News of Madison Valley

On Saturday, March 19, Sound Transit will expand Link light rail to serve two new stations on Capitol Hill and at the University of Washington’s Husky Stadium. One week later, Metro’s spring service change will take effect. 

During the first week of new Link service to Husky Stadium, use current bus service to connect with light rail. 

From Saturday, March 19 through Friday, March 25, the following routes will serve the two new Link stations:

• Capitol Hill Station (Broadway and E John Street): Currently served by Metro routes 8, 9, 10, 11, 43, 49, and 60, as well as the City of Seattle’s new First Hill Streetcar.
• University of Washington Station (at Husky Stadium on Montlake Boulevard NE): Currently served by Metro routes 25, 31, 32, 43, 44, 48, 65, 67, 68, 75, 167, 197, 271, 277, 372, and 373, and Sound Transit Express routes ST 540, ST 542, and ST 556.

Starting March 26, new bus connections will help riders reach light rail and other destinations. 

On Saturday, March 26, Metro will change service as described on our Link Connections website. These changes will provide a redesigned network of bus service to better connect riders with Link light rail. It will also offer new connections and service improvements people have asked for, including:

• New or improved connections to the Link University of Washington Station on existing and new routes (31, 32, 45, 48, 65, 67, 71, 73, 75, 78, 372, and 373). Here’s an image showing how these and other routes that aren’t changing will connect to the Link University of Washington Station.  
• New or improved connections to the Link Capitol Hill Station on routes 8, 10, and 49, and on unchanged routes 9 and 60. The First Hill Streetcar will also connect with Link. 
• Route deletions or replacements: Routes 16, 25, 26 (local), 28 (local), 30, 66X, 68, 72, and 242 will be deleted or replaced with other service.
• Service improvements during peak periods on routes 64X, 74X, 76, and 316.
• Increased frequency on routes 8, 12, 48, 49, 65, 67, 70, 73, 75, and 372X.
• More-reliable service on routes 8 and 48, which are currently often delayed by traffic. Each will be split into two shorter routes.
• New east-west connections between Sand Point, Wedgwood, Ravenna, Roosevelt, Green Lake, Wallingford, and Fremont on new Route 62.
• New connections to South Lake Union and First Hill employment sites on
• new Route 63.
• New night and weekend service on routes 8, 12, 67, 70, and 372X.
• Instead of being deleted, as Metro originally proposed, Route 43 will have 30-minute peak period service on weekdays.

How will your routes change? Find out on Metro’s Link Connections website.

Other changes

In partnership with the City of Seattle, Metro will extend the RapidRide C Line to serve South Lake Union. The C Line will no longer continue as the RapidRide D Line to Ballard. The D Line will be extended to serve Pioneer Square, and will no longer continue as the C Line to West Seattle. Read more.

Background

Thanks to all who participated in our extensive multi-phase public outreach for these changes. Residents reviewed online information, took surveys and provided comments in other ways, attended public meetings, and served on an advisory Sounding Board.

The launch of new of Link light rail service to Capitol Hill and the University of Washington, and related bus network revisions, culminate several years of work by Metro, Sound Transit, the City of Seattle, and many other stakeholders.

Whether you’re pleased with the outcome or not, these changes were shaped by the input we received from thousands of riders. The King County Council adopted the bus service changes on Oct. 19, 2015. Since then, Metro has made some additional administrative changes. To learn more about the history of this project and how it has changed over time, read our series of blog posts under the “Link Connections” category.

How and when to prepare for the changes 

You can start preparing now by doing the following:

• Visit Sound Transit’s website to learn about the new Link service that will begin March 19.
• Visit Metro’s Link Connections website for details on bus route changes, the planning process, and background information.
• Use current timetables to plan bus trips to Link light rail stations during the week of March 19-25
• Use Metro’s Link Connections interactive map to start planning transit trips you’ll take on or after March 26.
• Consider available ORCA card options to make quick, easy transfers between Metro and Sound Transit Link light rail.

In early March, we’ll let you know when you can:

• Enter a travel date of March 26 or later in Metro’s online Trip Planner to plan transit trips in the new network that will be effective on March 26.
• Sign up for Transit Alerts for any new routes you may be riding.
• Online timetables for Metro service effective on Saturday, March 26, will be posted on Metro’s website on the afternoon of Friday, March 25. 

Please stay in touch

If you need more information, help with trip planning, or access to information in accessible or translated formats, please contact DeAnna Martin at 206-477-3835 or [email protected].