With stabilized workforce levels and the state’s “Safe Start” plan moving forward, King County Metro Transit announced it will restore service on dozens of bus routes, increase water taxi service, and partially restore Via to Transit, starting Monday, June 22.

The move fully restores 23 bus routes that were canceled in March and April and adds trips to other routes. A few recently canceled peak commuter routes will be restored, while other routes will remain suspended due to financial constraints and lower anticipated ridership.

The result is Metro will operate more than 11,000 weekday bus trips, or 85% of its pre-COVID service level. Saturday service will be 8,200 trips (99%) and Sunday service will be 7,000 trips (99%). Starting Monday, Metro’s will increase the number of transit operators providing service from 64% to about 80% of pre-COVID levels.

Affected routes are listed below, and revised schedules will be posted on Metro’s Reduced Schedule page by June 20 for weekday service starting June 22. An updated Canceled Trips page will show which trips are still not running. Weekend schedule updates for service beginning Saturday, June 27 will be posted next week.

Metro continues to monitor evolving customer travel behavior and ridership, which remains about 70% lower than this time last year. As demand increases on particular routes, Metro will add extra trips where possible throughout the summer and fall.  Social distancing requirements continue to significantly reduce the number of customers that each bus can carry.

In September, Metro plans to further adjust service, adding additional weekday peak routes and service, along with some modifications to weekend schedules, targeting a total service level that will be about 85% of pre-COVID levels. For more information, read “Metro plans September service change amid budget challenges.”

Instructions for riders

    • To support public health and prevent the spread of COVID-19, riders are still required to wear masks when riding transit and in situations where they cannot maintain six feet of distance from other people.
    • Fares are not yet being collected on Metro services. Riders should board at the middle or back doors unless they need to access the ADA area or boarding assistance.

Highlights of changes effective June 22

    • Bus
      • Restored routes: 21 Express, 74, 102, 111, 118, 119, 125, 208, 212, 217, 218, 221, 224, 226, 257, 301, 304, 311, 330, 773, 775, 907, 930
      • All Metro bus routes operating on weekends (including DART) will resume full service on Saturdays and Sundays. Routes 22, 47, 249, and 910 remain suspended on weekends.
    • Streetcar
      • South Lake Union Streetcar remains suspended
      • First Hill Streetcar will continue to operate with 15-minute headways Monday through Saturday during reduced service hours, 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. There are no changes to service hours on Sunday and holidays: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    • Trailhead Direct
      • Trailhead Direct remains suspended until further notice.
    • Via to Transit
      • Via to Transit relaunches serving three locations (Othello Station, Rainier Beach Station, and Tukwila International Boulevard Station). Read “blog post headline” for more details.
    • Water Taxi
      • Water taxi routes to Vashon and West Seattle will see restoration of some service and will operate on winter schedules.

Updates by route/service:

WEEKDAY:

Routes with most or all trips operating (84 routes with two or fewer trips cut)

    • A Line, B Line, F Line, 8, 11, 21 local, 24, 26, 31, 32, 33, 45, 48, 49, 50, 60, 62, 64, 65, 67, 70, 71, 73, 75, 101, 102, 105, 106, 107, 111, 120, 124, 125, 128, 131, 132, 148, 150, 153, 156, 164, 166, 168, 169, 180, 181, 182, 183, 187, 193, 204, 208, 217, 218, 221, 224, 240, 245, 255, 257, 269, 303, 304, 309, 311,330, 331, 345, 346, 347, 348, 373, 631 (Burien Community Shuttle), 635 (Des Moines Community Shuttle), 901, 903, 906, 908, 914, 915, 916, 917, 930, Water Taxi Vashon route

Routes with fewer trips and/or reduced hours of operation (42 routes and services)

    • C Line, D Line, E Line, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Local, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, 21X, 27, 28, 36, 40, 41, 43, 44, 74, 118, 119, 212, 225, 226, 230, 231, 239,  241, 250, 271, 301,372,  773, 775, 907, Water Taxi West Seattle, First Hill Streetcar, Link Light Rail, Via to Transit (revised areas served)

