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Department of Transportation
Department of Transportation

Metro Transit Division

Metro Transit is the name more than 1.6 million customers use to refer to the Transit Division of the King County Department of Transportation. Metro twice has been honored as the best-run large public transportation system in North America.

Public transportation

Metro operates about 1,300 buses—including standard coaches, electric trolleys, dual-powered and articulated buses—that serve an annual ridership of about 100 million within a 2,134 square-mile area.

But Metro Transit is more than buses. For nearly 30 years, Metro has been committed to providing environmentally healthy and energy-wise transportation.

King County Metro operates the largest publicly operated vanpool program in the country—putting more than 700 on the road for nearly 3 million trips per year. The regional ridematch system links Pierce Transit, Community Transit and the University of Washington to help commuters form and sustain new carpools and vanpools in seven counties by matching names in a computer database.

All Metro buses are 100 percent accessible.

To help meet future needs and ease severe downtown traffic congestion, Metro operates a 1.3-mile electric bus tunnel underneath downtown Seattle, making stops at Convention Place, Westlake, University Street, Pioneer Square and the International District.

To find out more about Metro Transit, see Transit Facts and Figures, or the employee newsletter, In Transit.

How Metro is governed

Metro Transit is part of the King County Department Transportation. The other divisions are the King County International Airport, Fleet Administration, Road Services, and Community and Administrative Services. The Metropolitan King County Council, the legislative branch of county government, adopts laws, sets policies and holds final approval over the budget.

The King County Executive is the elected executive officer of county government.

Last update: November 20, 2007


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