Media Center
Transportation Today
News Releases
DOT Flix
Inside Transportation
Archives

Alerts
RPIN Breaking News
Road Alerts
My Commute

King Co. DOT
KCDOT Home Page
Metro Transit
Road Services
KC International Airport
Fleet Administration

You are in: Transportation > Transportation Today > News

News from King County Department of Transportation
Release date:  April 4, 2008
 

Partnerships signed to deliver more local bus service
King County delivers on next Transit Now promise to voters

In less than six months, bus riders will get another big boost in transit service through a set of 16 innovative partnerships between King County Metro Transit and local cities and businesses. By the end of 2008, more than 100,000 hours of Metro service will have been added in just 18 months through the voter-approved Transit Now initiative, which also helps fund these partnerships.

“By combining our resources, more than 20 public and private partners are leveraging voter-approved tax dollars to generate even more transit service for King County’s residents and commuters,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “We are the first transit agency in the country to initiate this kind of partnership, so these mark another innovative Transit Now milestone for King County.”

Sims signed the ordinance this week formalizing the 16 partnerships, and said over the next several years the agreements will result in four new bus routes, more trips on at least 25 existing routes, and traffic improvements on city streets that will improve the speed and reliability on two RapidRide corridors for bus rapid transit service.

The partnerships are yet another phase of the Transit Now initiative, a 10-year bus service expansion plan approved by voters in 2006. The first partnership was launched last fall with Children's Hospital sharing the cost for extra service on Routes 25 and 75 in Seattle.

Even more service will roll out next September as four new partnerships take effect. The remaining 11 partnerships will be phased in over the next five years. (see list below)

The partner cities and businesses are making either direct financial contributions for at least five years or roadway improvements that speed up transit service. The partners’ financial contributions must cover at least one-third of the cost of added transit service, and the speed-and-reliability partnerships must increase transit speeds by at least 10 percent.

When completed, the 16 partnerships will result in a total of 131,000 hours of additional bus service on major urban corridors throughout the county.

The partnerships are one of five major components of the Transit Now initiative, which has been steadily enhancing bus service across the county since approved by voters.

In addition to the improvements already made and these partnerships, Metro is working to increase transit service for rapidly developing communities such as North Bend, Snoqualmie, Carnation, Maple Valley, Black Diamond, and the Kent East Hill.

Metro also continues to develop five RapidRide routes to be introduced beginning in 2010. The RapidRide corridors include Pacific Highway South, Bellevue-Redmond, West Seattle, Ballard and Aurora Avenue.

Here is a list, organized by community, of the service improvements being funded by the Transit Now partnerships over the next five years. Some of the service overlaps more than one area:

Auburn: In 2010, the city of Auburn and King County will partner to provide better connections between Auburn neighborhoods, the Auburn Sounder Station, and southwest Auburn on Metro’s existing Route 919 and a new community shuttle route. Another partnership between Metro, Auburn, and Pierce Transit will create a new shuttle service during peak commute hours between Lakeland Hills and the train station.

Ballard: This September a partnership with the city of Seattle takes effect, including an agreement to provide more frequent service on three routes serving Ballard and adjacent neighborhoods. In September, there will be more service on local routes 26, 28 and 44. In 2009, Metro and the city add service on Route 48, followed by additional trips on routes 5 and 75 in 2010.

Bellevue: For Bellevue, there are two city-county partnerships that will increase transit options. By 2010, a new circulator bus route will be moving people around downtown Bellevue. Another agreement between Metro, Bellevue, and Redmond will result in traffic signal changes on city streets, which will improve transit flow for the Bellevue-Redmond RapidRide line that will connect the two downtown cores by 2011.

Capitol Hill: This September there will be more service on Metro routes 3, 4 and 14 that serve Southeast Seattle. Then in 2009, service increases on Route 48, followed by additional trips on routes 7 and 60 in 2010. Another groundbreaking partnership has been drawn up between Metro and the Harborview, Swedish, and Virginia Mason medical centers to share the cost of a new bus route for commuters, patients, and hospital visitors traveling to and from First Hill. The new route is planned to begin in 2011, and will provide bus service between the three medical centers and the bus, light rail, train and ferry service in downtown Seattle. The new route will operate weekday mornings between 5-10 a.m. and in the afternoon and evenings between 3 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Federal Way: In 2010, Federal Way and the county will beef up service on Metro’s existing Route 187 with more mid-day and evening service Mondays through Saturdays.

