King County Metro expands bus service and launches systemwide all-door boarding starting March 28

Summary

King County Metro will expand bus service and launch systemwide all-door boarding starting Saturday, March 28, making transit faster and easier to use across the region. The service change strengthens connections to Sound Transit’s Link light rail system, including the new 2 Line Crosslake Connection between Seattle and the Eastside, and adds earlier morning trips, later evening service, and more weekend options for riders.

Story

Starting March 28, Metro will increase bus service with earlier morning trips, later evening service, and more weekend options in south King County and across the Eastside. At the same time, Metro will launch systemwide all-door boarding, allowing riders to board through any door, helping reduce delays at busy stops and improving travel time and reliability across the system.

The service changes strengthen connections to Sound Transit’s expanding Link light rail system, including the new 2 Line Crosslake Connection between Seattle and the Eastside. Together, these improvements make it easier for riders to move between bus and rail while improving reliability across the transit network. They also help prepare the region for a busy summer of major events, including the FIFA World Cup, by making it easier for riders to travel quickly and reliably throughout the region.

“Metro is strengthening the transit network that connects people across our region to jobs, school, and opportunity,” said Executive Girmay Zahilay. “Starting this month, we’re increasing bus service with earlier morning trips, later evening service, and more weekend options, with improvements phasing in across south King County and the Eastside. By investing in the system people rely on every day, we’ll also be ready to meet the moment when we welcome the world to our region this summer. For FIFA World Cup!”

Metro adjusts bus schedules each March and August to respond to ridership demand, traffic conditions, and the region’s expanding transit network. Details about the March service change are now available online in English, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Metro is continuing to modernize the transit system and improve the rider experience through ongoing investments in vehicles, technology, and rider amenities. All-door boarding will also improve accessibility by making it easier for riders who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices to access the front door and receive assistance from the transit operator. As part of these upgrades, buses across the fleet are equipped with ORCA card readers at every door, allowing riders to tap and pay using ORCA cards, mobile wallets, and credit or debit cards. The readers were installed across the Metro fleet with $5 million in investment from Amazon.

“Each time we improve the customer experience or extend bus service to new Link light rail stations, it helps more people choose transit,” said Metro General Manager Michelle Allison. “This year marks a transformative time for riders across King County, with more service and stronger connections that make it easier to travel reliably throughout the day.”

Bus, on-demand service will bring riders to Crosslake Connection, 2 Line stations

Sound Transit’s 2 Line Crosslake Connection will be the first light rail across Lake Washington, giving riders fast, reliable train service between downtown Seattle and the Eastside. New stations at Mercer Island and Judkins Park also will have better Metro bus service, connecting riders to and from communities and destinations.

Metro began phasing in stronger bus connections to the 2 Line in spring 2024 when the first eight stations opened. Additional improvements followed in spring 2025 with the opening of the Downtown Redmond and Marymoor stations. The largest phase of improvements came in fall 2025, when Metro introduced the network in place today, including Overlake Metro Flex. The changes marked a significant expansion of transit connections for Eastside communities. In total, hundreds of additional bus trips were added each week across multiple routes, extending the reach of the 2 Line into neighborhoods throughout the Eastside and delivering the connections riders asked for during the planning process.

Starting March 28, Metro will make additional service changes to strengthen connections to 2 Line stations as the Crosslake Connection begins service between the Eastside and Seattle.

Route 8 will provide a direct connection to the new Judkins Park Station by shifting its path from Martin Luther King Jr. Way South to 23rd Avenue South between East Yesler Way and South Massachusetts Street.
Route 223 will operate every 20 minutes during midday service, connecting riders to Downtown Redmond and Overlake stations, Lake Hills, Bellevue College, and Eastgate Park and Ride.
Route 224 will revise its pathway serving Downtown Redmond Station to better serve the growing employment center at Redmond Ridge Corporate Center.
Route 225 will begin serving Overlake Station instead of Redmond Technology Station and will double frequency to every 30 minutes. The new path will provide stops on 148th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 36th Street adjacent to the Microsoft campus.
Route 240 will add 20 weekday trips and operate every 15 minutes from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., connecting riders with 2 Line stations at South Bellevue, East Main, and Bellevue Downtown, along with Factoria and other destinations south to Renton.
Route 250 will increase weekday frequency to every 15 minutes between Avondale Road, Bear Creek Park and Ride, and Downtown Redmond Station.

Spring changes for south King County

New or improved service and connections to Link 1 Line stations in south King County will support riders across the region, including those who travel earlier in the morning, later at night, and on weekends.

Better 1 Line connections

Route 156 (Southcenter, SeaTac, Des Moines, Highline College) will be extended to Kent Des Moines Station.
Route 183 (Federal Way, Camelot, Star Lake Kent) will be routed into the Star Lake Station for a more direct connection.

Earlier and later bus service

Route 156 (Southcenter, SeaTac, Des Moines, Highline College) and Route 183 (Federal Way, Camelot, Star Lake Kent) will start weekday service earlier.
Route 181 (Twin Lakes, Federal Way, Auburn, Green River College), Route 182 (Tacoma, Federal Way), and Route 187 (Twin Lakes, Federal Way) will start weekend service earlier and extend service later.
Route 182 (Tacoma, Federal Way) and Route 903 (Twin Lakes, Federal Way) will start weekday service earlier and extend later at night.
Route 183 (Federal Way, Camelot, Star Lake Kent) will extend weekend service later.

More bus service changes this fall

2026 marks a major milestone for transit integration across the region. Additional changes planned for the August 2026 service update will strengthen connections to the region’s expanding light rail network. These improvements include Lynnwood Link Connections to serve the new Pinehurst Station, East Link Connections to link I-90 routes with the 2 Line stations at Mercer Island and South Bellevue, and South Link Connections that will improve frequency and expand service connecting riders to 1 Line stations and destinations across the region.

What people are saying

“Amazon is proud to call the Puget Sound region home, and we know a thriving community runs on a transit system that works for everyone,” said Sean Lee, vice president of global real estate and facilities at Amazon. “Tens of thousands of Amazonians tap their ORCA cards every month — and we’re proud to invest in the infrastructure that reduces congestion and keeps our neighbors, employees, and community moving.”

“It is so rewarding to see our collaborative efforts fully come to life!” said Shanying Zeng of Bellevue, a member of the East Link Connections Mobility Board. “We had the opportunity to channel our passion, transit riding experience, and neighborhood knowledge into shaping the service changes – like more frequency on key routes, safer (or better weather protection), stop locations closer to jobs, schools, medical facilities, grocery stores, all the places people go. Now people can move around the Eastside like never before: with frequent, faster, and more reliable and pleasant transit experiences!”

“Having increased frequency on routes like the 223, 240, 250 along with the 2 Line will make local connections in Bellevue, Kirkland, and Redmond easier, make my trips to work more reliable, and make transit a good choice to access restaurants, events, and the outdoors,” said Ivy Xian, also a member of the East Link Connections Mobility Board.

“The changes to the 181 will greatly improve my travel from Kent to the University of Washington, Tacoma,” said Prem Subedi, a member of the South Link Connections Mobility Board.