ST Express bus service will significantly change March 23, 2019. Construction projects will close the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel. Congestion is increasing, so maintaining current service levels requires additional resources. Many 2019 changes will increase our ability to operate service reliably amidst these challenges. The Sound Transit Board approved these changes on November 15, 2018.
All tunnel buses to transition to surface streets March 23, 2019
Starting March 23, 2019, buses will no longer operate in downtown tunnel stations and will instead travel on surface streets through downtown Seattle. Route 550 will travel inbound on 4th Avenue and Pike Street, and outbound on Union Street and 2nd Avenue. Metro routes 41, 74, 101, 102, 150, and 255 will also have new routings. Visit here for more info.
Key changes for March 23-25, 2019
- Rail only downtown tunnel
- Route 550 moves to surface streets in downtown Seattle, north on 4th Ave., south on 2nd Ave.; longer travel times, maintains frequency.
- Link light rail reliability improves.
- Seaway Transit Center opens
- Route 513 extends to Seaway Transit Center and will continue to serve Evergreen Way via a new stop at Casino Rd.
- Improving efficiency
- Route 580 select low-ridership trips cut and others run only between Puyallup Station and the South Hill Park and Ride.
- Route 555 operates only between Northgate and Bellevue, no longer serving Eastgate or Issaquah.