King County Exec Proposes Bus Network Upgrades

King County Executive Dow Constantine proposed new and improved transit services that will allow riders in Seattle, Shoreline, and Snohomish County to better connect with a regional transit system.

If the proposed changes are adopted by the King County Council, initial upgrades to the Metro bus network will begin with the Aug. 31 service change alongside the launch of the RapidRide G Line.

Construction efforts are wrapping up in the next few months as the City of Seattle completes street and sidewalk improvements for the RapidRide G Line, and Sound Transit prepares for the launch of Link 1 Line stations northward to Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, and Lynnwood.

The RapidRide G Line project and Sound Transit Link expansion represent more than $3.1 billion in public transportation projects scheduled for completion this year.

With accompanying bus service upgrades, the integrated public transportation network will improve transit connections and expand the service that people rely on.

“Riders across the region will have more ways to travel than ever with these two game-changing improvements,” said King County Metro GM Michelle Allison. “We are excited to maintain the momentum of bringing more people to transit and we do so by centering our service on the needs and voices of riders, and that helps us deliver an all-day, all-week transit network that people want.”

Proposed RapidRide G Line Project Improvements

By integrating surrounding Metro bus routes with the RapidRide G Line launching on Aug. 31, people traveling to, from, and along Madison Street and the surrounding neighborhoods will gain access to connections to jobs, education, recreation, and essential services.

Proposed revisions and improvements are for routes 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 47, 49, and 60. The improvements were guided by community members through over 3,600 survey responses and in person with over 600 people during information sessions.

Service highlights include:

• Extending some Route 3 trips to western Capitol Hill where the former Route 47 operated
• Streamlining service by shifting Routes 11 and 12 to better serve other destinations near Madison Street
• Revising Route 11 to maintain connections to Capitol Hill Station and other destinations
• Continuing frequent service where priority transportation needs are greatest, and where rider demand is highest
• Increasing frequency on Route 60 on weekdays and weekends between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. to provide more frequent north-south bus service connecting Capitol Hill, First Hill, Beacon Hill, South Park, and southwest Seattle.

New Bus Services with Sound Transit 

Also this year, Sound Transit will extend Link 1 Line service 8.5 miles between Northgate and Lynnwood and open four new stations.

Once launched, Metro will begin network upgrades that integrate new bus services with the Sound Transit system. The proposed legislation adds five new bus routes, revises nine routes, and replaces 11 routes in phases.

To prepare for this major expansion, Metro engaged for over two years with riders and the community-based Lynnwood Link Mobility Board to guide and develop the proposed updates to the transit network.

Highlights of the final bus network in the project area include:

• More overall weekday trips (+9%) and weekend trips (+32%)
• More evening trips after 10 p.m. (+43%)
• Increased span of service on weekday and weekend routes
• Net increase of three frequent routes that arrive every 15 minutes or better, and four existing routes with frequency improvements
• Three new and three improved east-west routes

Metro also is introducing a new, on-demand Metro Flex service area in Lake Forest Park, north Kenmore, Brier, and southeast Mountlake Terrace. This service will improve connections to community destinations, schools, and other transit services, including Sound Transit’s Link light rail and future bus rapid transit.