Metro discontinued the project in 2005, citing the cost of maintenance and technical problems. Its operations subsumed the Seattle Transit System, formerly under the purview of the City of Seattle and the Metropolitan Transit Corporation, a private company serving suburban cities in King County. Since 2019, King County Metros on-demand services have provided safe, reliable connections for people and places that arent near frequent bus or rail service. Three shuttle services contracted out to private operators, including Via, were merged in 2023 under the "Metro Flex" brand. From Jan. 26, 2023 to Mar. A free transfer is available to cash, ORCA, and mobile app riders. The fare value is held on an ORCA card. You can only transfer between Metro buses and Metro RapidRide buses with Transit GO Ticket. we can authorize you at an in-person King County Metro Neighborhood Pop-Up, . We connect people to their communities. Day passes (good for round-trip or multi-trip rides) are also available from ticket machines. This transfer also acts as your receipt for proof of payment. Transit Watch displays, like those found in. Metro Transit Division. The extent of Metro's application of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) for transit information available for customers has been limited to a few projects: Metro is a participating agency in the regional smart card program called ORCA (One Regional Card for All). The permit is free, a replacement will cost $3. From the first successful steam ferry launches of the "Mosquito Fleet", Seattle's first street car in 1884, the creation of Seattle Transit and eventually King County Metro Transit, our mass transit history milestones are listed here. The following King County Metro routes pickup adjacent to the light rail station on International Boulevard: Rapid Ride A-line (Federal Way) Route 161 (Burien/Kent) Route 156 (Southcenter/Des Moines) Route 124 operates on the airport drives between 1 am and 5 am. Bus Service Revisions began Saturday, June 12, 2010", "Metro Flex: On-demand transit services now even better, united under one name", "New on-demand shuttle service makes it more convenient than ever to take transit in southeast Seattle and Tukwila", "Metro's Ride2 shuttle service to West Seattle water taxi and Eastgate Park-and-Ride to end this month", "Metro buses still on reduced snow schedules while slush brings new driving risks", "Metro buses are now operating on the first use of 'Emergency Snow Network', "You can ride King County Metro buses for free during the next snow emergency", https://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/library/wastewater/wtd/about/History/1995BetterThanPromised/ch02.pdf, New transit/HOV ramps now open at Eastgate, ST Express Regional Bus Projects and Related Projects, "Service Change Information - King County Metro Transit", "Night Owl bus service - King County Metro Transit - King County", "STBD Service Investments September 2017", "Popular transit-to-trails program returns with new service in Seattle connecting to more hiking destinations", "Trailhead Direct offers shuttle service from Seattle to the Issaquah Alps, with more stops coming soon", "Trailhead Direct returns with more routes connecting hikers to more trails", Review of Metro Transit, Municipal League of King County, Public Transit and the Time Based Fare Structure, "What to pay - Fares & ORCA passes - Metro Transit - King County", "Fares & ORCA - King County Metro Transit", "Report on Transit fares: Metro fare history", "Metro transit begins excavating downtown Seattle transit tunnel on March 6, 1987", "Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel to reopen Sept. 24", "Buses no longer using Seattle's transit tunnel; Monday commutes test new routes", "Metro bus service to get boost with passage of Prop. N Mercer Way between 77th Ave. The bus stop color groupings are identified by a colored plate installed above or on the side of the bus stop sign. Tickets must be purchased prior to boarding. Adult fares (age 19-64) Riders age 19 to 64 pay a fare depending on the type of trip and distance travelled. Working with 40 neighborhoods to encourage residents to use sustainable travel modes and save money, help the environment and be more active while theyre at it. Call the Access Transportation Rideline 206-205-5000 (WA Relay: 711) Penalty Points. -DeSean Quinn, Metro Assistant General Manager of Partnerships and Strategy. Customer Information Office. A driver might only be able to spend a quick moment answering a question, but cannot help navigate the app at the risk of delaying transit service. The number is (206) 553-3000. The ORCA card is all you need to pay your fare on buses and trains in the Puget Sound region. [38] The first freeway flyer stop opened in 1975 at Montlake Boulevard and State Route 520. KSC-TR-0324. Want to be notified when our article is published? The G Line (formerly the Orange Line) is a bus rapid transit line in Los Angeles, California, operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). [68] The system uses RFID tags that are read as buses approach a TSP equipped intersection. The