Counting down: New RapidRide G Line and more King County Metro bus service begins Sept. 14

Video: Better connections, more service: Metro service change starts Sept. 14, 2024

SUMMARY

Riders are just a few days away from more King County Metro bus service for their everyday travel needs. Metro is adding over 3,700 new bus trips each week, launching the RapidRide G Line in Seattle, connecting buses to new Sound Transit light rail stations, and expanding Metro Flex to Northshore Sept. 16.

STORY

Starting Saturday, Sept. 14, King County Metro is expanding evening and weekend transit service and launching its eighth RapidRide – the G Line – which will provide fast and frequent service through downtown Seattle, First Hill, Capitol Hill, the Central District, and Madison Valley.

The RapidRide G Line project and Sound Transit’s Link 1 Line expansion north to four new stations represent more than $3.1 billion in public transportation investments. Along with enhanced bus service upgrades, these new services will strengthen rider connections and expand the transit network.

Metro is increasing the number of weekday bus trips by nearly 5%, providing 11,235 daily bus trips starting in mid-September. There will also be 8% more bus trips offered on weekends – climbing to 8,241 on Saturdays and 7,649 on Sundays.

Many ways that riders can learn more

• Visit Metro’s service change web page for details about route changes. The new service change web page is available in English, 简体中文 (Simplified Chinese), Русский (Russian), Español (Spanish)and Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese). Additional languages are available by using an online translation tool.
• Use the Trip Planner now to plan your travel for dates on or after Sept. 14.
• Watch and learn: Metro outlined upcoming route changes during a Sept. 4 Zoom webinar in either the original presentation in English, or interpreted audio in Mandarin, Russian, Spanish or Vietnamese. Metro staff also will answer questions during a second customer information webinar from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12.
• Call customer service 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at 206-553-3000.

RapidRide G Line: Service every six minutes most of the day Monday-Saturday, with extended night service

The new RapidRide line will offer around-the-clock service, with buses arriving as frequently as every six minutes during most of the day Monday through Saturday.

The RapidRide G Line – Madison Street project includes funding from the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and the voter-approved Move Seattle Levy. Additional funding was provided by the Federal Transit Administration, Sound Transit, King County Metro, and the state legislature. Funds from the voter-approved Seattle Transit Measure also support Metro bus service on select routes in Seattle.

In partnership with Metro, the City of Seattle built key features for the RapidRide G Line to enhance safety, including:

• 8 miles of red bus lanes,
• 36 intersections with upgraded traffic signals,
• new center boarding platforms for easy all-door boarding on both sides of the bus, and
• approximately 50 blocks of improved sidewalks and 25 new ADA-accessible curb ramps.

As part of the launch of RapidRide G Line, routes 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 47, 49, and 60 will see changes and improvements requested by the community. Metro and SDOT worked closely to prioritize equity by supporting underserved communities. The fall 2024 service change includes Seattle Transit Measure service investments in both the Madison Street area and Lynnwood Link Connections mobility projects.

Lynnwood Link Connections expands bus-train travel for riders, neighborhoods

Riders from north Seattle, Shoreline, and Snohomish County now have Link 1 Line service operating 8.5 miles between Northgate and Lynnwood, including four new stations. Metro is upgrading and integrating new bus service on Sept. 14, adding three new bus routes, revising nine routes, and replacing 10 routes. The new network will include frequent east-west connections to new Link 1 Line stations, improved neighborhood connections and expanded evening and weekend service.

Metro worked with riders and community, including the Lynnwood Link Mobility Board to guide and develop these updates. Riders have consistently benefited from integrated bus and rail network extensions, providing Metro customers with more frequent and reliable transit connections across the region. Metro’s revisions connect riders to both Sound Transit and Community Transit networks, expanding travel opportunities farther than ever before.

Metro Flex on-demand service coming to Northshore

Metro is also introducing a new, on-demand Metro Flex service area in Northshore, serving riders in Lake Forest Park, north Kenmore, Brier, and southeast Mountlake Terrace. Service begins on Monday, Sept. 16, and will connect riders to the Sound Transit Link 1 Line service at the new Mountlake Terrace Station, along with community destinations, schools, and other locations. Service operates weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and can be booked using the Metro Flex app or by calling 206-258-7739. The fare for Metro Flex is the same as a Metro bus ride.

Northshore is the ninth area Metro Flex will serve. The Seattle Transit Measure-funded Delridge and South Park Metro Flex service started on July 22.

RELEVANT LINKS

• King County Metro service change
• Sound Transit Link 1 Line expansion