King County Metro seeks the community’s feedback on proposed future transit options that will connect Auburn, Kent and Renton with faster, more frequent, and more reliable bus service and innovative travel options.
The effort is in followup to the public survey issued in March that identified the transportation needs of the community, and will help Metro understand what to prioritize as it addresses those needs.
With the community’s input, Metro has identified potential future RapidRide I Line bus station locations, a selection of bus routes that may receive additional frequency, routing changes, or reductions, and areas that could receive a flexible new service to better serve more people in lower-density areas.
Proposed options
RapidRide
• Key locations have been identified but other station locations are still being analyzed and yet to be determined.
• Comment on which RapidRide I line destinations should receive bus stations at the online open house
Other bus service changes
• These routes are under consideration for deletion: 102, 157, 158, 159, 192, 908, 910, 913; routes under consideration for deletion are either duplicative with other transit service or have low ridership
• These routes are under consideration for additional service frequency: 101, 105, 164, 166, 186
• These routes are under consideration for routing changes: 148, 166, 168, 169, 180, 181, 183, 906, 914, 916, 917
• Provide input via the survey
Flexible new service
• These areas are under consideration for a new flexible service: Renton Highlands, Benson Hill, Kent East Hill, and Algona/Pacific
• Provide input via the survey
What’s next
Findings will inform the Area Mobility Plan that will be finalized in winter 2019, which goes into effect in South King County in September 2020.
Later this fall, community members will have an opportunity to weigh in on the final changes.
The plan includes more local bus service, dial-a-ride (DART), transit buses, and Metro’s Community Connections Program, which provides cost-effective transportation options in areas that are not set up to support typical bus service.
By 2023, Metro will launch the RapidRide I Line, upgrading two of South King County’s busiest routes, the 169 and 180, with bus service that is 20 percent faster and comes more often.
In the immediate future, community members may also experience service additions with Metro’s twice-yearly service change that will be announced and begin in September 2019.
Speak up
• To share feedback on RapidRide I Line bus station locations, visit the online open house and provide comments by area.
• To weigh in on potential route changes in South King County, take the online survey before Aug. 25.
• For a calendar of community events, ongoing updates, and more information, visit the RapidRide I Line website.
The survey and online open house are available in multiple languages. Supplemental materials can be provided in these languages or others as needed.
