Metro, Sound Transit and the King County Water Taxi will continue their annual Seafair tradition of providing free transit service to members of the military during Fleet Week.

Between July 31 and August 5, members and former members of the Armed Forces, including active duty, veterans and retirees, can ride free Metro and Sound Transit Express buses, Link light rail and Sounder trains, and the Vashon and West Seattle Water taxis.

Service members not in uniform are asked to show their military identification to the transit operator upon boarding a bus or train, or to fare inspectors if requested. Valid forms of military I.D. include a Uniformed Identification Card, a Veteran Health Identification Card or a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty Form (also referred to as a DD-214).

More information is available here.

Ride transit to hydro races August 4-5

To accommodate crowds attending the Albert Lee Cup hydroplane races, Metro will add trips to its Route 50 bus and provide Saturday and Sunday service every 15 minutes between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Route 50, which normally operates every 30 minutes, serves Genesee Park near the Stanley Sayres Pit and connects with Link light rail at Columbia City and Othello stations. There will be no other special service to this event.

I-90 bridge closure reroutes and shuttles, August 2-4 for the Blue Angels

When the Blue Angels take to Seattle’s skies, all I-90 bus service will reroute to State Route 520 during the I-90 bridge (all eastbound and westbound lanes) closures. Some I-90 and I-5 ramps also will close 30 minutes to one hour before flight times.

During the I-90 closures, Sound Transit Express routes 550 and 554, which normally travel via I-90, will be rerouted to SR 520 and will not serve stops on I-90 at Rainier Avenue South and Mercer Island. Metro will provide shuttle bus service between the Eastgate and Mercer Island park-and-ride lots. Regular fares are required on the I-90 shuttles for non-military riders.

All I-90 transit service will be rerouted during the following times and days:

  • Thursday, Aug. 2: 9:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.; 1 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
  • Friday, Aug. 3: 12:55 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
  • Saturday, Aug. 4: 12:55 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
  • Sunday, Aug. 5: 12:55 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

More information on I-90 bridge closures is available on the WSDOT and Seafair websites. Details about all reroutes will be posted on the Sound Transit Rider Alerts and Metro Service Advisories pages.