Recognizing that traditional transit services don’t always meet every community’s needs, Metro Transit has a new approach to serving riders in less populated areas — and the Snoqualmie Valley will be the first to try it out.
Metro plans to partner with the Snoqualmie Tribe to launch an intra-valley shuttle to improve transit service in the communities of Duvall, Carnation, Fall City, Snoqualmie and North Bend. The service is part of a five-year demonstration program aimed at developing more cost-effective alternatives to fixed route service in rural areas of the county.
The proposal now goes to the King County Council. The Council’s Transportation Economy and Environment (TrEE) Committee will hold a public hearing on April 30 before voting on whether to move the ordinance to the full council. Public hearing details, including ways to comment, are available on the project website. If approved by the full council, the intra-valley shuttle, along with adjustments to current fixed routes, will begin this fall.
Metro has been working with Snoqualmie Valley stakeholders and residents since last fall to develop a plan that meets the needs of residents in a way that puts every available transit dollar to best use. The end result was the creation of a partnership with the Snoqualmie Tribe and local service provider, Snoqualmie Valley Transportation (SVT), to operate intra-valley service at a lower cost.
The shuttle will provide 90 minute service weekdays between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. and will offer variable routing in Duvall and North Bend. In these areas, the shuttle will be able to deviate from its regular route to pick up and drop off passengers just as Metro’s DART service does. Service will:
- Be open to the general public
- Operate on a regular schedule with a variable schedule in Duvall and North Bend
- Not have a Metro route number
- Have a suggested donation on intra-valley trips
Changes are also being proposed for fixed routes 209, 224, and 311 to improve service in areas of the Snoqualmie Valley that have a higher population and employment concentration.
Throughout the five-year demonstration period, Metro will monitor ridership, cost and rider satisfaction with the Snoqualmie Valley intra-valley shuttle. Performance will be compared to the fixed-route services being replaced and will be evaluated for suitability for future demonstration projects.
For more details about the Snoqualmie Valley alternative services being proposed, go to our project website.
Will I be able to use my Orca card?
@Jason – You will not be able to use an ORCA card on the Snoqualmie Intra-Valley Shuttle. Riders of the Shuttle are just asked to give a donation for using the service.