Alerts Center

When streets are snowy or icy, Metro may reroute buses away from hills onto flatter roads. Buses may also shift from neighborhood streets onto arterials that are more likely to be plowed.

To find the planned snow route for your bus, check the map in your printed time-table or on Metro Online. Look up your route map:

The maps will show the regular route and a dashed line for the snow route. Metro may operate chained shuttles along hilly portions of some routes to help connect riders to rerouted service. Chained shuttles are signed "Shuttle."

The Snow, Ice & Flood Map will show where buses have been moved to their snow routes.

Special snow service for downtown Seattle, First Hill and Capitol Hill

When the Central Seattle area color on the Snow, Ice & Flood Map turns RED or BLUE, Metro will also activate service on its special Route 90 circulator route. The Route 90 number will not be on the bus stop signs. However, the Route 90 will serve all bus stops along the route shown in the map below. Route 90 will provide about three trips per hour and operate between approximately 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Sign up for Transit Alerts. Metro will e-mail or text you alerts about changes in service for bus routes you select.

Visit the Alerts Center. Learn about changes to bus service because of snow or other disruptions. You'll find the Snow, Ice & Flood Map showing where buses have been rerouted because of snow, a list of all rerouted buses, and links to descriptions of snow routes and Metro's Emergency Service Network.

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Call Metro's Customer Information Office at 206-553-3000. Metro's customer information specialists will answer your questions about transit service. Interpreters are available. During bad weather, wait times may be longer than usual, so consider using Metro Online and Transit Alerts to get information faster.

Remember that the Metro Online Trip Planner does not show service revisions, delays or cancellations. This also applies to other trip planning programs not hosted by King County.

The Metro Online Tracker program may not be accurate when buses go on snow routes. This also applies to other transit tracker programs not hosted by King County, such as One Bus Away.

Metro will announce how weather is affecting its bus routes in seven areas of King County. Some or all of the routes in each area could be rerouted, based on weather and road conditions.

Bus operations in effect in each area are shown by four colors:

Use the map on the Snow, Ice & Flood page to find out if your bus has been rerouted due to snow, ice or flood. Bus service status will be indentified by one of four colors.

Green means buses are operating on regular routes in that area.

Yellow means some buses are on reroute. In Metro Online, click on a yellow area to find out which buses have been rerouted and link to more detailed information about your selected route.

Red means all buses in that area are on reroute and some routes may be canceled. In Metro Online, click on a red area to learn which routes are running and link to more detailed information about your selected route.

Blue means the Emergency Service Network is in effect. In the rare event that Metro declares a snow emergency, the entire map will be blue. The Emergency Service Network is explained further below.

The Metro Online Alerts Center will display the most up-to-date map. You may also hear the map areas mentioned on news reports.

Know the name of the geographic area where you live and work and remember the color codes. They will help you when you hear or receive reports about Metro's snow service.

During the worst weather or other emergencies, Metro may activate its Emergency Service Network (ESN).

That means Metro service will be severely reduced to 52 core bus routes serving only key arterials and transit centers. Some neighborhoods and areas of the county will have no bus service because of difficult travel conditions or geography.

The Snow, Ice & Flood map on Metro Online will be BLUE when the ESN is activated. Metro will also send alerts to all customers who have signed up for Metro Transit Alerts. Customers without internet access should pay close attention to television and radio weather bulletins that refer to "Metro's Emergency Service Network."

This table lists the routes in operation when the ESN is in effect. Please note that when the ESN is activated during snow and ice conditions, routes will follow their usual snow routes, and the origins and destinations may change from the list below. Please refer to route maps linked below to see the normal routing and snow routing for each ESN route.

The ESN is designed to be reliable during the most severe weather conditions. Each ESN route (except Route 2) will follow its normal operating schedule as best as possible. The Route 2 shuttle will operate about four trips per hour between approximately 5:30 am to 1:00 a.m. Please note that there may be delays due to unexpected road conditions. Please check the Metro Online Alerts Center at www.kingcounty.gov/metro/alerts for the latest information.

