Metro and Snow
Looking for Snow, Ice and Flood Transit Alerts? Visit the Snow, Ice & Flood page
Get prepared for snow!
- During snow, it is not possible to predict exactly how service will be affected or which Metro routes or trips may be revised or canceled. Even pre-planned ice and snow reroutes do not always work!
- Dress and prepare according to the conditions.
- More people ride Metro during snow, ice and flood. Your Metro buses may be more crowded than usual.
- Be prepared for unpredictable delays and other Transit service exceptions. Transit may not be able to adhere to published schedules. Safety is Metro's primary concern during adverse driving conditions.
How to ride Metro during snow
- How to know if your bus is on its planned Snow Route
Metro may implement reroutes anytime, day or night, and may return buses to regular routing on a route-by-route basis as conditions allow.
- Sign up for Transit Alerts
to get snow, ice and flood alerts sent to you - Visiting the Snow, Ice & Flood page
- Call Metro Customer Information at 206-553-3000
- Sign up for Transit Alerts
- Find your planned Snow Route
Snow Routes are shown on our route maps.
Loop up your route map: - Where to catch a bus
When streets are slick, wait for buses at posted bus stops on flat portions of arterial streets, or at P&R lots, Transit Centers or major transfer points; avoid hills.
Know your snow route! When your bus is on snow route, your regular stop may be closed.
Adverse road and traffic conditions may warrant unplanned rerouting of buses to avoid hazards.
Buses will continue to try to stop at regular stops inside Park & Ride lots even if the snow has not been cleared. If conditions inside a P&R are hazardous, buses will serve passengers on the street outside the lot.
If possible, avoid travel in affected areas.
- When to catch a bus
Be prepared for unpredictable delays and other Transit service exceptions. Transit may not be able to adhere to published schedules. Safety is Metro's primary concern during adverse driving conditions.
- Your snow route may include a chained shuttle
Depending on road conditions, Metro may operate chained shuttles along hilly portions of some routes to connect with buses that can continue service. Chained shuttles usually follow regular routing and are signed "Shuttle."
Routes that may use chained shuttles include: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 13, 18, 21, 22, 27, 30, 32, 36, 42, 71, 74, 76, 101, 106, 187, 214, 232, 234, 252, 255, 260, 304 and Sound Transit Regional Express Route 540.
How to use Metro Online Tools during snow
- Alert Center
In the Metro Alert Center, you can:
- Check the Snow, Ice & Flood page for the latest Transit Alerts. (See the "Snow, Ice & Flood Map" section below for more information)
- Sign up for Transit Alerts to get snow, ice and flood alerts sent to you
- Find your Emergency Service Network Route (See the "Emergency Service Network" section below for more information)
- Trip Planner
Metro's online Trip Planner does not show service revisions, delays or cancellations. Use it to plan trips in advance, then check for adverse weather information as described above.
During adverse conditions, buses are often delayed and may be overloaded. Trip plans may be affected. Your patience is appreciated.
- Tracker
Tracker functions best when buses operate their normal routes. The accuracy and availability of bus location and arrival information may decrease significantly during adverse weather.
Snow, Ice & Flood Map
- Map 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.
Green means that buses are
operating on regular routes in that
area.
Yellow means that some buses are
on reroute. By
clicking on a yellow area you can find out
which buses have been rerouted. Another
click will get you detailed information
about your selected route.
Red means that all buses in that area
are on reroute and
some routes may be cancelled. By
clicking on a red area you can learn which
routes are cancelled and find links to more
information about snow routes.
Blue means that the Emergency Service Network is in effect. In extremely severe conditions, Metro may
activate its Emergency Service Network
of about 70 core routes. In the rare event
that Metro declares a snow emergency,
the entire map will be blue. See below for more information about the Emergency Service Network.
