The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced a $79.7 million construction grant award to Seattle’s King County Metro to support a bus rapid transit (BRT) line that will provide fast, frequent, and reliable service between the cities of Renton, Auburn, and Kent, located south of Seattle. 

The grant for the new RapidRide I Line, which will feature rebranded “green” hybrid electric buses, was funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

King County Metro’s New BRT Line

King County’s RapidRide I Line will improve travel times and the rider experience over a heavily traveled King County Metro bus line by providing nearly two miles of exclusive bus-only lanes and transit signal priority to speed riders on their way. 

The BRT will also include off-board fare payment, all-door boarding, and weekday service every 10 to 15 minutes during the day.

The 17-mile route will have 41 new stations that include shelters, lighting, and real-time arrival information. 

The RapidRide I Line will also improve rider connections in the regional system, including the RapidRide F Line, Sound Transit buses, and Sounder commuter rail. 

The I Line will be the 10th to open as part of the RapidRide network, adding to a robust regional BRT system with current daily ridership of about 63,000 trips. 

“King County has grown by nearly 20 percent since 2010, increasing the need for high-capacity transit. The RapidRide I Line will provide a cleaner, faster ride for thousands of riders in Southern King County, including in areas of the county with some of the highest proportions of low-income and minority residents,” said FTA Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool. “We are pleased to continue our partnership with King County Metro to improve transit connections across the region, as communities across the country, such as King County, continue to benefit from America’s largest-ever investment in high-quality public transportation." 

Benefits of the New Line

An estimated 50,000 jobs would be served by the project, including job centers in downtown Renton, Kent, and Auburn; two major medical centers; and the Auburn Municipal Airport. 

Each city also plans transit-oriented development around key stations to facilitate growth and opportunity.

The federal support for the estimated $168.5 million project comes from FTA’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program, which helps communities carry out transformational transit projects.