Monday Marks First Commute with Metro Changes

Monday, Oct. 1, marks the first day of regular commutes for Metro Transit customers after the launch of RapidRide C and D lines, other route changes and new requirements for riders to pay when boarding.

With so many changes, Metro continues to urge riders to review new printed timetables and route maps–or see them online at metro.kingcounty.gov – and plan ahead to have an ORCA card or fare ready when boarding, especially during the Monday afternoon commute. The Ride Free Area ended in downtown Seattle on Sept. 28 and riders now are required to pay their fare when boarding.

The changes in Kirkland routes appear minimal, with Route 265 adding two morning peak-period trips to downtown Seattle and two afternoon peak-period trips to the Houghton Park & Ride.

Some transit service delays are expected in downtown Seattle as bus riders, transit operators and traffic adjust to route changes and the pay-on-entry system. Metro personnel will be available to answer rider questions Monday at key transit stops in downtown Seattle, Ballard, Burien, West Seattle and Northgate during the peak commute times 6:30-9:30 a.m. and 3:30-6:30 p.m. Some locations also will have personnel 12:30-3:30 p.m.

To keep buses and trains moving in the downtown Seattle transit tunnel during the afternoon commute, Metro personnel will have portable ORCA card readers to help riders board buses at Westlake, University Street and International District stations. Portable ORCA card readers also will be used to help riders board during the evening commute at Third Avenue and Pike Street, Third Avenue and Union Street and Second Avenue and Columbia Street.

The changes to routes and elimination of the downtown Ride Free Area are part of an effort to preserve bus service as well as improve transit ridership and productivity to make tax dollars go further.

Tools for riders

Metro Transit has many tools online:

• Route changes and Metro’s online trip planner are online at metro.kingcounty.gov
• Pay-on-Entry/Ride free area elimination information:
  metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/ride-free-area/changes.html
• RapidRide information page: metro.kingcounty.gov/travel-options/bus/RapidRide
• ORCA card information page: www.orcacard.com
• Customer Service customer.comments@kingcounty.gov or 206-553-3000 (call volumes and wait times might be longer this week)

Information about Metro Transit services is online at metro.kingcounty.gov.

Editor's Note: The above information was provided by Metro Transit.

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Do these changes affect you? Did we miss any route changes for Kirkland commuters? Please tell us in the comments box!