Routes, services, and programs fully cut (87 routes and services)

    • 5X, 9, 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, 29, 37, 47, 55, 56, 57, 63, 76, 77, 78, 113, 114, 116, 118X, 119X, 121, 122, 123, 143, 154, 157, 158, 159, 167, 177, 178, 179, 186, 190, 192, 197, 200, 214, 216, 219, 232, 237, 246, 249, 252, 268, 308, 312, 316, 342, 355, 628 (Snoqualmie Community Shuttle), 630 (Mercer Island Community Shuttle), 823, 824, 886, 887, 888, 889, 891, 892, 893, 894, 895, 910, 913, 931, 952, 980, 981, 982, 984, 986, 987, 988, 989, 994, 995, Black Diamond/Enumclaw Community Ride, Shoreline/Lake Forest Park Community Ride, Normandy Park Community Ride, Sammamish Community Ride, Juanita Area Community Ride, Bothell/Woodinville Community Ride, South Lake Union Streetcar

SATURDAY:

Routes with most or all trips operating on Saturday

    • A Line, B Line, C Line, D line, E Line, F Line, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 36, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 48, 49, 50, 60, 62, 65, 67, 70, 71, 73, 75, 101, 105, 106, 107, 118, 120, 124, 125, 128, 131, 132, 148, 150, 156, 164, 166, 168, 169, 180, 181, 182, 183, 187, 204, 208, 221, 225, 226, 230, 231, 239, 240, 241, 245, 250, 255, 269, 271, 331, 345, 346, 347, 348, 372, 635 (Des Moines Community Shuttle), 901, 903, 906, 908, 914, 915, 916, 917

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

    • First Hill Streetcar, Link light rail, Via to Transit (revised areas served)

Routes, services, and programs fully cut on Saturday

    • 22, 47, 249, 910, South Lake Union Streetcar, Water Taxi West Seattle route,  Shoreline/Lake Forest Park Community Ride, Normandy Park Community Ride, Sammamish Community Ride, Bothell/Woodinville Community Ride

SUNDAY:

Routes with most or all Sunday trips operating

    • A Line, B Line, C Line, D Line, E Line, F Line, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 32, 33, 36, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 48, 49, 50, 60, 62, 65, 67, 70, 73, 75, 101, 105, 106, 107, 118, 120, 124, 125, 128, 131, 132, 148, 150, 156, 166, 168, 169, 180, 181, 182, 187, 221, 225, 226, 230, 231, 239, 240, 241,245, 250, 255, 271, 331, 345, 346, 347, 348, 372, 901, 903

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

    • First Hill Streetcar, Link Light Rail, Via to Transit (revised areas served)

Routes, services, and programs fully cut on Sunday

    • 22, 47, 249, South Lake Union Streetcar, Water Taxi West Seattle route, Shoreline/Lake Forest Community Ride, Bothell/Woodinville Community Ride

Revised King County Metro Water Taxi weekday commuter sailing schedule effective June 22, 2020: 

WEST SEATTLE ROUTE
June 22, 2020
Departs Pier 50 Departs West Seattle
5:55 AM 6:15 AM
6:30 AM 6:50 AM
7:05 AM 7:25 AM
7:40 AM 8:00 AM
8:15 AM 8:35 AM
8:50 AM 9:10 AM
3:25 PM 3:45 PM
4:05 PM 4:25 PM
4:45 PM 5:05 PM
5:25 PM 5:45 PM
6:05 PM 6:25 PM
6:45 PM 7:05 PM

 

VASHON ISLAND ROUTE
June 22, 2020
Departs Pier 50 Departs Vashon
5:30 AM 6:10 AM
6:38 AM 7:10 AM
7:40 AM 8:15 AM
4:30 PM 4:58 PM
5:30 PM 5:58 PM
6:30 PM 6:58 PM

 

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