Metro Transit rolls out big changes tomorrow, with more to come Monday
Fri, 09/30/2011
press release:
King County Metro Transit’s fall service change begins tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 1 with significant changes in bus service – and there will be even more for Monday’s commute.
Bus riders are strongly encouraged to study the new service, routing, and schedules before they travel due to the many changes. Information can be found online at www.kingcounty.gov/metro or by calling Customer Information at 206-553-3000.
Some of the biggest revisions are:
Metro is restructuring much of its bus service in Bellevue, Redmond and Kirkland to improve the efficiency of the transit network and to integrate with new RapidRide service. This includes: elimination of 12 routes to avoid duplication of service; significantly revised routing for 11 routes; and three new routes to fill in the network.
Debut of the RapidRide B Line connecting downtown Redmond and Bellevue with 10-15 minute service most of the day. The B Line makes limited stops that include Crossroads, the eastern portion of Overlake, the Microsoft campus, and north Redmond.
In Seattle, routes that currently use First Avenue South in the SODO area will have revised routing to avoid construction associated with the Alaskan Way Viaduct (AWV) project. This routing is expected to be needed for at least four years. Routes 21, 22, 37 northbound, 56, 57, 85 Night Owl, 116, 118, 119 and 132 will move from First Avenue South to travel on Fourth Avenue South between South Lander Street and Edgar Martinez Drive South.
Metro is also adding service to keep people moving during the AWV construction. Service on Route 54 between West Seattle and downtown is increasing to every 15 minutes Monday-Saturday. Trips are also being added during peak hours on three routes with viaduct connections that serve North Seattle: 18 Express, 120, and 358.
In other areas of King County, there will be additional service on routes 75, 193, 211, 303 and 309. Riders should also look for trip additions, deletions, schedule adjustments, and new routing on the routes they use most often.