Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel
The Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel is open for bus and light rail service.
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General information about tunnel operation
Tunnel hours: Monday - Saturday: 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM; Sunday: 6:00 AM - Midnight
- The tunnel is part of downtown Seattle's Ride Free Area for buses. 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.
Central Link Light Rail is not a part of the Ride Free Area. Pay the Link light rail fare [external link] in the tunnel.
- 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 at any tunnel station.
- 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.
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Routes that operate in the tunnel, when the tunnel is open
The following buses serve all five tunnel stations when the tunnel is open:
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 and Saturdays before 5:00 AM and after 1:00 AM, and on Sundays and holidays before 6:00 AM and after midnight, 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
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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