Metro Transit’s fall service schedule changes go into effect today, Sept. 10

Revisions include new orange timetables, new Metro Route 243 and the Redmond LOOP, a restructure of service in southeast Seattle that will affect routes 9 Express, 38, 106, 107 and 124, and schedule or other adjustments to 39 other routes.

September 9, 2016 2:52 pm

From a press release:

On Saturday, September 10, Metro’s fall service changes begin. Revisions include new orange timetables, new Metro Route 243 and the Redmond LOOP, a restructure of service in southeast Seattle that will affect routes 9 Express, 38, 106, 107 and 124, and schedule or other adjustments to 39 other routes.

Two new routes

Route 243

Starting Monday, September 12, Metro’s new Route 243 will provide limited stop weekday peak express service between the Overlake Transit Center and Kenmore Park and Ride lot on four morning trips, with four  return trips in the afternoon.  Route 243 serves Redmond Transit Center, downtown Redmond, Willows Road, the Totem Lake Transit Center and freeway station, UW Bothell/Cascadia College and downtown Bothell.

Redmond LOOP

Midday on weekdays, the Redmond LOOP operates a one-way clockwise loop via Education Hill, Avondale, southeast Redmond and downtown Redmond with  27 designated stops approximately every 45 minutes from 9 am-3 pm.  Currently operated by a van, it provides flexible service within a defined area in Education Hill east of 166th Av NE, and serves the Redmond Senior Center, Friendly Village, Swedish Medical Center and Group Health. Reservations for flexible service areas and destinations can be made on a first-come, first-served basis by calling 425-702-9616 or by sending an email.

Southeast Seattle service revisions

Metro has worked for several years with community organizations, social services and jurisdictions, and has listened to transit customers to find out how to help people get around better in Southeast Seattle.

Starting September 10, Metro Route 106 will operate through the Rainier Valley along Martin Luther King Jr Way S to provide a direct connection between Renton and Rainier Beach and the International District. Routes 9, 107 and 124 will be restructured to support this revision, and Route 38 will be discontinued.

Ride transit to weekend football games

In addition to this fall’s service revisions, Metro provides shuttle and regular service to and from home Husky and Seahawks games.

In the interests of ease of travel, and reducing traffic congestion, Seahawks and Husky football fans are encouraged to ride regularly scheduled transit service, including Sound Transit’s Link light rail, to and from games.

There are many area park-and-ride lots where fans can park for free and ride regularly scheduled transit service to the event.

Metro provides park & ride lot shuttle service for weekend Seahawks home games. There are no shuttles for weekday games.  And, in partnership with the University of Washington, Metro provides P&R Shuttle, neighborhood Special service and regular service for weekend Husky football games. For the weeknight game scheduled for Friday, September 30, ride regularly scheduled service.

Find information

Fall service revisions are posted online, and are also included in new orange timetables and in the special rider alert brochure. Revised timetables are on Metro Online as of Friday afternoon, or customers can call Metro Customer Information at 206-553-3000.

During times when Metro’s Customer Service offices are closed, transit customers can use online resources to submit comments or manage their ORCA account, or to access Metro’s Puget Sound Trip Planner desktop and mobile apps for iOS and Android.

When planning a trip in Metro’s online Trip Planner, use a date of September 10 or later to find a route or schedule, find a stop, track your bus or plan a trip that uses the fall information.

Find out about other transit revisions in the greater Seattle and Puget Sound area by visiting Metro’s transit partners at Community Transit, Everett Transit, King County Water Taxi, Pierce Transit, Seattle Streetcar, Sound Transit and the Washington State Ferries.

Fall is a busy time for schools, sports and other events, as well as construction projects that may have impacts on transit service.  Metro encourages everyone to ride transit to and from events, sign up for Transit Alerts, be aware of activities in your area, allow plenty of time, remember to plan your return trip and always check the online Service Advisories page before traveling, in order to know if there are any known events that might affect service.

Finally, with these revisions, Metro encourages riders to review and revise their Transit Alert subscriptions as necessary.