(Saturday, Feb. 9 update, 1:30pm)
Due to heavy overnight snowfall and dangerous roadway conditions across the region, King County Metro will operate only routes on its Emergency Snow Network Sunday, Feb. 10, with service on just 60 core routes and shuttles that the City of Seattle and other jurisdictions prioritized for snow and ice removal.
Service on Metro’s Emergency Snow Network (ESN) began 4 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, and will continue until further notice. Freezing temperatures are expected to persist and Metro has chained up its bus fleet to operate on these core routes, which primarily serve key arterials and transit centers in many parts of King County.
Dozens of buses became stuck overnight due to roadway conditions, signaling ongoing challenges with roadway conditions. The forecast calls for difficult weather conditions in the days ahead.
The ESN service prioritizes service on high-ridership routes and avoids areas with steep hills. The routes were developed in coordination and collaboration with jurisdictions and take advantage of designated snow plow plans, including the City of Seattle.
Routes served
Routes operating as part of the ESN will serve core centers around King County, via routes 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 21, 24, 24 shuttle, 31, 32, 36, 40, 41, 44, 45, 48, 62, 62 shuttle, 65, 70, 75, 90 shuttle, 101, 102 shuttle, 106, 106 shuttle, 120, 124, 128, 150, 166, 168, 169, 180, 181, 235, 245, 248, 252/255 shuttle, 255, 255 shuttle, 271, 331, 345, 348, 348 shuttle, 372 Woodinville and 372 Lake City, ST 522, ST 545, ST 550, ST 554, ST 554 shuttle, RapidRide A, B, C, D, E and F lines.
Metro will be monitoring performance of this network and make adjustments as needed to improve operations. Customers in outlying areas and neighborhoods should prepare for reduced or temporarily unavailable bus service on Saturday and for several days due to inclement weather, difficult travel conditions and topography.
The agency is working to repair and prepare its fleet to be ready to ramp up service once road conditions improve.
King County Executive Dow Constantine will review travel and weather conditions with Metro operations at approximately 10 a.m. each day to determine whether transit service should be restored for the following day.
Emergency Snow Network – Access
Access Services also is on ESN service to mirror fixed route services. Access’ main objective under the ESN will be to provide life sustaining medical transportation. During this time, customers who are not certified to use Access that need to connect to life sustaining medical services can call 206-205-5000 to request services between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Access will also be working closely with fixed route services to help support customers that are stranded due to breakdowns or weather conditions.
What Riders Should Know
Metro encourages people to avoid traveling if at all possible.
Riders who intend to use Metro’s services should visit the Emergency Snow Network webpage to view details about routes in operation and to identify their options. Metro’s Customer Information Office will be open special hours to assist customers from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 9.
Posted timetables on Metro’s Schedules and Maps page are a good point of reference for the 60 ESN routes that are operating, but unforeseen roadway and weather conditions may result in delays or unplanned reroutes.
Customers should be aware that Puget Sound Trip Planner and third-party apps will not reflect ESN service and will not be accurate for planning itineraries on ESN days.
However, once intending riders know which ESN route they want to use, other Puget Sound Trip Planner features, such as maps, bus stop locations and timetables for ESN routes are valid. Puget Sound Trip Planner and other apps are still accurate for planning trips or getting schedules for regular service days. “Next Departure” and Text for Departure services also may function smoothly for customers when roadway and travel conditions are reliable upstream on the route.
Ya but I have to get from my place @ 142 4th ave sw in pacific to there to catch the bus just to get to the station to catch the train to go to work
Unfortunately that is the closest service available in the Emergency Snow Network.
Ok thanks but I live in pacific and have no way to get there can you tell me how to do that
Hi Matt- the closest stops to Pacific are in Auburn at A St SE and 41st St SE/Ellingson Rd, right by the Albertson’s. Route 180 will be stopping there.
Numerous routes are not running in the ESN. Please see the website for the full list of what routes ARE running. If your route is not shown, it will not be operating today 2/11 or tomorrow 2/12.
@Matt – the 917 is not running. The 180 and 181 are running in Auburn.
@Lisa Eidson – the 121 is not running.
@Neil Schnepf – the 347 is not running. Metro has limited buses available and is focusing on high-ridership areas in addition to avoiding hilly areas. Even if some streets are clear there also may be others along the route that make it difficult to operate.
@Marie Noakes – the 65 IS running.
