Significant improvements to bus service along the State Route 522 in east and north King County corridor highlight the upcoming Metro Transit service change beginning Saturday, Sept. 28.

Metro updates its routes and scheduling three times a year in February, June and September to improve service and keep up with the changing needs of transit passengers.

"One of the most critical success factors for any transit agency is customer satisfaction," said Metro General Manager Rick Walsh. "We listen to our customers and try to make the changes they ask for to improve their bus trips and connections."

Walsh said after substantial public outreach, King County and Sound Transit are introducing an integrated set of transit improvements for the SR 522 corridor between Woodinville and Seattle. Sound Transit is introducing a new express route – Route 522 – that will provide all-day express service. Metro is changing several of its routes in that corridor to reduce duplication in service and coordinate with the new Sound Transit service.

The main changes for Metro include the elimination of Route 307 and added service on Routes 41, 312 and 372. A trip from Woodinville to downtown Seattle via the new service on ST Express 522 should be 10 to 20 minutes faster than on Route 307.

"These changes will provide faster service between Woodinville and downtown Seattle, increase frequency between Bothell and Lake City, and expand service to both the University of Washington’s Bothell campus and the Cascadia Community College campus," said Walsh.

Metro is also consolidating bus stops along the SR 522 corridor to improve travel times for its routes and maximize passenger safety. Approximately 10 bus stops between Bothell and Lake City Way are being closed to encourage passengers to cross at signalized intersections and locations with mid-road islands. Improved passenger facilities such as shelters, benches, and better lighting are being planned for several of these locations.

In addition to the SR 522 corridor improvements, Metro’s September service changes also include:

• Many Eastside routes will return to the newly remodeled Bellevue Transit Center. Riders will be able to more easily move between bays on the widened platform under expanded weather shelters. Nineteen of the 24 routes (both Metro and Sound Transit) that serve downtown Bellevue will use the rebuilt transit center. In addition to the 12 bays at the BTC, the two stops at the intersection of 106^th Avenue and the downtown Bellevue pedestrian corridor will be improved and continue to be a functioning part of the BTC;
• Route 38 will be extended on Beacon Hill into the SODO area, with service every 30 minutes;

• Route 140 will have new 15-minute weekday service from 7:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., and more trips will serve the Tukwila Station between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

• Route changes on Routes 150, 151, 152 , 154, 181, 185, 186 and 917 to serve the new Auburn Station transit center;
• An additional morning trip and afternoon trip on Route 216 serving Sammamish;

• Improved 15-minute peak hour service on Route 230 leaving the Bellevue Transit Center to stops in Bellevue and Kirkand, plus new service on Central Avenue;

• New service to the two college campuses in Bothell via Route 251; and

• Added weekday peak hour trips on Route 256 between the South Kirkland Park and Ride and Overlake Transit Center.