Transit Go Ticket App allows riders to buy bus, rail and water taxi tickets using their mobile device. See below for a list of adult fares by service. Metroway bus rapid transit service began on August 24, 2014, with a stop on . Transit GO Rewards is an innovative mobility rewards program to encourage smart and sustainable travel choices that reduce traffic congestion and transportation climate impacts. Metro stores and maintains buses at seven bases (garages), spread throughout its 2,134-square-mile (5,530km2) operating area. The high bridge is closed at least until 2022 while the City assesses and begins work to shore up cracks and increase structural stability. [60], Metro began developing its park and rides in the 1970s using various funding sources, including federal grants. Learn more Adult Orca. On Metro RapidRide buses, or when travelling on Third Avenue in downtown Seattle, the driver will always give you a paper transfer when paying with cash. The suburban network typically operates on major streets between the regions employment and population centers. [37] This practice was pioneered at Seattle Transit as the Blue Streak express bus service running between Northgate Park & Ride and Downtown Seattle. King County Metro accepts cash, ORCA cards, or the Transit GO Ticket mobile app. Other Metro services operating fare-free include DART, Via to Transit . Good for adult fares up to $3.50 when loaded on an ORCA card. Directs external communications and reputation management for recent winner of the Best Large Transit Agency in North America that delivers hundreds of thousands of . Due to bridge/tunnel rehab project, express shuttles . Please put the ticket in the farebox located next to the driver. In 1978, Metro was the first large transit agency to order high-capacity articulated buses (buses with a rotating joint). About King County; Learn more. [45][46] A fourth route, between Tukwila International Boulevard station, Renton, and Cougar Mountain, was added in 2019. Board of Estimate of City of New York v. Morris, "As the snow melts, King County Metro running more bus routes Wednesday", "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2022", American Public Transportation Association, "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2021", "Executive Constantine appoints Terry White Metro General Manager", "Metro: Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle", "Federal District Judge William Dwyer rules that Metro Council is unconstitutional on September 6, 1990", "Metro Transit to become independent county department", "Ride Free Area (discontinued Sept. 2012)", "Metro Transit establishes free Magic Carpet zone in downtown Seattle in September 1973", "Seattle Joining Movement for Free Bus Rides", "Readers ask: How are bus-route numbers picked, and why are empty buses in the HOV lane? [8] The municipality's transit operations was a stand-alone department within the county until 1996, when it became a division of the newly created King County Department of Transportation. Metro Flex is an on-demand service that replaces Community Ride, Ride Pingo to Transit and Via to Transit. Because of the scattershot evolution of the system, there is no easily discernible pattern to the route numbers, although there are clusters in certain neighborhoods. Monitored weekdays 6am-6pm. More about PugetPass. Check if your school or employer can help with costs. A pilot project provided bus information displays along a city arterial. August 28, 2020. Whentransferring from Linkto Sounder train, keep in mind that Sounder train fares are distance based as well. Pay your Link fare with: **RequiresRegional Reduced Fare Permit. Roughly speaking, areas in South King County (from Burien and Des Moines through Renton and Maple Valley) are served by routes numbered in the 100s, areas in East King County (from Renton to Bothell) are served by routes numbered in the 200s, areas in North King County (from Bothell to Shoreline) are served by routes numbered in the 300s. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The pandemic has hastened a fork in the road for our local public transit agencies. Amtrak Cascades train schedule offers flexibility. And in 2012 Seattle got rid of the ride free zone downtown. Where. Low-floor coaches have slightly reduced seating capacity (because the wheelwells intrude further into the passenger compartment) which may have been a concern. Fares & ORCA. This provides a two hour transfer window. Most service is operated in a hub-and-spoke pattern centered either on downtown Seattle or the University of Washington, with lesser amounts of crosstown service. When applying for an RRFP, be sure to bring proof of age (65+), or proof of a qualifying condition or Medicare card. If your phone has location services enabled, the app will select the nearest stores to you. An RRFP is given to you on an ORCA card. When youre ready to board, simply activate the ticket in your app and board the Metro bus. After suspending fares in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, King County Metro will resume collecting fares on Thursday, October 