Additional Sound Transit bus route provides alternative to Route 545

ST Express Route 542 relieves peak-time overcrowding on existing Route 545; will accommodate expected increases in ridership when bridge tolls are implemented

Sound Transit has added more regional bus service to the eastside with ST Express route 542 from Redmond to Seattle. The new route begins at the Redmond Transit Center and operates along the SR 520 corridor, with stops at Redmond City Hall, the SR 520/NE 51st Freeway Station, the Overlake Transit Center, Yarrow Point Freeway Station, and Evergreen Point Freeway Station. Including Mountlake Boulevard, the route makes six on-street stops in the University District before ending at the 65th Street Park-and-Ride near Green Lake in Seattle.

Service runs every 15 minutes in both directions on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Serving major employment and education centers in the region, the additional route addresses passenger overcrowding on Sound Transit's previously existing ST Express Route 545. It will also help address construction-related traffic impacts and expected increases in ridership when work begins on replacement of the SR 520 bridge, and when vehicle tolls are implemented in 2011.

Sound Transit's ST Express bus service currently operates 26 routes throughout the region. Timetables for specific bus routes and schedules for other Sound Transit services can be found at http://www.soundtransit.org/Riding-Sound-Transit/Schedules-and-Facilities.xml.

Riders can sign up to receive automatic e-mail service alerts for ST Express, Central Link, Sounder or Tacoma Link. Rider Alerts can help plan trips around project construction, inform riders about special service to events, and alert riders to holiday and other schedule changes.