News Release

Release date: Sept. 18, 2001

Major changes in transit service debut Sept. 29

King County Metro Transit will launch a major service expansion starting Saturday, Sept. 29. It will be the second largest service change in Metro history. It also coincides with the debut of three new Sound Transit ST Express bus routes.

"We are fulfilling the promise we made to the voters who approved a sales tax increase for transit last November," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "We promised improved service, along with continued efficiencies in our transit system. The changes we are detailing today will benefit thousands of bus riders, and hopefully encourage new riders to give the bus a try."

Sims said the county has been working with bus riders, neighborhoods and local cities for more than a year to develop these service changes. In June, the County Council approved Sims' plan for an additional 115,000 hours of transit service. Most of the service changes begin Sept. 29, although some will start next February.

"We have several new routes. We have also revised routes to be more convenient and efficient. And, we've teamed up with Sound Transit to greatly increase service along some popular corridors," Sims said.

Joni Earl, executive director for Sound Transit, said: "These three additional ST Express routes expand Sound Transit's service to 17 routes overall. It's been two years since we inaugurated ST Express, and we are close to fulfilling our promise to the voters in Sound Move."

Many of Metro's improvements are on the Eastside to accommodate the tremendous amount of growth there in the past several years. In addition, Sound Transit is offering new all-day service connecting Issaquah, Eastgate, Mercer Island and Seattle. And, there will be a new ST Express route connecting Issaquah, Bellevue and Northgate. The third new ST Express serves Pierce County.

In King County, Metro's service changes are extensive. Some highlights include the following:

Seattle and North King County

• Reinstating Route 74 service between the University District and the Seattle Center via Fremont.
• Extending the trolley wire on Beacon Hill to South Myrtle Street for increased service on Route 36.
• Extending trips on Route 46 to Seaview Avenue Northwest and Golden Gardens.
• Adding peak-hour trips to Route 358 between Seattle and Shoreline via Aurora Avenue.
• Partially restoring evening and weekend service on Route 315 between Richmond Beach and Northgate.
• Increasing the number of Route 37 express trips in West Seattle, plus providing new Saturday service.
• Moving downtown bus stops to avoid construction at the new Seattle Library.

South King County

• Opening the new Renton Transit Center at Third and Burnett, which will be served by 17 routes and feature improved customer facilities.
• Streamlining Sound Transit express service on routes 560 and 565 through downtown Renton to serve the new transit center and free up capacity at the South Renton park-and-ride lot.
• Adding rush-hour trips between the Kent park-and-ride lot and Seattle.
• Restoring Saturday service on Route 118 on Vashon Island.
• Adding trips on Route 135 connecting Seattle, White Center and Burien.

East King County

• New all-day express service from Issaquah to Seattle on Sound Transit's ST Express Route 554, with stops at Eastgate and Mercer Island.
• New rush-hour service between Issaquah and Northgate on Sound Transit's ST Express Route 555, with a stop at the Bellevue Transit Center.
• New Metro Route 217 serving west-to-east commuters traveling to employment sites in Eastgate and north Issaquah.
• Restoring Saturday service on Route 209 between Issaquah, Fall City, Snoqualmie and North Bend.
• New Route 236 between Woodinville and Kirkland with all-day, 30-minute service via the Brickyard park-and-ride lot, Kingsgate, Evergreen Hospital and Totem Lake.
• Improved Route 232 two-way, rush-hour service between Bellevue and Redmond, and new direct commuter service to Bellevue from Duvall.
• New Route 245 with all-day, 30-minute service to the Overlake employment area from Kirkland, to Lake Hills, Eastgate and Factoria.
• Improved commuter service from the Houghton park-and-ride lot to downtown Seattle.
• Improving the span and frequency on Route 255 from Kingsgate to Seattle.
• New Route 238 connecting Bothell and Kirkland via Totem Lake, with service to the University of Washington Bothell, Cascadia Community College and Lake Washington Technical College.
• Adding trips on Route 311 connecting Duvall, Woodinville and Seattle.
• Improving mid-day service between Kenmore and Bellevue.
• Moving bus stops in downtown Bellevue to avoid construction at the Bellevue Transit Center, which is being expanded by Sound Transit.

Because these changes are so comprehensive, Sims urges bus riders to do a little homework in the next two weeks.

"I want to encourage bus riders to pick up the new orange timetables available tomorrow. Plus, they can visit our website or call our rider information line before these changes go into effect," Sims said. "We want to connect people with the best service possible, and avoid having riders miss a route that may have a new number or be traveling down a different street."

Sims said the service improvements entailed a great deal of work for Metro employees. During the months, weeks and days leading up to this huge service change, Metro produced 4.4 million paper timetables, 80,000 Rider Alert brochures and 100,000 system maps; installed new schedules at 4,700 bus stops; and changed nearly 1,600 bus stop signs.

Also, Metro staff will be at nine locations from Sept. 27-Oct. 3 to offer one-on-one rider assistance. These street teams will put in more than 900 hours on the Eastside, Renton and downtown Seattle to inform customers of changes to service.

For more detailed information, check out Metro Online at http://transit.metrokc.gov/, or call Metro Rider Information at (206) 553-3000. New orange timetables will be available Sept. 19, along with "Special Rider Alert" brochures, on buses and at Metro information racks, libraries, and work sites. Sound Transit information is available at www.soundtransit.org.

For more information:
Special Rider Alert -- September 2001
Changes in bus service for east King County
Changes in bus service for Seattle/north King County
Changes in bus service for south King County

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