If a congestion reduction charge is approved by the County Council or voters, it is likely that only small service adjustments to achieve efficiency and productivity targets would be needed over the next two years.

If the congestion charge is not approved, a series of reductions in bus service would take place in 2012 and 2013. A total of up to 600,000 annual service hours, or 17 percent of the current Metro system, could be eliminated.

If Metro does not receive additional revenue for the 2012-2012 budget, it must begin cutting service as soon as February 2012. Without more funds, a total of 600,000 hours of transit service would be eliminated over the next two years. This is about 17 percent of Metro's entire system and would affect up to 8 percent of bus riders.

This means that as many as four out of five people will have to walk futher, wait longer, make an extra transfer, and stand on the curb and see fully-loaded buses pass them by.

King County Executive Constantine has submitted a package to the council that includes the first round of service cuts — a 100,000-hour reduction that could go into effect as soon as February 2012.

The reductions, based on new guidelines in Metro's Strategic Plan for Public Transportation, would heavily affect Ballard bus riders.

Among the routes that would be eliminated are the 46, 81, and 28. In addition, routes number 18 and 15EX would be eliminated once Rapid Ride starts. The 15, 17, and 75 routes would be revised or reduced.

For a complete list of the reduced and eliminated routes, visit http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/future/service-cuts.html.