Metro bus route changes incorporate light rail

The commutes for 120,000 people around Seattle have changed after King County Metro did a major shuffle of bus routes to incorporate the extension of light rail to Capitol Hill and the University of Washington.

As UW students return from spring break Monday, Metro has rolled out route changes in Northeast Seattle.

Seven bus routes have been eliminated, there are five new routes and there are 19 that have added trips or changed times.

The transit agency says the number of households in that part of town within walking distance of frequent bus service has tripled.

"Commuting in Northeast Seattle is about to get a whole lot better," Josh Kavanagh, the UW's transportation director, said before the launch.

But Metro acknowledges there are some riders who may see an increase in the time it takes them to get to their destination.

“It may be more reliable for many of them, and may be actually faster for the majority of them, so there are some in there who will have a longer commute and/or a less convenient commute,” Victor Obeso with King County Metro said.

Peak hour express buses will keep running to downtown, but midday service will mostly feed to light rail.

The other neighborhood seeing big changes is South Lake Union.

The lane on Westlake Avenue used by the South Lake Union Streetcar is now transit-only.

Saturday, Metro's Rapid Ride C line started running in the lane, with frequent connections to downtown and West Seattle.

Metro's Route 40 is also using the transit lane, a boost for transit passengers who often found themselves stuck in traffic.

The Rapid Ride D line, serving Ballard, now extends to the south to reach Pioneer Square and the stadium district.

Metro is encouraging passengers to get pre-paid ORCA cards, which helps smooth the transfer between buses, streetcars and light rail.

Metro provides this customer service information:

• The Metro Customer Information phone lines are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. for trip planning and lost and found and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for fare/pass information and customer comments. The number is 206-553-3000, TTY Relay:  771.

• Monday, Metro will have staff around some of the areas most affected by the changes to answer questions and help with the transition.

• Currently, mobile ORCA and ORCA LIFT stations are available at the new train stations. The days of operation for the on-site mobile ORCA To Go and ORCA LIFT stations will be dependent on customer demand, but Metro anticipates them to be active through April 2.

Cox Media Group