Increased bus service for Bellevue-Seattle riders to begin Sept. 21, 1998

Bus riders on one of the most-used routes between Bellevue and Seattle will soon enjoy increased service, thanks to funding from Sound Transit - the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority.

Sound Transit board members approved funding for increased service to King County Metro Transit route 226 to begin on September 21st, one year ahead of schedule.

"For eastside bus riders, bus number 226 is one of the most popular routes to Seattle, especially during the late afternoon to attend sports and other events," King County Councilmember and Sound Transit Boardmember Rob McKenna said. "With Sound Transit's funding, eastside bus riders will enjoy more frequent and convenient service from King County Metro Transit." Sound Transit Boardmembers Jane Hague, King County Councilmember and Dave Russell, Kirkland City Councilmember, joined McKenna in hailing the decision.

Sound Transit will fund 16 total trips including three new afternoon peak hour trips between 4:45 and 6:20 p.m. This means for eastside riders wanting to catch a bus between 4:45 and 5:45 p.m., buses will now depart for Seattle every ten minutes instead of the current 15-minute interval. For eastside riders going to Seattle for early evening sports and other events, a new 6 p.m. trip is added to the schedule between 5:45 and 6:20 p.m., reducing the wait for these popular buses by one-half. Sound Transit will also fund eight morning peak trips.

Sound Transit's funding will allow Metro Transit to increase bus service between Issaquah and Seattle and the University District and the eastside. With the increased service from Sound Transit and Metro Transit, up to 150 cars will not be driving on eastside highways, reducing traffic congestion and helping improve air quality. 

Approved by voters in 1996, Sound Transit is on track to implement a three-county regional transit system plan known as Sound Move. Sound Move will be a seamless blend of three transportation systems: Sounder commuter rail, running 81 miles from Everett to Tacoma/Lakewood; Link light rail, a 24-mile system connecting the cities of Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac and a 1.6 mile system connecting downtown Tacoma with the Tacoma Dome commuter station; and Regional Express, a bus transit system that will connect the major metropolitan areas of Bellevue, Everett, Tacoma and Seattle with other cities and numerous communities with 20 new, fast, limited-stop bus routes and numerous improvements to transit centers, park-and-ride lots and HOV lanes throughout the region.

For more information on Sound Move, please visit the Sound Transit website at www.soundtransit.org/. You may also write or call for more information at Sound Transit, 1100 Second Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98101-2423 (206) 398-5000.

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Sound Transit plans, builds and operates regional transit systems and services to improve mobility for Central Puget Sound.