Transit customers encouraged to prepare for winter weather

King County Metro Transit customers are encouraged to prepare for possible snowy or icy conditions this weekend. Weather forecasters are predicting colder temperatures and an increasing possibility of snow in parts of King County, which means the possibility of rapidly changing travel conditions throughout the weekend.

All transit customers are advised to check timetables for the routes they use and study snow routing in case it is implemented. In the event that travel conditions deteriorate, riders who live in outlying or hilly areas are encouraged to go to transit centers, park and ride lots or more heavily traveled flat arterials that are likely to be plowed, and where there likely is more transit service available.

Travel and information tips
• Sign up for Transit Alerts to receive notice of known service disruptions; however rapidly changing road, traffic and weather conditions make it impossible to know about every service interruption. It may not be possible to report on service that is affected on a per-trip or per stop basis.
• Before traveling during bad weather, check Metro Online for the most current status of Metro service. Metro suggests that transit customers leave from a bus stop or park-and-ride that also has service when buses are on snow routes, in case travel conditions deteriorate later.
• Know the snow routing for your bus route. Check the timetables at Metro Online for snow route maps for each route. Not every bus route has snow routing, but most do.
• Be aware of conditions in the areas in which you will be traveling, be prepared and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination. Buses may not operate on schedule and may be crowded.
• Snow and ice create challenges for all vehicles. Transit operations can change rapidly depending on traffic and travel conditions.
• When buses are on snow routing, some streets and bus stops may be missed and there are often delays due to travel conditions.
• Metro uses an online color-coded map to keep riders informed of the status of its bus service. Bus routes are assigned into one or more of seven geographic areas within King County. When there is snow or ice on the roads, the service status of each area will be color coded and displayed on the online map. Green indicates buses are operating on normal routes; yellow that some – but not all – routes in the area are on snow routes, and red tells you that all bus routes in the entire geographic area are on snow routing.
• Your favorite smartphone apps and online trackers may not be reliable when buses are rerouted or significantly delayed.
• Be prepared and be patient. Buses are not always on schedule in snowy or icy conditions. Increased ridership during bad weather can result in crowded buses and a longer-than-usual wait on the phone for the Customer Information Office during its open hours.
• Dress warmly for the walk to the bus stop, expect delays, and wear appropriate footwear for the weather.
• Head for bus stops on main arterials or at major transfer points such as park-and-ride lots, transit centers, or shopping centers.
Tools for bus riders
• Metro Online
• Sign up for Metro Transit Alerts
• Metro’s Snow & Ice
• Metro Customer Information Office 206-553-3000
• Metro on Twitter @kcmetrobus
• Metro on Facebook