Transit Now: Expanding transit service in King County
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The Transit Now initiative to expand Metro Transit service was approved by King County voters in the general election in November 2006. The measure was intended to help Metro keep pace with regional growth by expanding service by 15 to 20 percent over the next 10 years. It is funded by a one-tenth of one percent sales tax increase that cost the median-income household about $25 in the first year, a cost that is expected to grow to $35 in the 10th year.
The first improvements were rolled out as part of the February 2007 service change, with 16,000 annual service hours added to 10 existing bus routes. More new hours were added at the June and September service changes, for a total increase of 37,000 annual service hours in the first year of Transit Now.
Longer-range improvements will include the creation of new bus rapid transit service in five busy corridors, more bus service on high-ridership routes and in growing residential areas, and improvements to Metro’s existing Rideshare and paratransit services. To support this increased service, Metro is adding new buses to its fleet and replacing aging buses. Many of the new buses are hybrid diesel-electric coaches with air conditioning, security cameras, “SmartCard” fareboxes, and the latest communication systems.
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Why expand Metro service
The county’s need for transit service is growing along with its population and economy. In the 10 years following passage of Transit Now, the county is expected to add 250,000 new jobs and welcome more than 150,000 new residents. Without increases in transit, this growth would be adding significantly to the traffic congestion we already face (see projected growth chart at right).
Increasing the use of transit is also helping King County combat global warming and support livable, healthy communities. Metro’s increasing use of green vehicles such as electric trolley and hybrid diesel-electric buses, and cleaner-burning fuels such as biodiesel and Ultra Low Sulfur diesel, add to the environmental advantage of combining many riders in a single vehicle. Metro’s wide range of transportation alternatives, including vanpools, carpools, and Access paratransit—and its support of choices such as shared cars, biking and walking—make transit a powerful tool to help reduce pollution and support active, healthy lifestyles.
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Transit Now funding
The service improvements under Transit Now are being funded through a one-tenth of one percent increase in the sales tax in King County. This increase was expected to cost the average household in King County an estimated $25 in 2007.
View a chart showing a map of the whole system (PDF, 625KB).
Transit Now service improvements
The new service is being concentrated in five key areas. See the chart at right for an overview, or learn more about each area of improvement by following the links below or in the navigation column at the top of this page.
- Bringing new bus rapid transit service, under the name RapidRide, to five busy corridors (details)
- Offering more all-day, two-way service to high-ridership routes that connect residential, business, and recreational centers (details)
- Providing new bus service for growing residential areas (details)
- Forming partnerships with major employers and cities to add new service in rapidly expanding employment centers (details)
- Additional improvements such as expanded ride-share and paratransit services in King County (details)
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Schedule
The Transit Now ordinance [PDF, 653KB] specifies that the funded service improvements are to be brought on line over the 10 years following passage of the ordinance. The first of these improvements were made in February 2007, with more following in June and September. A phasing and implementation plan for the remaining improvements was established as Metro updated its Strategic Plan for Public Transportation (formerly the Six-Year Transit Development Plan) in 2007.
Contact us
If you have questions or comments about Transit Now, please call the Metro Transit message line at 206-684-1146.
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Last update: March 26, 2008