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Keeping up with changing demands
for bus service in South King County
 King
County Metro Transit wants to hear from passengers about proposed
changes to bus service in South King County, and is hosting five public
meetings to gather input.
The meetings will be held:
● Thursday, Jan. 26 from 5-8 p.m.
Auburn City Hall Council Chambers
25 W. Main St., Auburn
● Tuesday, Jan. 31 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Kent Campus of Green River Community College
417 W. Ramsey Way, Room 237 (Kent Station), Kent
● Tuesday, Jan. 31 from 5-8 p.m.
Kent Campus of Green River Community College
417 W. Ramsey Way, Room 237 (Kent Station), Kent
● Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 7-8:30 p.m. (Route 173 change only)
Calvary Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall
2415 South 320th St., Federal Way
● Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 7-8:30 p.m. (Route 167 change only)
Renton High School Commons
400 South Second St., Renton
Changes are being proposed for bus service in and around the following
areas: Auburn; Kent; Sea-Tac Airport; Maple Valley/Four Corners; Tukwila
Commuter Rail Station; Kent East Hill; Glencarin/North Meridian Park;
Covington; Enumclaw; and Black Diamond. Changes are also being proposed
to commuter bus services between Federal Way and the Duwamish Area, and
between Auburn, Kent, Renton, and the University District.
 Last
fall, Metro hosted a series of open-house meetings to gather ideas for
service improvements. That resulted in proposals that could include new
bus service and changes to existing routes, and could shift some bus
service to areas that are currently under-served. Comments collected
between now and mid February will help King County Metro Transit decide
which, if any, of these changes to make.
Proposed changes include:
● Shorten core Route 150 so that all trips end in Kent, but service
levels double to every 15 minutes all day long Monday through Saturday;
● Create new Route 180, replacing portions of existing routes 150 and
151 between southeast Auburn, Auburn Station, and Kent Station and
extending to Sea-Tac Airport during expanded peak hours 3-8 a.m. and
12:45-5:45 p.m. to match commuter shift times;
● Replace routes 151, 160 and 163 with new service;
● Discontinue Route 173 between Federal Way and the Duwamish area, and
Route 912 between Covington and Enumclaw; and
● Other changes to routes 152, 154, 167, 168, 185, 186 and 915.
“Metro Transit is facing increased demand for public transportation
improvements, at a time when limited resources are available to improve
bus service,” said Metro’s Manager of Service Development Victor Obeso.
“Making the best possible use of the service hours already on the street
– and the buses and transit facilities now in place – are important
reasons to consider potential changes. It also makes sense for Metro to
plan ahead for a time when more resources will be available for transit
improvements.”
For those who can’t attend any of the public open houses in January and
February, Metro has posted a
questionnaire online for feedback about South County service. That
questionnaire is also being mailed to 125,000 area households. More
detailed information about the proposed changes are included on the
website and in the mailing.
Comments are due by: Wednesday, Feb. 8 on the Route 173 proposal;
Friday, Feb. 10 on the Auburn-Kent-Tukwila proposals; and Friday, Feb.
17 on the Route 167 proposal.
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