International District: In September, there will be more service on Route 14. Then in 2010, Metro and the city will add service on routes 7 and 60. The new route that begins in 2011 to connect the major medical centers on First Hill will also make stops in the International District.

Issaquah: An agreement with Issaquah, Redmond, Sammamish, and Microsoft will provide more frequent service on Metro’s existing Route 269 starting this September. Then in 2010, the Route 200 will be expanded to serve both the Issaquah Highlands and Talus neighborhoods. Metro, the city, Port Blakely Communities, Timber Ridge at Talus, and the Talus Residential Association will fund this service expansion.

Kenmore: Metro, Microsoft, and Redmond will provide continued service on Metro’s existing temporary Route 644 which will become Route 244 in September. Funding for the route was due to run out this fall. Now, it will continue to operate weekdays between Kenmore and Overlake via Finn Hill and Kingsgate, plus along the Willows Road corridor in Redmond.

Kent: In September, the cities of Kent and Renton partner with Metro to add mid-day service on existing Route 153 to better connect the residential, retail, and employment corridor between the cities along Lind Avenue Southwest and the East Valley Road. Then in 2009, the Route 913 will debut with service connecting residential areas in the west and northwest sections of the city to downtown Kent. It will operate with all-day service Monday through Saturday.

Kirkland: Metro, Microsoft, and Redmond will provide continued service on Metro’s existing temporary Route 644 which will become Route 244 in September. Funding for the route was due to run out this fall. Now, it will continue to operate weekdays between Kenmore and Overlake via Finn Hill and Kingsgate, plus along the Willows Road corridor in Redmond.

Madison Park: In September, Metro and the city of Seattle will roll out more service on Route 11. Then in 2009, Metro and the city will add service on Route 48, followed by additional trips on Route 8 in 2010.

North Seattle & University District: This September’s service change will include more service on local routes 26, 28 and 44. Then in 2009, service will increase on Route 48, followed by additional trips on routes 5, 74 and 75 in 2010.

Queen Anne: This September’s service change will include more service on local routes 3 and 4. In 2009, Metro and the city will increase service on routes 2 and 13, followed by additional trips on routes 8 and 74 in 2010.

Redmond: The current temporary Route 644 will become regular Route 244 in September thanks to an agreement with Metro, Microsoft, and the city of Redmond. It will continue to operate weekdays between Kenmore and Overlake via Finn Hill and Kingsgate, plus along the Willows Road corridor. Also, Redmond, Issaquah, Sammamish, and Microsoft will provide more frequent service on Metro’s existing Route 269 starting this September. Another agreement between Metro, Redmond, and Bellevue will result in traffic signal changes on city streets, which will improve transit flow for the Bellevue-Redmond RapidRide line that will connect the two downtown cores by 2011.

Renton: In September, Renton, Kent, and Metro will add mid-day service on Metro’s existing Route 153 to better connect the residential, retail, and employment corridor between the cities along Lind Avenue Southwest and the East Valley Road. Then by 2010, Renton and the county will increase service on the Route 110 to every 30 minutes between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Also, the route will be extended north to Coulon Park and south to the commercial area around Southwest 27th Street.

Sammamish: In September, an agreement with Sammamish, Redmond, Issaquah, and Microsoft will provide more frequent service on Metro’s existing Route 269. Service will be increased on that route to run every 20 minutes during peak commute times, which will give local residents and workers at the Microsoft campus in the Overlake area more commute options.

SeaTac: The new Route 913, a partnership with Metro and Kent, will debut in 2009 with service connecting residential areas in southwest SeaTac to downtown Kent with all-day service Monday through Saturday.

Southeast Seattle: This September’s service change will include more service on local routes 3, 4 and 14. Then in 2009, Metro and the city will add service on Route 48, followed by additional trips on routes 7 and 60 in 2010.

White Center: For West Seattle and White Center, there are two city-county partnerships that will increase transit options. By 2010, Route 60 will have additional weekday trips and weekend service to White Center. The two partners are also teaming up to plan street improvements that will set the stage for the debut of the West Seattle RapidRide line in 2011.
 

Updated:  April 04, 2008

DOT Home
Metro | Planning | Roadways | Alternatives
Happenings | Airport | Site Map

King County | News | Services | Comments | Search