@Luise – the 121 is not running. From Highline area you could take the A Line on pacific highway and connect to Link light rail to downtown Seattle at either the Angle Lake, SeaTac, or Tukwila International Blvd Stations.
@Paul J Pival – the 24 shuttle should be running a similar span of service to the regular 24 schedule. We do encourage people to take earlier trips than planned and allow plenty of extra time for travel, because in the evening when it’s colder the road conditions worsen and the buses are likely to be less reliable. You can also stay tuned for updated information by signing up for transit alerts.
@Katrina Ooms – to clarify the 120 routing:
Inbound or northbound, Route 120 is taking the West Seattle Bridge to 4th Ave, then turning right on Lander Street and left on the SODO busway to travel further north. The first northbound stop is at Prefontaine Pl just south of Yesler Way.
Southbound or outbound, the 120 is taking 1st Avenue to Dearborn St to SR 99, with no stops after 3rd and Columbia.
@ D DelRio – Yes, the 255 is operating between Downtown Seattle and Totem Lake Transit Center so you should be able to get to Evergreen. Catch the 255 in downtown Seattle in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel.
Many Metro routes are not running in ESN. The full list of routes that are running is here: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/metro/alerts-updates/winter/esn.aspx
@Matt – the 917 is not operating during ESN. Route 181 and Route 180 are operating in Auburn.
@LIsa Eidson – the 121 is not operating during ESN. Depending on your location there may be other alternatives, such as the 120 from Burien to downtown Seattle.
@Neil Schnepf – the 347 is not operating during ESN. During ESN Metro is operating a limited set of routes not only due to road conditions but also are focused on maintaining reliability of routes that are operating with fewer buses and operators available.
@Marie Noakes – the 65 IS operating during ESN. See the route map for snow routing information: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/metro/alerts-updates/winter/esn.aspx#route-map-19
@Luise – the 121 is not operating during ESN. To get to downtown Seattle you could take the A Line on Pacific Highway to Link light rail at Angle Lake or SeaTac Stations.
Is route 266 or 267 from Kent station running tomorrow 2/12
Sound Transit 566 and 567 are operated by Pierce Transit. Currently the website shows they are operating but you will need to check the Sound Transit website to verify this before you travel tomorrow: Rider Alerts: https://www.soundtransit.org/ride-with-us/service-alerts; Snow reroute info: https://www.soundtransit.org/ride-with-us/know-before-you-go/riding-transit-winter/snow-reroutes
Arrrrgh meant KCM not WSDOT it’s 4am not thinking clearly 😊
Um hello WSDOT the ESN map for the 120 shows the bus traveling from 1st to 4th on S Lander, this is not possible with Lander closed in that area. How about updating your ESN maps, especially since the 99 closure /tunnel opening many bus routes have changed …
Will the 121 from highline community college fo downtown run tomorrow morning on the snow route? I usually catch the second 121 into downtown week days. Will that be running? And what time?
How late will the 24 shuttle run tonight (Sunday)?
I usually drive to work near Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland. I think the 255 route will take me there from Downtown Seattle. Do I catch this in the tunnel? Will I have to transfer to shuttle.
will the 65 run tomorrow
correction, apparently Apple Maps at least warns of weather conditions.
still it should be a simple server side flip of the switch to notify and provide correct data on route options at least.
now just need to actually have accurate gps tracking for buses, which still seems to be an issue on a good day.
it is incomprehensible that having a pre-existing “emergency snow network” route map and tight integration with the Metro Trip Planner, One Bus Away/Google/MS/Apple Maps being local products, and yet…
there no notification, in any of the apps, about unusual conditions, or that routing is not going to be in any way accurate, or even useful at all.
even this page across two paragraphs says Trip Planner will not be accurate, but then after finding the emergency route… will be accurate? obviously not.
way to fail for a “tech city”, pretty embarrassing we’re reduced to essentially a paper map of theoretical routes.
Hello – The roads are clear along 15th avenue between Balinger way and 175th (where the 331 and 348 run, respectively ) but the 347 is still not operating. Will the 347 be running on monday morning and if so why not? Thanks
Any update on the 121 route? I usually catch the first one to downtown so knowing ahead of time is crucial as I walk 3 miles just to get to it. Thanks
Will the 917 be running on Monday morning
The 240 is not included in the Emergency Snow Network and is not operating at this time. Please sign up for transit alerts and monitor MetroWinter.com for updates when it will be able to return to service.
when will the 240 start running in Newport hills? will it be running tomorrow I have to go to work. haven’t seen a bus since 2/8/19.