King County Metro Transit and the City of Seattle claim a "new partnership" will be bringing a big boost for bus riders in West Seattle and White Center within the next three years.

King County Executive Ron Sims has signed an ordinance that formalizes 16 partnerships which the executive says will result in four new Metro bus routes, more trips on at least 25 existing routes, and traffic improvements on city streets that will improve the speed and reliability on two RapidRide corridors for bus rapid transit service.

For West Seattle and White Center by 2010, Route 60 will have additional weekday trips and weekend service to White Center. The city and county are also teaming up to plan street improvements that will set the stage for the debut of the West Seattle RapidRide line in 2011.

In addition, starting this September there will be more transit service added in other areas that will improve connections in the city and across the region for local residents.

Cities and businesses are making either direct financial contributions for at least five years or roadway improvements that speed up transit service. The financial contributions must cover at least one-third of the cost of added transit service, and the speed-and-reliability partnerships must increase transit speeds by at least 10 percent.

When completed, the program will result in a total of 131,000 hours of additional bus service on major urban corridors throughout the county.