- Area boundaries
- North King County
North: County line
South: Seattle city limits
East: Lake Washington, 80th Ave NE
West: Puget Sound - North Seattle
North: Seattle city limits
South: Ship Canal
East: Lake Washington
West: Puget Sound - Central Seattle
North: Ship Canal
South: SW/S Spokane St, I-5, I-90
East: Lake Washington
West: Puget Sound - South Seattle
North: SW/S Spokane St, I-5, I-90
South: Seattle city limits
East: Lake Washington
West: Puget Sound - Southwest King County
North: Seattle city limits
South: County line
East: SR-167, Rainier Ave S, SW Sunset Blvd
West: Puget Sound, Includes Vashon Island - Southeast King County
North: I-405/N 30th St, NE 12th St, SR-900, south side of Squak Mountain, Issaquah-Hobart Road & & the Issaquah eastern city limit to I-90
South: County line
East: County line
West: SR-167, Rainier Ave S, SW Sunset Blvd - East King County
North: County line
South: I-405/N 30th St, NE 12th St, SR-900, south side of Squak Mountain, Issaquah-Hobart Road & & the Issaquah eastern city limit to I-90
East: County line
West: Lake Washington, 80th Ave NE, Includes Mercer Island - Routes in each area
- North King County: 5, 77, 234, 242-244, 301, 303, 304, 306, 308, 312, 316, 330, 331, 342, 345-348, 355, 358, 372, 373, 935, 995
- North Seattle: 5, 15-18, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31, 41, 43, 44-46, 48, 49, 64-68, 70-77, 79, 81-83, 133, 167, 197, 205, 242, 243, 271, 272, 277, 301, 303, 304, 306, 308, 312, 316, 330, 345-348, 355, 358, 372, 373, 661, 981, 982, 984, 986-989, 994, 995
- Central Seattle: 1-19, 21-28, 30, 31, 33-37, 39, 41-43, 45, 48, 49, 54-57, 60, 64, 66, 70-74, 76, 77, 79, 81-85, 98, 99, 101, 102, 106, 111, 113, 114, 116, 118-125, 131-134, 143, 150, 152, 157-159, 161, 162, 167, 175, 177, 179, 190, 192, 194, 196, 197, 202, 205, 210-212, 214-218, 225, 229, 242, 243, 250, 252, 255-257, 260, 261, 265, 266, 268, 271, 272, 277, 280, 301, 303, 304, 306, 308, 311, 312, 316, 355, 358, 941, 973, 981, 982, 984, 986-989, 994
- South Seattle: 4, 7-9, 14, 21-23, 27, 34-39, 42, 48, 51, 53, 54-57, 60, 85, 101, 102, 106, 107, 111, 113, 114, 116, 118-125, 128, 131-134, 143, 150, 152, 154, 157-159, 161, 162, 173, 175, 177, 179, 190, 192, 194, 196, 197, 202, 205, 210-212, 214-218, 225, 229, 280, 600, 688, 773, 775, 941, 981, 987, 989
- Southwest King County: 21-23, 54, 60, 85, 101, 102, 107, 110, 113, 118-125, 128, 129, 131-134, 139, 140, 143, 150, 152-155, 157-159, 161, 162, 166, 167, 169, 173-175, 177, 179-183, 187, 190, 192, 194, 196, 197, 247, 280, 901, 903, 913, 914, 916, 918, 941, 952
- Southeast King County: 101, 102, 105-107, 110, 111, 114, 140, 143, 148-150, 152, 153, 155, 157-159, 161, 162, 164, 166, 167-169, 175, 177, 179-181, 183, 190, 192, 194, 196, 197, 209, 215, 240, 247, 280, 342, 908, 909, 912-919, 941, 952
- East King County: 105, 111, 114, 167, 200-219, 221, 222, 225, 229, 230, 232, 233, 234, 236-238, 240, 242-245, 247, 248-253, 255-257, 260, 261, 265, 266, 268, 269, 271, 272, 277, 280, 291, 311, 312, 342, 372, 885, 886, 888-892, 909, 921, 925-927, 929, 935, 952, 981, 982, 986, 989
The Emergency Service Network
- Activating the Emergency Service Network
If an extremely severe snowstorm lasts for several days, Metro may activate its planned Emergency Service Network. Metro would replace its regular network of more than 220 bus routes with this network of about 70 routes designed to be reliable in the worst weather. Metro would maintain this core service as long as roads are passable for buses.
The Emergency Service Network would provide bus service on major roads and connecting bus service in some neighborhoods. Some areas would have no bus service because of their location or terrain.
- How to find your Emergency Service Network route
The emergency service maps show the bus routes and streets that would have bus service. They are available on the Emergency Service Network page.
- Frequency of Service when the Emergency Service Network is active
The Emergency Service Network is design to be reliable in the most severe conditions. Rather than promising specific timetable during unpredictable conditions, each Emergency Service Network route runs during assigned hours of operation and buses per hour. Visit the Emergency Service Network page to find the frequency of service for your route.
Contact Information
- Metro Customer Information
voice: 206-553-3000
TTY: 711During 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 but may not know about all service exceptions. They cannot 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. - Regional Public Information Network
Regional Public Information Network (RPIN) [external link]
The Regional Public Information Network 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. - Accessible Bus Service
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 prevent the bus from reaching the curb or stopping at some bus stops.
When the lift or ramp cannot be used, the driver will report the problem, try to arrange for alternate service and, if possible, notify the Customer what to expect.
During adverse conditions, there could be a significant delay. Persons who cannot wait in the cold may want to find alternate transportation. - Access Transportation Rideline
voice: 206-205-5000 or 1-877-749-4286
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.
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.
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. - Custom Bus
206-684-1743
Custom Bus riders should check the Snow, Ice & Flood page for snow route information and then call the Custom Bus office to find out if their buses will operate on revised routes. School custom buses will not operate if the schools they serve are closed. - Carpools & VanPools
206-625-4500
Carpool and VanPool riders should check with their drivers to discuss snow plans in advance of adverse weather. - Other Transportation Agencies
- Community Transit
- Kitsap Transit
- Pierce Transit
- Sound Transit
- Washington State Ferries
- WSDOT
511 | 206-368-4499 | toll free: 1-800-695-7623
Additional information about conditions in the area is available on the Washington State DOT's 24-hour greater Seattle-area Traveler Information line, or visit WSDOT Emergency Highway Closures.
