information from King County Metro

New green timetables, upcoming fare changes, adjusted bus schedules and revised customer service hours mark several changes for riders as King County Metro Transit shifts gears into spring service mode on Feb. 14.

Metro also will begin customized commuter shuttle Route 628 serving North Bend, the Snoqualmie Valley and Issaquah Highlands.

Metro makes service adjustments three times a year, revising some routes and schedules to operate more efficiently, improve travel times and better match bus service to ridership demand within available budgets.

A summary of planned route changes is posted online. Updated printed route schedules are available, and electronic schedules will be posted online Friday, Feb. 13. Until then, riders can plan trips online for dates after Feb. 14 in order to preview updated schedule information.

Route and schedule changes
Detailed route revisions for 16 routes and new route 628 are posted online (in button format or list format). Affected are routes 4, 7, 8, 48, 50, 55, 111, 114, 143, 193, 204, 212, 255, 303, 312, 628 and DART 913.

Upcoming ORCA LIFT fare, and fare increase
Metro is launching the ORCA LIFT reduced fare program March 1 at the same time regular fares increase 25 cents. Executive Constantine and the Metropolitan King County Council created the program to ensure that public transportation remains accessible after the transit agency’s sixth fare increase since 2008. Riders can visit www.orcalift.com or call 206-553-3000 to find out if they qualify for the ORCA LIFT card. They also can visit Public Health – Seattle & King County locations across King County for enrollment assistance.

Revised customer service hours
Starting Feb. 14, Metro is revising its Customer Information office hours for phone inquiries and in-person customer service at our offices.
· Metro offices will be open for phone calls 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday for trip planning and lost and found items, and for ORCA phone calls and customer comments from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. 206-553-3000.

· The office will be closed weekends and major holidays. Customers instead can refer to Metro Online for trip planning, the Puget Sound Trip Planner app and the voice system at 206-553-3000.

· Additionally, Metro’s pass sales and lost and found counter hours at King Street Center (201 South Jackson St.) will be revised to be open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Found items are kept for 14 days.

· The hours at the Customer Stop on the mezzanine level of Westlake Station will be revised to be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the first and last four business days of each month.

President’s Day, Monday Feb. 16
Metro bus routes will operate a weekday schedule, except for some University of Washington routes, on Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 16. Some designated trips will be suspended Feb. 16 while classes at the University of Washington are not in session: Routes 31, 32, 48, 65, 67, 68, 75, 167, 197, 271, 277, 331, 372 and 373. Route 331 travels between Lake City and Shoreline Community College and also will have trips suspended on these dates.