King County Metro Transit has revised bus service, routing and schedules to update service. Metro says this includes making improvements to many routes that are currently overcrowded or frequently late or unreliable. The changes will also provide new some new connections.
The following routes will be discontinued: 38, 79, 129, 162, 175, 196, 219, 912 and 925. The areas these routes currently serve have other routes and transit options, but could have less service outside commute hours.
Other changes include:
- New Rt. 178 will provide peak-period express service between the South Federal Way Park-and-Ride, the Federal Way Transit Center, and downtown Seattle. It replaces Rt. 196;
- Rt. 180 will have extended hours of service between Burien and Auburn via Kent. The extended night trips will provide consistent levels of service seven days a week between southeast Auburn and the Burien Transit Center via Kent Station/Transit Center and SeaTac/Airport Station;
- Routes 25 and 348 will both have routing revisions on the University of Washington campus;
- A new express stop will be added at Elliott Avenue and Harrison Street to serve the routes 15 E, 17 E, and 18 E;
- Sunday service on routes 71, 72, and 73 will be improved to every 10 minutes between Cowen Park and downtown Seattle;
- Rt. 99 will operate a later evening schedule for the summer;
- More trips will be added to Rt. 218 to Issaquah Highlands and some will be reduced on Rt. 212 to Eastgate to explore options to relieve overcrowding on the I-90 corridor.
In preparation for the elimination of the Ride Free Area in September, some bus routes in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel will begin using Bay A on trips inbound to Seattle. This affects routes 212, 216, 217 and 218.
