Major service changes for bus riders across the greater King County area arrived at several stations Saturday.
Major service changes for bus riders across the greater King County area arrived at several stations Saturday.
Over a dozen Sound Transit Express bus routes have undergone some form of service changes that are now in effect.
The agency has added two new, night bus routes between Redmond and Seattle and Lakewood and Seattle.
Additionally, these six bus routes have been eliminated completely:
- 515, Lynnwood — Seattle
- 550, Bellevue — Seattle
- 554, Issaquah — Seattle
- 570 (Night Bus), SeaTac — Seattle
- 580, South Hill — Puyallup
- 586, Tacoma — University District
Sound Transit said the service changes have been years in the making and largely reflect recent expansions to the LINK Light Rail system.
"In the last year and a half, we have opened trains to Federal Way, across to Lake Washington, and to downtown Redmond," said Henry Bendon, a public information officer for the agency. "We now see those trains are incredibly popular, and we're excited about what this new bus network might mean for even more riders being able to access light rail regularly, quickly, and reliably."
Some 150,000 people use light rail daily, according to Sound Transit, which is far more than previous bus routes could carry.
"This is one of the biggest service changes in the history of Sound Transit bus service," Bendon explained, "but, [the changes] better deploy the resources that we have available to us to move as many people as possible in a regional network."
A full list of Sound Transit service changes can be found here. Riders can also find helpful information from signs posted at impacted stations and stops, through Sound Transit's trip planner tool, and by communicating with Sound Transit staff in person, Bendon added.
The changes didn't come as a surprise to regular bus riders, like Ernest Frank, but Frank said he will now have to allow more time for his commute to work.
"I've got to get up a little earlier now," Frank said. "As long as I'm able to get to work and be able to provide for my family, that's all that really matters to me. In life, you've just got to know how to adjust to things."
Other people said they prefer using light rail over busses since both the 1-Line and 2-Line expanded.
"Light rail is a little more spacious if you have a stroller and kids, it's just easier," said Kei Sugiyama, a father of young children.
"It's more convenient," Sounders fan Jalen Conway said. "I can park here, and then I just go ahead and get on, take a couple stops, get off at the game."
In addition to Sound Transit's bus service changes, King County Metro is also rolling out its largest service expansion in recent years. Riders now have access to nine new bus routes, which will complete more than 3,000 additional bus trips weekly.
South King County will see the biggest changes, with three new routes and changes or expansions made to 11 other routes. The expansion also includes new routes and service changes in North King County and on the Eastside.
