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Metro is proposing to change bus service in certain areas or along specific corridors in September 2012. These changes are intended to create a more efficient system through the application of our newly adopted guidelines and the goals laid out in the Strategic Plan for Public Transportation, 2011-2021.

The proposal for September 2012 includes changes to:

• Routing (Which roads a bus travels on)
• Frequency* (The minutes between bus trips)
• Coverage (The extent of bus service)
• Span (The number of hours per day bus service is operating)
• Connections (The places where people can connect to other transit options)
• Links (Which bus routes are linked together)

*Frequency charts are included with the description of proposed changes for each route (under “Proposed changes” at the top of this page). The numbers listed often represent a range, with higher frequencies during the busiest parts of the day and lower frequencies on the edges of the time periods listed.

Metro is proposing to change about 60 routes. The list below summarizes the types of changes being proposed:

• New Routes: RapidRide C Line*, RapidRide D Line*, Routes 20*, 32*, and 50*
• Frequency or routing changes: Routes 1*, 2 (south part)*, 3 (north/south parts), 5*, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 (north/south parts), 15X*, 16*, 18*, 21, 21X*, 22*, 24, 27*, 28*, 30*, 33*, 37*, 55*, 56X*, 57*, 60, 75, 116X, 120*, 123X, 124, 125*, 128*, 131, 132, 156, 166
• Replace with other service: 2 (north part)*, 4 (north/south parts), 15, 17, 23, 34X, 39, 54, 54X, 56, 81, 85
• Delete: 35, 45X, 46, 51, 53, 133, 134
• No proposed change: 17X*, 18X*, 26*, 28X*, 31*, 48*, 355X*, 773*, 775*

*The proposal for this route has changed since the November, 2011 suggestions were shared with the public.

View an archived version of the November 2011 suggested changes »

When Metro launches the RapidRide C and D lines in September, these bus rapid transit lines will provide a backbone of new, frequent transit service between Ballard and West Seattle via downtown Seattle. To take advantage of this investment in new service, Metro plans to restructure other routes to complement the new RapidRide corridors in ways that increase connections and minimize duplication.

Metro is also proposing to change several routes that travel through downtown Seattle to improve flow through one of the most traffic-congested areas we serve. These changes are timely, since Metro is also scheduled to eliminate the Ride Free Area in downtown Seattle this fall (read our related blog post). This will mean that Metro, Sound Transit, and Community Transit riders will always pay when they board the bus. It’ll make the system easier to understand and use, but fare collection may add to bus delays and traffic congestion during the afternoon peak hours, when downtown Seattle streets and the transit tunnel are at or near capacity.

Every day, more than 10,000 passengers ride Metro buses on Third Avenue during the afternoon rush hour. To prepare for this change and decrease delays for transit riders, Metro is proposing to reduce or eliminate a number of turns onto and off of Third Avenue and shift some routes from Third to Second or Fourth Avenue. The proposed changes will affect about 24 routes that currently make some 40 turns between 3 and 6 p.m. onto or off of Third Avenue.

Metro kicked off its public outreach for the September 2012 service changes in November 2011 with a series of community open houses, information tables, and presentations to neighborhood groups. Thanks to all who participated in these outreach efforts-more than 5,000 people took the time to share their feedback.

Our second phase of public outreach, to gather input on that proposal, began in February and will end Feb. 29. Metro will then prepare a recommendation for King County Council to consider in the spring.

Metro’s Strategic Plan for Public Transportation 2011-2021 and associated service guidelines, adopted in July 2011, establish a vision for a public transportation system that makes good use of public funds, facilitates travel for more people, provides service throughout King County, and prioritizes service to people with limited travel options.

The Strategic Plan and associated service guidelines also provide direction for the service changes that Metro makes three times a year. With each service change, Metro seeks to:

• Improve the way the transit system functions as a whole. Metro makes changes to improve the quality of our bus service and to increase service in communities that are under-served. To accomplish this, Metro may reduce or eliminate poorly performing routes so that we can relieve overcrowding or improve on-time performance on heavily used routes, or satisfy unmet transit needs. Metro also strives to increase ridership by consolidating service and making it easier to understand and use.
• Make it easier for those with limited travel options to get around. Metro emphasizes social equity by allocating resources to communities where many people are likely to depend on transit to get around.
• Expand the number of places people can go on transit. Metro makes changes that allow people to make more kinds of trips. We seek to expand the number of possible connections by consolidating service and giving people more options to get to places directly or by changing to another bus. We also try to make these connections easier by increasing the frequency of our bus service and reducing the amount of time people wait at stops and transfer points.
• Preserve service throughout King County. Metro ensures geographic value by allocating resources to public transportation services throughout King County.
• Respond to changes that are made to cities and transportation systems. As times change and King County and its cities develop, so do our roadways, travel patterns and needs. Metro has to adapt to this changing environment to serve a greater number of people in more efficient and effective ways.