Transit tips: buses, water taxis, trains connect you to Labor Day weekend fun

Ride the new Link light rail Lynnwood extension. Cheer on the Huskies in their first football game of the season. Revel in music and the arts at Bumbershoot. Celebrate gaming at PAX West.

And rock out to Metallica!

There’s so much to do over the Labor Day holiday weekend, and transit remains your best bet for avoiding numbing traffic jams and parking costs. But do be sure to check your route ahead of time, as schedules change over weekends and holidays and by time of day. A good place to start is with Metro’s Trip Planner. Plan your trip by address, landmarks or by just clicking on a map point. You’ll find route maps, schedules, next departures and real-time tracking. Before traveling, see if your route has any adjustments on our service advisories web page. Handy!

Fares made easier

• Youth 18 and under ride free. Learn more and sign up for a youth card!
• Flat $3 fares on Sound Transit 1 and 2 Line service begin Aug. 30.
• Reduced cost on adult day passes begin Aug. 30 (just $6 per day).

Aug. 29: Busy times on the waterfront!

On Thursday, Aug. 29, the Seattle Aquarium opens its new Ocean Pavilion celebrating coral reefs. Expect plenty of people on the Seattle waterfront throughout the Labor Day weekend visiting the Aquarium and other sites in the area. Remember, Metro has some well-placed bus stops at Alaskan Way South and South Jackson Street that can get you to both the waterfront and the Stadium District. RapidRide C and H lines both stop here! Link 1 Line service is another great way to get downtown, and several stops are an easy walk or roll to the sites. Of course, the Water Taxi from West Seattle and Vashon both dock at Pier 50 and West Seattle service runs late on Friday and Saturday. Plan your trip by using Trip Planner  and Text for Departures  (text your bus stop number to 62550).

Aug. 30: 1 Line takes you farther! Ribbon cutting, launch events and night markets

Sound Transit’s Link 1 Line extends to four new stations starting Friday, Aug. 30, with a ribbon cutting event, inaugural ride and night markets at stations in Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood. Learn more on Sound Transit’s web page. (Metro’s new bus connections to the 1 Line stations launch Saturday, Sept. 14.)

Aug. 30: Party on the Waterfront

The Waterfront Block Party returns noon to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30 at Pier 62, featuring live music, dance, parades, food trucks, family-friendly crafts, and more.

Aug. 30-Sept. 2: Put on your game face

PAX West, Seattle’s original gaming and gaming culture convention, will be held at the Washington State Convention Center. It includes exhibitors, demos, panels, tournaments, concerts and more. Expect plenty of folks – and traffic – around the Convention Center. Trains and buses connect you nearly to the front door.

Aug. 31: The Dawg House opens

Plenty of folks, including stretching all the way to Lynnwood, can ride Link 1 Line service to the first UW Husky football game of the season on Aug. 31 against Weber State, thanks to four new stations to get to the stadium. Fantastic! King County Metro also has shuttle service and bus service to help you get to the game.

Just remember, though, it’s a late kickoff at 8 p.m., and other connecting transit, such as any buses around the new Lynnwood stations, may be more infrequent or not available after the game. Check Community Transit schedules ahead of time.

Aug. 30 and Sept. 1: Metallica is at Lumen Field

Metal heads rejoice: Metallica is taking over Lumen Field for two nights, Aug. 30 and Sept. 1. Take transit and be whisked almost to the front gate of the stadium by Link 1 Line or Metro bus service. No high parking price pain or crazy traffic for you!

Aug. 31-Sept. 2: Climb every mountain (or at least hike ’em)

There’s nothing like a long weekend to make locals want to head for the hills and Trailhead Direct is there for it! Trailhead Direct provides two routes operating 30- and 60-minute service to some of the region’s most popular hiking trails. Take Trailhead Direct and you won’t have to worry about parking or driving through traffic to get to the mountains.

• Heading to Mount Si: Buses leave every 30 minutes from the Sound Transit Capitol Hill Link station to stops at trailheads near Mount Si, Mount Teneriffe and Little Si.
• Traveling to the Issaquah Alps: Hourly trips for the Issaquah Alps start at the Mount Baker Transit Center and go to Margaret’s Way, Squak Mountain, Chirico Trail-Poo Poo Point, High School Trail, and East Sunset Way.
• Hikers can go to the Eastgate Park and Ride in Bellevue to get to and from the trails at the Issaquah Alps and Mount Si.

Passengers can use Trip Planner for more details about stops, routes and schedules. Metro’s standard fares apply, and riders can pay with an ORCA card, Transit Go Mobile ticket or cash with exact change. Hikers 18 and younger ride Trailhead Direct for free!

Aug. 31, Sept. 1: Ride Metro to Bumbershoot

Metro has dozens of bus routes that can get you to Seattle Center and the Bumbershoot music festival.

Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 13, 24, 32, 33 and the RapidRide D Line serve Seattle Center directly, while routes 5, 26, 28, 40, 62 and the RapidRide C, and E lines, go to within a few blocks. And…youth under 18 ride for free!

Holiday schedule on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2

Metro buses will operate Sunday/holiday schedules for Labor Day, meaning some routes will not be in service and others may operate on a reduced schedule.

Buses that do not usually operate on Sunday will not be in service on Labor Day. Customers should check schedules for route information and any planned reroutes for events and construction. The West Seattle Water Taxi will run on its Sunday schedule, and the Vashon service will have its regular weekday sailings.

Complete transit information is available on Metro Online. Details about planned reroutes are on Metro’s Service Advisories page. Sign up for Metro Transit Alerts.

Riders can also visit Metro’s online Trip Planner or call Metro’s Customer Information Office on weekdays at 206-553-3000 to plan transit trips.

Link light rail will run on regular service Labor Day weekend Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, Sound Transit will run on Sunday Service. (Sounder, however, will not run.)