September 2008 Metro Transit Service Improvements for Seattle

The Metropolitan King County Council approved Proposed Ordinance 2008-0228 providing public transportation service improvements for King County starting in September 2008.

The September 2008 Metro Transit service improvements incorporate some of the specific service initiatives included in the Transit Now Program which voters approved in 2006. Transit Now called for new service for high-ridership and bus rapid transit corridors, rapidly developing areas, and partnerships with cities and employers. The Transit Now Program is to be phased in through 2016.

In Seattle, the improvements that will come on line in September include adding 21,582 annual service hours to increase frequencies on Routes 3 , 4 , 10, 11, 12, 26, 28, and 44. These increases are funded through Transit Now’s Service Partnership Program with one-third of the revenue provided by the City of Seattle.

Additionally, weekday midday shuttle service will be added to Route 46 , which currently provides peak-period service between Golden Gardens Park, Ballard, and Wallingford. This service is not part of the Transit Now Program, but will be funded through minor cuts to low performing routes. The midday service on Route 46 will partially restore service lost when the Route 86 was cut in 2000 due to revenue losses from voter approval of Initiative 695.