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ST Express regional bus services expanding

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September service change includes longer hours, better connections to Link

Another round of Sound Transit 2 bus service additions rolls out this weekend. Highlights of the changes that begin Saturday, Sept. 19, include more service on four ST Express bus routes, and changes to King County Metro Transit bus routes that will make it easier for riders in south Seattle and south King County to connect with Link light rail service.

Increased frequency on weekends and during off-peak hours will begin this coming weekend on two Snohomish County routes and two Eastside routes. Service will be added on ST Express routes 510 Everett-Seattle; 511 Everett-Seattle; 550 Bellevue-Seattle and 554 Issaquah-Seattle.

More than 20 King County Metro bus routes are being revised to reduce duplication of transit services and better connect with light rail service. Some routes will have more frequent service in the morning and evening, and some routes will see service revised, reduced or discontinued.

Sound Transit has worked closely with Metro and the city of Seattle to improve bus service to the five light rail stations between Beacon Hill and Rainier Beach. This includes service to the new Mt. Baker Transit Center that opens Sept. 19 at Rainier Avenue South and South Forest Street, just east of the Link station.

There are also some revisions in bus routes serving the Tukwila International Boulevard Link Station. More bus changes are scheduled for next February in southwest King County, following the opening of the SeaTac/Airport Link station. For more information about Metro bus route changes see: http://metro.kingcounty.gov/

The Sound Transit 2 package included the addition of 100,000 annual bus service hours, which is being phased in at regular service change intervals. The first phase that rolled out this past June included more bus service hours for 12 ST Express routes. More ST2-funded bus service additions are scheduled for February 2010, with the biggest changes coming to Pierce County and south King County bus routes following the opening of Link light rail to Sea-Tac Airport this December.

Complete information about the September 2009 -- February 2010 service changes can be found at http://www.soundtransit.org//. The changes include:

ST EXPRESS REGIONAL BUS

ST Express Route 510 (Everett-Seattle): Trips added and schedule adjustments

ST Express Route 511 (Ash Way-Seattle): Trips added and schedule adjustments

ST Express Route 550 (Bellevue-Seattle): Trips added and schedule adjustments

ST Express Route 554 (Issaquah-Seattle): Revised routing in Sammamish, trips added and schedule adjustments

SOUNDER COMMUTER RAIL

Minor schedule adjustments

CENTRAL LINK

Service to SeaTac/Airport Station begins December 2009

TACOMA LINK

No changes

 

CONTACT: Linda Robson-(206) 398-5149 or linda.robson@soundtransit.org