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COVID-19 update: Further Metro service reductions begin Saturday, April 18, to support essential travel and transit workforce

Graphic encouraging people to cover coughs, wash hands, distance themselves on buses

(Editor’s note, 6/18/20: Metro will add back some service starting June 22, 2020. Please go to kingcounty.gov/ReducedSchedule for the latest information.)

As the region continues to respond to COVID-19, King County Metro will reduce weekend bus service beginning Saturday April 18, and further reduce weekday bus service starting Monday, April 20. Water Taxi and First Hill Streetcar will continue to operate on previously reduced schedules.

This revised Reduced Schedule provides a core network of public transportation services to maintain access to critical supplies, services, and worksites across the region.

Overall, Metro will operate with approximately 42% fewer buses, 36% fewer transit operators, and 27% fewer service trips than typical weekday service. Weekend trips will be reduced by 15% percent on Saturdays and 4% on Sundays.

“To reserve transit for those who need it most, we’re calling on riders to travel only if absolutely necessary and to wear a face covering to help limit the spread of COVID-19,” said King County Metro General Manager Rob Gannon. “Adjusting our weekend and weekday service allows us to continue to operate a reliable network of service for essential travel needs – for food, medicine, and work – while responding to decreased ridership demands and to the overall availability of Metro’s workforce. Our goal is to continue to serve the community, and we’re grateful for and commend our frontline staff.”

The upcoming April 18 Reduced Schedule is among the latest steps in Metro’s response to COVID-19. Previous reductions in service took place March 23 and April 6. Those reductions helped maintain a sustainable transit agency amid ridership that has now dropped by about 70% compared to a year ago.

Supporting our community and workforce

Metro’s service adjustments are designed to provide a viable transit network and service level in the face of lower ridership, and to prepare Metro for continued workforce availability challenges.

An estimated 66% of Metro’s transit and rail operators are available to report to work in support of service, which represents a slight decrease compared to before COVID-19’s emergence. Some drivers, mechanics, and front-line staff are temporarily not available to work either due to personal or family health reasons. King County has several paid leave resources in place to support employees who are not available to work at this time.

In response to COVID-19, Metro:

UPDATED REDUCED WEEKEND SCHEDULES (beginning Saturday, April 18, 2020)
(Transit service is provided in partnership with the City of Seattle.)

SATURDAY

Routes with most or all trips operating on Saturday

Routes with fewer trips and/or reduced hours of operation on Saturday

Routes, services, and programs fully cut or not operating on Saturday

SUNDAY

Routes with most or all Sunday trips operating

Routes with fewer trips and/or reduced hours of operation on Sunday

Routes, services, and programs fully cut or not operating on Sunday

UPDATED REDUCED WEEKDAY SCHEDULE (beginning Monday, April 20, 2020)
Routes with most or all trips operating (22 routes with 2 or fewer trips cut)

Routes with fewer trips and/or reduced hours of operation (86 routes and services)

Routes, services, and programs fully cut (111 routes and services)

These services will continue to operate as reduced effective April 6

Water taxi crews continue to operate one vessel for six roundtrip sailings per weekday; service on shuttles 773 and 775 remain temporarily canceled.

Revised King County Metro Water Taxi weekday sailing schedule
Effective April 6, 2020
Pier 50 West Seattle Pier 50 Vashon Island
5:55 a.m. 6:15 a.m. 6:38 a.m. 7:10 a.m.
8:50 a.m. 9:10 a.m.
4:45 p.m. 5:05 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:58 p.m.
6:45 p.m. 7:05 p.m.

 

Seattle Streetcar continues to operate on a reduced schedule

Community Van trips for essential needs such as foodbank runs will continue as long as it is feasible and there are volunteer drivers available and willing to drive in the following communities:

Access paratransit program continues normal operations and follows its enhanced daily sanitization procedures. During Reduced Schedule, Access is available to all customers with disabilities who are unable to make essential trips on the traditional transit network. This includes customers with disabilities who are not certified to use the Access program.

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