News from King County Department of Transportation
Release date:  Jan. 19, 2006

Metro Transit hosts meetings to review proposed changes for bus service in South King County

King County Metro Transit wants to hear from passengers about proposed changes to bus service in South King County, and is hosting five public meetings to gather input. The changes could affect routes: 150, 151, 152, 154, 160, 163, 167, 168, 173, 185, 186, 912 and 915.

The meetings will be held:

• Thursday, Jan. 26 from 5-8 p.m.
  Auburn City Hall Council Chambers
  25 W. Main St., Auburn
  
• Tuesday, Jan. 31 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  Kent Campus of Green River Community College
  417 W. Ramsey Way, Room 237 (Kent Station), Kent
  
• Tuesday, Jan. 31 from 5-8 p.m.
  Kent Campus of Green River Community College
  417 W. Ramsey Way, Room 237 (Kent Station), Kent
  
• Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 7-8:30 p.m. (Route 173 change only)
  Calvary Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall
  2415 South 320th St., Federal Way
  
• Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 7-8:30 p.m. (Route 167 change only
  Renton High School Commons
  400 South Second St., Renton

Changes are being proposed for bus service in and around the following areas: Auburn; Kent; Sea-Tac Airport; Maple Valley/Four Corners; Tukwila Commuter Rail Station; Kent East Hill; Glencarin/North Meridian Park; Covington; Enumclaw; and Black Diamond. Changes are also being proposed to commuter bus services between Federal Way and the Duwamish Area, and between Auburn, Kent, Renton, and the University District.

Last fall, Metro hosted a series of open-house meetings to gather ideas for service improvements. That resulted in proposals that could include new bus service and changes to existing routes, and could shift some bus service to areas that are currently under-served. Comments collected between now and mid February will help Metro Transit decide which, if any, of these changes to make.

Proposed changes include:

• Shorten core Route 150 so that all trips end in Kent, but service levels double to every 15 minutes all day long Monday through Saturday;
  
• Create new Route 180, replacing portions of existing routes 150 and 151 between southeast Auburn, Auburn Station, and Kent Station and extending to Sea-Tac Airport during expanded peak hours 3-8 a.m. and 12:45-5:45 p.m. to match commuter shift times;
  
• Replace routes 151, 160 and 163 with new service;
  
• Discontinue Route 173 between Federal Way and the Duwamish area, and Route 912 between Covington and Enumclaw; and
  
• Other changes to routes 152, 154, 167, 168, 185, 186 and 915.

“Metro Transit is facing increased demand for public transportation improvements at a time when limited resources are available to improve bus service,” said Metro’s Manager of Service Development Victor Obeso. “Making the best possible use of the service hours already on the street – and the buses and transit facilities now in place – are important reasons to consider potential changes. It also makes sense for Metro to plan ahead for a time when more resources will be available for transit improvements.”

For those who can’t attend any of the public open houses in January and February, Metro has posted the questionnaires online for feedback about South County service. That questionnaire was also mailed to 125,000 area households. More detailed information about the proposed changes are included on the website and in the mailing. Also, people can call the message line at (206) 684-1146 to record comments.

Comments are due by: Wednesday, Feb. 8 on the Route 173 proposal; Friday, Feb. 10 on the Auburn-Kent-Tukwila proposals; and Friday, Feb. 17 on the Route 167 proposal.