News from King County Department of Transportation
Release date:  Sept. 11, 2007

Metro tunnel reopening brings bus service changes

Service change begins Saturday, Sept. 22; tunnel reopens Monday, Sept. 24

King County Metro Transit is gearing up for a major service change starting Saturday, Sept. 22 – but the biggest change happens two days later with the reopening of Metro’s downtown Seattle bus tunnel on Monday, Sept. 24.

Eighteen bus routes will operate in the 1.3-mile long tunnel, Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sound Transit Link light rail trains will join buses in the tunnel in 2009, when the light rail line from Westlake Station to Tukwila International Blvd Station opens. The light rail extension to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will open by the end of 2009.

With the reopening of the transit tunnel this month, Metro is also taking the opportunity to make changes to some surface-street bus routes to balance traffic volumes and relieve congestion in the downtown Seattle core – particularly during peak commute times.

Once buses return to the tunnel, more than 20 other routes will be moved to Third Avenue to take advantage of the transit priority corridor that exists from 6-9 a.m. and 3-6:30 p.m. on weekdays. These traffic restrictions have made Third Avenue a faster and more reliable corridor for transit operations through downtown during morning and afternoon commute times. These, and other changes, will allow Metro to reduce the number of buses on First, Second, Fourth and Fifth avenues.

Those are not the only changes in store for bus passengers this month. Here are some highlights of the September transit service change. If a route is not listed below, it either has minimal or no changes, but it is best to check the new timetables:

• The tunnel will be served by Metro routes 41, 71, 72, 73, 74 Express, 101, 106, 150, 174, 194, 212, 217 (mornings only), 225, 229, 255, 256, 301, and Sound Transit Express 550;
• Bus routes traveling through downtown Seattle that begin moving to Third Avenue on Sept. 22 include: 2 Express, 5, 11, 16, 17, 21 Express (mornings only), 23, 35, 54, 55, 56 Express (mornings only), 66, 113, 116, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 125 and 358. Like other Third Avenue routes, these buses will make alternating stops and not serve every bus stop on the street;
• Bus routes that enter and exit downtown Seattle via the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be revised to operate on Third Avenue instead of First Avenue when traveling north of Columbia Street. Changes are being made to Seneca and Columbia streets to move the buses more efficiently between the viaduct and Third Avenue. This includes new bus stops on Columbia and Seneca streets between Second and Third avenues;
• Thanks to the Transit Now initiative approved by voters last year, there will be more service added on routes 25, 75, 234 and 269;
• A few trips have been eliminated on routes 162, 177, 179 and 272 based on demand and ridership. Check the new timetables for the complete schedule on these routes;
• There is more service on two routes serving the University of Washington. Route 372 has four extra morning trips, operating just when the UW is in session. Route 373 has two new morning and three new afternoon trips every weekday;
• One morning and one afternoon trip will be added to Route 918, and other trip times will be adjusted to coincide with Sounder train trips at the Kent Station.

Metro updates its routes and scheduling three times a year in February, June and September to improve service and keep up with the changing needs of transit passengers. Bus passengers should pick up a new red timetable to see if there are any changes for the routes they regularly use.

Details of all these changes are included in a special Rider Alert brochure. The Rider Alerts and new red timetables will be available on buses and in Metro information racks this week. Transit customers can do some advance planning by visiting Metro’s Online Trip Planner. Enter a travel date for Sept. 22 or later to find trips that reflect Metro's new and changed service. New schedules will be posted in Metro Online on Friday, Sept. 21.

Sometimes people need more than just bus service. That’s where Rideshare Services can help by providing resources for carpooling, vanpooling or vansharing. Carpooling and vanpooling match people traveling to common destinations. VanShare helps those who need to make a connection to or from bus service.

For information about all the services Metro provides, visit Metro Online, or call Metro Rider Information at (206) 553-3000.