This year, more than 60 percent of King County Metro Transit’s fleet is outfitted for winter with the latest equipment to keep its vehicles rolling through rain, ice, snow and sleet.

"Almost 800 buses in our fleet have the latest equipment to enhance traction in bad weather," said Metro Transit General Manager Rick Walsh. "In addition to better traction control, we have also added more four-wheel drive service trucks which will help us in getting our service and chaining crews on the road. These vehicles are better equipped for adverse weather and big enough to push a bus when needed."

Metro is a popular way to travel during bad weather, because many people want to avoid driving in wintry conditions. That can result in crowded buses and a longer-than-usual wait on the phone for Rider Information. Plus, buses operate under the same – usually slower – traffic conditions that other vehicles do when roads are bad, which may mean a longer wait at the bus stop.

Here are some quick tips for riding Metro during bad weather:

• Keep timetables handy for quick reference when you hear Metro is modifying service because of snow or ice;
• People who do not regularly ride the bus, but who may during adverse weather, should check online and in timetables for routes serving their area ahead of time;
• Dress warmly for the walk to the bus stop and possible delays, and wear appropriate footwear for the weather;
• Head for bus stops on main arterial roads;
• Riders should wait at bus stops at the very top or very bottom of hills, because buses are often unable to stop for passengers on inclines;
• Be patient. Buses are not always on schedule in snow or icy conditions.

"We ask our riders to prepare for those bad weather days in advance," said Walsh. "Familiarize yourself with the snow routes listed online and in the timetables for the routes you ride, dress warm, be prepared to wait a little extra time in the cold weather and find a flat spot to wait for the bus."

When road conditions warrant, Metro reroutes service or operates chained shuttles on some routes to avoid hazardous streets. This snow reroute information is available both online and in timetables with the snowflake symbol on the front.

Reroute information is also available on Metro Online, or by calling Metro Rider Information at (206) 553-3000/voice or (206) 684-1739/TTY. Sound Transit alerts are posted on the ST Express web page.

Riders can also subscribe to King County Transit Alert!, an e-mail service that notifies subscribers when a significant number of Metro buses are rerouted because of bad weather or other disruptions. Transit customers can sign up on the web at Transit Alert!, or through the Regional Public Information Network (RPIN).

Passengers who are new to Metro can check out transit options and get trip planning advice online by visiting Metro's Trip Planner.

Reroutes and/or chained shuttle information is shown in Metro’s current timetables for:

• Seattle Routes - 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79, 82, 83 and 97.

• South King County Routes - 101, 106, 107, 111, 113, 114, 116, 118, 119, 124, 128, 130, 132, 133, 135, 136, 137, 140, 148, 151, 155, 158, 160, 163, 164, 166, 168, 169, 170, 175, 176, 181, 183, 186 and 187.

• Eastside Routes – 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 210, 212, 213, 214, 216, 217, 219, 220, 222, 225, 229, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 245, 247, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 260, 261, 265, 266, 269, 271, 272, 277, 291, 342, 921, 922, 925, 927, 929 and 942.

• North King County Routes - 301, 302, 304, 306, 308, 311, 315, 341, 358, 372, 377, and 943.

Depending on road conditions, Metro may operate chained shuttles along hilly portions of some routes to connect with buses that can continue service. These shuttles follow regular routing and are signed "Shuttle." Routes that may use chained shuttles are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 13, 18, 21, 27, 32, 36, 42, 71, 74, 76, 101, 106, 136, 137, 176, 178, 187, 214, 234, 252, 255, 260, 304, 315 and Metro-operated Sound Transit Express Route 540.

Other buses will follow their regular routes whenever possible, although adverse road and traffic conditions may warrant unplanned rerouting of buses to avoid hazards. Metro may implement reroutes any time, day or night. Metro will return buses to regular routing on a route-by-route basis as conditions allow.

Buses will continue to make regular stops in park-and-ride lots even if the snow has not been cleared. If conditions in a park-and-ride lot are hazardous, buses will pick up passengers on the street in front of the lot.

Carpool and vanpool riders should check with their drivers to discuss snow plans before it snows or roads become icy. Custom Bus riders should check their timetables for snow route information, then call (206) 684-1743 to find out if their buses will operate on revised routes.

Metro timetables are available at local libraries, community colleges, major shopping malls and many work sites throughout King County.