In less than six months, Renton-area bus riders will get another boost in transit service through a partnership between King County Metro Transit and the cities of Renton and Kent.

And within two years, Renton and Metro will expand mid-day service on another local bus route.

“By combining our resources, more than 20 public and private partners are leveraging voter-approved tax dollars to generate even more transit service for King County’s residents and commuters,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “We are the first transit agency in the country to initiate this kind of partnership, so these mark another innovative Transit Now milestone for King County.”

Sims has signed an ordinance formalizing 16 partnerships. Over the next several years the agreements will result in four new Metro bus routes, more trips on at least 25 existing routes, and traffic improvements on city streets that will improve the speed and reliability on two RapidRide corridors for bus rapid transit service.

The partnerships are another phase of the Transit Now initiative, a 10-year bus service expansion plan approved by voters in 2006.

More service will roll out this coming September as four new partnerships take effect, including an agreement between Renton, Kent and Metro to add mid-day service on Metro’s existing Route 153. Kent and Renton will share the costs with Metro of adding service on the route to better connect the residential, retail and employment corridor between the cities along Lind Avenue Southwest and the East Valley Road.

Then by 2010, Renton and the county will increase service on Route 110 to every 30 minutes between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Also, the route will be extended north to Coulon Park and south to the commercial area around Southwest 27th Street.

The other Metro partnerships will be phased in over the next five years, and will improve connections in South King County and across the region for Renton-area residents.