News from King County Department of Transportation
Release date:  Feb. 20, 2008

Metro proposing new Kent East Hill bus service

Commuters in the Kent East Hill area are invited to comment on a new bus route being proposed by King County Metro Transit to provide more trips and a faster connection between their neighborhood and downtown Seattle.

Metro wants to operate the new Route 157 to serve Lake Meridian Park-and-Ride, Kent East Hill, and downtown Kent. It would then travel into Seattle via Southeast 208th Street, Southeast 212th Street, Orillia Road and Interstate 5. The earliest it would begin is September 2008.

There are currently two routing options under consideration, and Metro is seeking public input. An open house to share information and gather comments will be held: Wednesday, Feb. 27 from 7-9 p.m. at East Hill Friends Church, 22600 116th Ave. SE, Kent.

The deadline for comments is Friday, Feb. 29. They will be collected at the meeting, or by one of the following methods:

• Fill out an online questionnaire;
• Send email;
• Mail to: King County Department of Transportation, Community Relations, KSC-TR-0824, 201 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104.
• Or, phone (206) 684-1154.

This new service would be funded by the Transit Now initiative, a 10-year bus service expansion plan approved by King County voters in 2006.