost operational changes. Other improvements to several routes in Seattle are fully funded through the City of Seattle.

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 Sept. 28 and after, the online timetables will be changed late onFriday, 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 overcrowded 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

·         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. In addition to the added new route, trip timing and routing are adjusted for routes 210, 211, 212, 214, 215, 216 and 218. Metro’s blog has an overview.

·         Route 140 extension in Renton: Route 140 will be extended to Renton Boeing and The Landing as a precursor to its transition to RapidRide F Line in June 2014.

·         Sounder train service connections: Routes 99 and 110 will have revised schedules to better coincide with South Sounder train service at King Street Station and Tukwila Station.

·         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.

·         Access Paratransit service: Metro is changing the hours when is available in some areas to mirror fixed-route service. The change affects service on weekdays, during early morning and late evening hours in Black Diamond, Carnation, Duvall, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, North Bend, Sammamish, Snoqualmie and Vashon Island. Access service will still be available in these areas from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

·         Snoqualmie Valley Transportation shuttle: As part of a five-year demonstration project, Metro has contracted with Snoqualmie Valley Transportation to operate a new shuttle service in the Snoqualmie Valley. On weekdays, the shuttle will operate about every 90 minutes on a fixed route between Duvall, Carnation, Fall City, Snoqualmie and North Bend, and also provide service on request within flexible routing areas in Duvall and North Bend. New Route 208 will serve North Bend and Issaquah weekdays and Saturdays.

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.