Changes to routes 2, 3 and 4 during ESN operations are as follows:

• Only the shuttle portion of Route 2 will operate

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• Only the southern portion of Route 3 will operate

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• Only the northern portion of Route 4 will operate

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Special snow service for downtown Seattle, First Hill and Capitol Hill

When the Central Seattle area color on the Snow, Ice & Flood Map turns RED or BLUE, Metro will also activate service on its special Route 90 circulator route. The Route 90 number will not be on the bus stop signs. However, the Route 90 will serve all bus stops along the route shown in the map below. Route 90 will provide about three trips per hour and operate between approximately 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Note that the special Route 90 follows the same route in ESN conditions as it does when the Central Seattle area on the Snow, Ice & Flood map turns RED.

• Sign up for Metro Transit Alerts to get snow, ice and flood alerts sent to you
• Bookmark the Metro Alerts Center
• Pick up a printed timetable for your route early in the season when they're likely to be available. These timetables show snow routes. Snow maps by route are also shown on Metro Online
• Familiarize yourself with school, daycare and employer snow policies.
• Save the Metro Customer Information number, 206-553-3000.

Before you travel, check weather reports and find out from Metro if your bus has been rerouted.

• Check the Snow, Ice & Flood Map to see what areas are affected by snow, and which routes are on reroute.
• Some routes may be affected by conditions in other areas.
• Find the planned snow route for your bus in your printed timetable or on Metro Online.
• Know other bus routes or stops that would work for you if your regular service is delayed or rerouted. You may find more bus service on cleared arterials, at major transit hubs, and at park-and-rides.
• Expect unpredictable delays in bus service caused by traffic, street or weather conditions. Prepare to wait longer at your bus stop. Travel times may be slower than normal.
• Remember that the Metro Online Trip Planner does not show service revisions, delays or cancellations. This also applies to other trip planning programs not hosted by King County.
• The Metro Online Tracker program may not be accurate when buses go on snow routes. This also applies to other transit tracker programs not hosted by King County
• When streets are slick, wait for buses at posted bus stops on flat portions of arterial streets, or at park-and-ride lots, transit centers or major transfer points; avoid hills.
• More people ride Metro during snow and bad weather conditions. Your Metro buses may be more crowded than usual

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Voice: 206-553-3000; TTY: 711

During snow, ice and flood, many new riders may be trying to get information and phone lines may be busy. Metro Customer Information staff can tell you about reported service revisions or cancellations, but may not know about every road condition that forces Metro service into unplanned rerouting. Under these conditions, customer service operators will not be able to tell you if your bus is on time.

Customers who call Metro's Customer Information number may have to try several times to get through. Please listen to recorded messages that may contain the information you need, and stay on the line for the next available Customer Information Specialist. Calls are answered in the order they are received.

RPIN is your one-stop resource for news alerts from more than 75 government, transportation, utility, health and emergency response agencies serving citizens in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.

Voice: 206-553-3000; TTY: 711

Metro will do its best to provide scheduled accessible bus service during adverse conditions; however, those conditions sometimes prevent the use of lifts or ramps or may not allow the bus to reach the curb or serve every bus stop.

When the lift or ramp cannot be used, the driver will report the problem and, if possible, arrange for alternative service. During adverse conditions, there could be a significant delay. People who cannot wait in the cold may want to find alternative transportation.

Voice: 206-205-5000; TTY: 711

If you have to dial "1" first to reach those numbers, call 1-866-205-5001 or, for TTY users only, 1-877-749-4286.

Registered Access Transportation riders should phone the call center or listen to local news to learn what level of Access service is available on days with snow and ice conditions. The call center's phone system will carry special announcements when service has been disrupted or suspended because of adverse weather.

When service must be suspended for safety reasons, Access Transportation vehicles may still be available for emergency services such as trips to critical medical appointments or to pick up prescriptions or groceries.

Access Transportation staff will make every effort to provide service to registered riders who notify the call center that their trips are essential. Please note, however, that Access Transportation staff will make the final decision about whether a trip can be provided safely.

206-684-1743

School & Custom Bus riders should check the Metro Snow, Ice & Flood page for snow route information and then call their organization's Metro contact to find out if their buses will operate. School-related routes will not operate if the schools they serve are closed.

206-625-4500

Carpool and VanPool riders should check with their drivers to discuss snow plans in advance of adverse weather.

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