Facing regional growth, construction and congestion, King County Metro and Sound Transit are working with transit customers to expand transit service and improve mobility for people who live, work, or use transit in the north Eastside area of King County. Based on community feedback and in response to rider-expressed needs and priorities, changes are proposed on 13 Metro and Sound Transit bus routes. Several new flexible Metro Community Ride and Community Van services also are proposed.
King County Metro and Sound Transit have developed a service network proposal to revise, expand and improve north Eastside service – including options that keep Metro and Sound Transit service reliable across Lake Washington to UW, Downtown Seattle and within the community.
The proposed changes would affect 13 Metro and Sound Transit bus routes 234, 235, 236, 238, 243, 244, 248, 255, 277, DART 930 serving Bothell, Kenmore, Kirkland, Redmond, and Woodinville. Several new flexible Metro Community Ride and Community Van services are also being proposed. Sound Transit will consider changes to ST Express routes 540, 541, and 545 pending changes Metro makes to its routes.
Options for change aim to keep Metro and Sound Transit service reliable across Lake Washington and within the community – and introduce new flexible transportation options. Metro completed a comprehensive review of the local transit network and engaged with communities at every step of the process.
Community participation and feedback identified mobility needs and priorities, and informed where possible changes to existing service, or adding new convenient and flexible options, would improve transportation options for people in the north Eastside.
Our goal is better mobility, Metro offers many travel options today (Bus, Paratransit, Rideshare, Community Connections, Bike, Rail, Water Taxi) and is working to add more choices that meet the changing needs of our riders. We developed two proposed north Eastside mobility network options, and we would like to know what you think about them.
Review the proposal, take the survey, and tell us what you think Nov. 13
Open houses
• Tuesday, Oct. 23, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.; UW Bothell Campus, North Creek Events Center, 18115 Campus Way NE, Bothell
• Saturday, Oct. 27, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Redmond Senior Center, 8703 160th Ave. NE, Redmond
• Monday, Nov. 5, 6–8 p.m.; Kingsgate Library, Meeting Room, 12315 NE 143rd St., Kirkland
• Wednesday, Nov. 7, 6–8 p.m.; Kirkland City Hall, Peter Kirk Room, 123 Fifth Ave., Kirkland
North Eastside service area: Bothell, Kenmore, Kirkland, Redmond, and Woodinville
- Routes proposed for change:234, 235, 236, 238, 243, 244, 248, 255, 277, DART 930, ST Express 540, 541, and 545
- Metro is also proposing new flexible services including a Community Van service in north Kirkland and new Community Ride service in Bothell, Kenmore, Kirkland, and Woodinville. These services would expand Metro’s community mobility options by providing new service in addition to existing Community Van service that operates today in Bothell, Woodinville, Kenmore, and Kirkland, and TripPool service that operates today to several Park-and-Rides on the Eastside.
North Eastside communities asked for increased and dependable service, more transportation choices, and an integrated transportation network that reliably connects them to opportunity.
Creating a more complete and connected north Eastside service network could improve connections to local destinations and fast, frequent transit options like Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Link light rail.
Revising north Eastside routes would also adapt service to changing conditions, in March 2019, two significant roadway changes will impact eastside riders:
- Buses will be moved from the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel to surface streets to accommodate Convention Center expansion and the expanding light rail system, and
- The Washington Department of Transportation will permanently closee the Montlake Freeway Stations to complete SR-520 Construction.
Revising north Eastside routes could help mitigate the results of these changes.
More on shifting to surface streets in Downtown Seattle (March 2019)
- When buses are removed from the tunnel and permanently move to surface streets increased traffic congestion will lead to longer travel time and make it harder for buses to stay on schedule.
- Affected routes: 41, 74, 101, 102, 150, 255, ST Express 550
More on the Montlake Freeway Station closure (March 2019)
- Freeway bus stops at the west end of SR-520 will be permanently closed by WSDOT for construction of the Montlake Project.
- To get to or from the University District and north Seattle, riders must transfer on the east side of the floating bridge at the Evergreen Point Station to Route 542.
- Sound Transit and WSDOT are partnering to expand Route 542 service on nights and weekends.
- Affected routes: 252, 255, 257, 268, 311, and ST Express 545 and 555
Any changes to fixed-route bus service would be made in September 2019; other mobility options could be implemented sooner.
If the option for change is not supported, and we take no further action to adapt service after March 2019, available resources would be used to maintain Route 255 service on surface streets in downtown Seattle.
- Routes serving the north Eastside would continue to serve the same stops and destinations.
- We miss an opportunity to connect future riders with planned bus rapid transit and light rail investments.
- The Montlake Freeway Station still closes; Route 255 riders must transfer at Evergreen Point Station to reach the University District.
- Buses will still move to surface streets and no longer use the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel. Riders will experience longer trips and less-reliable service due to traffic conditions.
Tell us what do you think by Nov. 13?
- Take our survey
- Come to a community meeting
- Call or email
- All online at our project page