Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel
The Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel is open for weekday bus service. Sound Transit light rail trains will join buses in the tunnel when the rail line begins operation between Downtown Seattle and the airport in 2009.
General information about tunnel operation
Tunnel hours: weekdays from 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
The tunnel is part of downtown Seattle's Ride Free Area. Bus riders do not pay a fare when boarding tunnel buses between 6:00 AM and 7:00 PM. If the bus leaves the Ride Free Area, the fare is due when exiting the bus. Fare payment is required when boarding all downtown buses prior to 6:00 AM and after 7:00 PM.
Safety information:
- Wait for buses behind the yellow line at the curb, do not lean out over the curb to see if a bus is approaching;
- Never walk across the tunnel roadway, always use the pedestrian overpasses and walkways;
- Never chase a bus or try to board or stop a moving bus.
- Watch your step when boarding and exiting your bus in the tunnel.
- Do not skateboard at the platform level.
- Visit Metro's Driven by safety page for general information about safety while using the Metro Transit system.
Bicyclists:
- Bicycles may be loaded or unloaded in the tunnel only at Convention Place Station on the north end and International District/Chinatown Station on the south end.
- Bicycles are accommodated on the outside bike racks of buses and in tunnel station elevators only.
- Bicycles are not allowed inside buses or on escalators.
- Walk bikes at the platform level.
- Read and print the cyclists' safety message [.PDF 27kb] for safety warnings.
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Routes that operate in the tunnel, when the tunnel is open
The following buses serve all five tunnel stations on weekdays from 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM:
Routes: 41, 71, 72, 73, 74 Express, 101, 106, 150, 174, 194, 212, 217 mornings only*, 225, 229, 255, 256, 301 and Sound Transit Regional Express 550.
* On weekdays Route 217 operates via 4th Avenue when arriving downtown during the afternoon.
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Surface street stops when the tunnel is closed
On weekdays before 5:00 AM and after 7:00 PM, and on weekends and holidays, and at other times when the tunnel is closed, tunnel routes operate along the following downtown surface streets.
Surface street stops near Convention Place Tunnel Station
- Routes 41 & 301
- To the North end - Eastbound on Olive Way at 4th, 6th & 8th Avenues
- To Downtown Seattle - Westbound on Stewart Street just east of 9th & 5th Avenues
- Routes 71, 72, 73 & 74E
- To the North end - Eastbound on Olive Way just west of 4th & 6th Avenues
- To Downtown Seattle - Westbound on Stewart Street just east of 9th & 5th Avenues
- Routes 101, 106 & 150
- To Renton or Kent - Westbound on Stewart Street just east of 7th & 5th Avenues
- To Downtown Seattle - Eastbound on Olive Way just west of 4th & 6th Avenues
- Route 174
- To S King County - Westbound on Stewart Street at 7th & 4th Avenues
- To Downtown Seattle - Northbound on 4th Avenue just north of Stewart or Lenora Streets
- Route 194
- To S King County - Westbound on Stewart Street at 7th & 4th Avenues
- To Downtown Seattle - Eastbound on Olive Way just west of 8th Avenue
- Routes 212, 217, 225 & 229
- To the East side - Westbound on Stewart Street at 7th & 4th Avenues
- To Downtown Seattle - Eastbound on Olive Way just west of 6th & 8th Avenues
- Routes 255 & 256
- To the East side - Eastbound on Olive Way at 8th & Terry Avenues
- To Downtown Seattle - Westbound on Stewart Street just west of Yale Avenue & just east of 7th Avenue
- ST Route 550
- To the East side - Westbound on Stewart Street at 7th & 4th Avenues
- To Downtown Seattle - Northbound on 4th Avenue just north of Stewart or Lenora Streets
Surface street stops near Pioneer Square, University Street & Westlake Tunnel Stations
- Routes 41, 71, 72, 73, 74 Ex & 301
- To the North end - Northbound on 3rd Avenue at James, Madison, Union & Pine Streets
- To Downtown Seattle - Southbound on 3rd Avenue at Pike, Seneca & Columbia Streets
- Routes 101, 106 & 150
- To Renton or Kent - Southbound on 3rd Avenue at Pike, Seneca & Columbia Streets
- To Downtown Seattle - Northbound on 3rd Avenue at James, Madison, Union & Pine Streets
- Routes 174 & 194
- To South King County - Southbound on 2nd Avenue at Pike, Seneca, Marion & James Streets
- To Downtown Seattle - Northbound on 4th Avenue at James, Marion, University & Pike Streets
- Routes 212, 217, 225, 229 & ST 550
- To East King County - Southbound on 2nd Avenue at Stewart, University, Spring & Cherry Streets
- To Downtown Seattle - Northbound on 4th Avenue at Cherry, Seneca & Union Streets
- Routes 255 & 256
- To East King County - Northbound on 4th Avenue at James, Madison, University & Pike Streets
- To Downtown Seattle - Southbound on 5th Avenue at all posted stops between Stewart & S Jackson Streets
Surface street stops near International District/Chinatown Tunnel Station
- Routes 41 & 301
- To the North end - Northbound on 4th Avenue S just north of S Jackson St - at the Transit Island
- To Downtown Seattle - Eastbound on Terrace St just west of 5th Avenue & Southbound on 5th Avenue S just south of S Jackson St
- Routes 71, 72, 73 & 74E
- To the North end - Westbound on S Jackson St just west of 5th Avenue S
- To Downtown Seattle - Eastbound on Terrace St just west of 5th Avenue & Southbound on 5th Avenue S just south of S Jackson St
- Routes 101, 106 & 150
- To Renton or Kent - Southbound on 3rd Avenue S just north of S Main St
- To Downtown Seattle - Northbound on 4th Avenue S just north of S Jackson St - at the Transit Island
- Routes 174 & 194
- To S King County - Southbound on the 2nd Avenue Ext S just north of S Jackson St
- To Downtown Seattle - Northbound 4th Avenue S just south of S Jackson St
- Routes 212, 217, 225, 229 & ST 550
- To the East side - Southbound on 5th Avenue S just south of S Jackson St
- To Downtown Seattle - Northbound on 5th Avenue S just north of S Jackson St
- Routes 255 & 256
- To the East side - Northbound on 5th Avenue S just north of S Jackson St
- To Downtown Seattle - Westbound on Stewart St just west of Yale Avenue & just east of 7th Ave
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Buying Bus Passes & Tickets
There is currently no pass sales office located at the Westlake Customer Stop on the mezzanine level of the Westlake Tunnel Station.
Purchase bus passes and tickets at the following downtown locations:
Westlake Customer Stop
Mezzanine level of the Westlake Tunnel Station
Seattle, WA
Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Metro's offices at: King Street Center near the International District/Chinatown Tunnel Station:
201 S. Jackson St.
Seattle, WA
Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Participating Bartell Drug Stores and QFC stores sell some fare media. Customers can also order ticketbooks and passes via Metro Online or call 206-624-PASS (7277).
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