1. See below for a list of low-income adult fares by service. Accessibility inquiries1-800-201-4900, TTY Relay 711, But with the growing demand for other street uses, such as pedestrian access and bike lanes, and the desire to keep bus operators safe and comfortable, a layover facility is needed. Print and complete the application form and mail it to the ORCA Regional Mail Center. Participating agencies only allow customers to use Transit GO Tickets to transfer within their own systems. Foster, George (February 4, 1994). It also found that unloading outbound coaches once outside the RFA took additional time, though not entirely quantified vis--vis time saved within the RFA. Bus Rapid Transit Streetcar/Monorail. More about day passes. The Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) simplifies travel for senior and disabled riders of public transportation around Puget Sound. Nearby Recently Sold Homes. Its critical we move riders where they need to get to, when they need to travel. If you are transferring to another Metro bus or Metro RapidRide bus, show your activated ticket to the driver when boarding, or fare enforcement officer if asked. Learn more, Youth are encouragedbut not requiredto get a free Youth ORCA card Learn more, Subsidized Annual Pass (Eligibility required), This pass allows qualified riders to travel on select transit in our region for free for up to 12 calendar months, provided eligibility requirements are met. Metro Flex allows riders to book rides from a location to a location anywhere in the service area, adding to their ease of travel. Call 206-553-3000 for assistance. [43] The Night Owl network is made up of some of Metro's most popular routes, and is designed to connect neighborhoods with major transportation hubs including downtown Seattle, SeaTac Airport, park & ride lots, transit centers, and Link stations (providing service during the hours when trains are not in service). Public transit operator in King County, Washington, US, A King County Metro bus operating on Route 157 in. Partnerships with cities and major employers to provide more service than could otherwise be provided through typical resources. 1850 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 . Just as we do every March, Metro has implemented its spring service revisions, effective March 21. [40][41], Metro uses skip-stop spacing on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Avenues in Downtown Seattle, whereby buses skip every other bus stop. Due to bridge/tunnel rehab project, express shuttles operate btwn Crystal City & L'Enfant Plaza weekdays only btwn 6:20a-9:30a & 3:20p-8:00p. Metros on-demand services have resoundingly woven themselves into the mobility choices of the communities they serve and advance King Countys values. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. King County Metro and Sound Transit have partnered to create a new, subsidized annual pass program, allowing qualified riders to travel on select transit in our region with 100% subsidized fares. Apply for a Regional Reduced Fare Permit For riders with a disability Option 1: Apply with state or federal certification of disability . King, Snohomish, Pierce, and Kitsap counties together have an estimated 645,000 youth aged 6-18. This interest led to the formation of the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (more commonly known as Sound Transit) which holds primary responsibility for planning and building high capacity transit in the counties of King, Pierce and Snohomish, in western Washington state.[16]. [7], The Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle was created by a local referendum on September 9, 1958, as a regional authority tasked with management of wastewater and water quality issues in King County. 1", "Transit Signal Priority tests a success,more signal synchronization planned countywide", City never responded to Metro's request to plow routes, bus chief says, In Transit Newsletter, July/August 2008 issue, "Open Transit Software Foundation History", "Pilot Project for Real-time Bus Information System on Aurora Avenue North", "ORCA smart card limited rollout gets underway", "The evolution of Metro buses - video transcript", Metro Employees Historic Vehicle Association (MEHVA), Central Puget Sound Regional Fare Coordination, Comparative study between Diesel and GM Hybrid bus fleets operating in Seattle (King County), Why You Should Trust King County Metro Trip Planner, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=King_County_Metro&oldid=1142522551, Transit authorities with alternative-fuel vehicles, Transportation in King County, Washington, 1973 establishments in Washington (state), Articles with dead external links from August 2018, Articles with dead external links from April 2019, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2019, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2009, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2021, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from May 2015, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2009, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0.