Transit Alert – Metro will operate its Emergency Service Network on Saturday, with 49 routes serving main arterials and delays expected

Metro will operate its Emergency Snow Network (ESN) for the entire service day on Saturday, February 9.

Emergency Service Network (ESN)
ESN operation means that, due to severe weather and road conditions, Metro service is significantly reduced to 49 bus routes and their associated chained shuttles that serve only major cleared arterials in more densely populated areas.

The ESN includes only routes that Metro believes it can operate with a reasonable degree of safety and reliability in severe conditions. During ESN operation, no other routes operate and some King County neighborhoods and areas have no bus service because of difficult travel conditions or geography.

ESN Routes
ESN routes are: Metro routes 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 21, 24, 24 shuttle, 31, 32, 36, 40, 41, 44, 45, 48, 62, 62 shuttle, 65, 70, 75, 90 shuttle, 101, 102 shuttle, 106, 106 shuttle, 120, 124, 128, 150, 166, 168, 169, 180, 181, 235, 245, 248, 252/255 shuttle, 255, 255 shuttle, 271, 331, 345, 348, 348 shuttle, 372 Woodinville and 372 Lake City, RapidRide A, B, C, D, E and F lines, and Metro-operated Sound Transit Express routes  ST 522, ST 545, ST 550, ST 554 and the ST 554 shuttle.

Using the ESN
Board or exit ESN service at the regularly posted bus stops along these routes.

If these routes normally have snow reroutes, those reroutes will also be in effect and can be found in the Snow & Ice table.

Frequency of service
ESN service along the designated routes operates about as frequently as normal service on those same routes.  While there is no published schedule, the regular timetables can be used as guides.  Rider should expect delays.

The ESN is operated on a day to day basis and, once ordered to be activated, is announced during the afternoon prior to the day of operation, and remains in effect for the entire day.

Getting information about the ESN
When the ESN is activated the Metro Snow, Ice & Flood map is blue.

Riders who intend to use Metro’s services should visit the Emergency Snow Network webpage to view details about routes in operation and to identify their options.

Posted timetables on Metro’s Schedules and Maps page are a good point of reference for the 49 ESN routes that are operating, but unforeseen roadway and weather conditions may result in delays or unplanned reroutes..

Customers should be aware that Puget Sound Trip Planner and third-party apps will not reflect ESN service and will not be accurate for planning itineraries on ESN days.  However, once intending riders know which ESN route they want to use, other Metro trip planner features, such as maps, bus stop locations and timetables for ESN routes are valid.  Metro trip planner and other apps are still accurate for planning trips or getting schedules for regular service days.

On Saturday
Weather forecast
The National Weather Service is forecasting heavy snow continuing through Saturday.

Plan ahead
Metro encourages people to avoid traveling in the affected area if possible, or to make alternate travel plans for Saturday. If you plan to ride Metro service, plan ahead, be aware of ESN operation, and anticipate delays, cancelations and extremely cold weather.

Transit customers should check the Metro Winter, ESN and Snow & Ice pages for information about planned ESN service and reroutes for the routes they ride. The table is updated as revisions occur. Descriptions of planned reroutes include the specific stops that are both missed and served while buses are rerouted, as well as the streets they use. Use regularly published schedules as a guide, then expect possible delays. 

Watch for updates Saturday evening.

Riding transit in adverse conditions
In areas where streets remain or become slick, transit customers are advised to wait for buses designated to operate at posted bus stops on flat portions of cleared arterials or at major transfer points, such as park-and-ride lots and transit centers where there may be multiple service options.

It is not possible to know when a bus will arrive at a specific location.  It is possible for buses to temporarily have to go on unplanned reroutes if streets they normally travel on are unexpectedly blocked.  Temporary reroutes are not reflected in the Snow & Ice table or in Metro’s trip planner.  When possible a Transit Alert will be sent about an unexpected reroute, however we may not know about all of them.

Know before you go
What to expect
During bad weather and when road conditions are treacherous, be prepared for the conditions, longer than usual waits at bus stops and more crowded buses. 

There may also be longer waits on hold if you call Metro’s Customer Information line at 206-553-3000.  Metro staff can help you with reroutes and other transit information, but cannot tell you when your bus will be at a specific stop.

Get information
Metro riders can prepare ahead by visiting Metro’s website and familiarizing themselves with information about how Metro operates in the snow, as well as the snow routing for the routes they ride. Snow routes are shown in timetables.  The snow and ice page links to them.

Customer Information
Metro’s Customer Information phone line at 206-553-3000 will be open for special hours from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday to assist customers with using the ESN.

King County snow service areas
Metro’s service area has seven snow regions.  It is possible for a bus to travel through more than one snow area and to be affected by conditions in one area and not in others.  Also, not all routes have designated snow routes in all areas through which they travel.  The table describes what to expect in each area.

Using the snow & ice table
In the Snow and Ice table, the default sort is by area. It is a good idea to first sort the table by your route number, then check all of the areas served by that route and the associated entries for whether or not it is rerouted in your area.  Each table entry is specific to one of the seven snow areas.

Descriptions of planned reroutes include the specific bus stops that are both missed and served while buses are rerouted, as well as the streets they use.

When you travel
When streets are slick or blocked, be aware of conditions in your immediate area, check media reports, check for transit reroutes, then wait for buses at posted bus stops on the flat portions of arterial streets that have been cleared or treated, or at major transfer points such as transit centers or park and ride lots. 

Safety first
While Metro utilizes all available resources to operate service as normally as possible during adverse weather or other conditions, the safety of everyone is our highest priority. Buses may be delayed or rerouted, and Metro staff cannot predict affected locations or tell riders exactly when a bus might get to a specific bus stop.

Snow and ice operation
If Metro service is significantly affected by snow or other weather-related events, the Metro website will be updated and Transit Alerts will be sent to affected subscribers.

When Metro is not operating the ESN, If your bus does not have a pre-planned snow route, it will operate its regular route, however service may be delayed due to weather and road conditions.  Buses may have to temporarily go on unplanned reroutes if streets they normally travel on are unexpectedly blocked.  These temporary reroutes may not be reflected in the snow and ice table.

Additional information

Visit Metro’s website for complete transit information.

 

If buses are operating along their normal routes, but delayed, it may be possible to get more specific information by visiting Metro’s Puget Sound Trip Planner and checking the ‘Next Departures & Stops’ or ‘Tracker’ features.  Real time information may be less reliable in adverse or unexpected conditions.  Metro’s real time features provide the scheduled times of service at stops, then the predicted time if they are able to do so.  During adverse conditions, it is best to use the scheduled times, then expect delays.

 

Visit Metro’s Service Advisories page for complete information about revised bus service, routing and stops for planned events.

 

Visit Metro’s online or mobile Puget Sound Trip Planner to plan your travel, and for bus stop, schedule and other information.  Snow reroutes and other service disruptions are not reflected in results derived in the trip planner feature.  When planning your trip, also check for service revisions that might affect it.  The ESN is not reflected in the trip planner.

 

Visit the King County Water Taxi site for information about Water Taxi operation.

 

Visit the Community Transit, Pierce Transit, Sound Transit or Washington State Ferries websites for information about services provided by Metro’s regional transit partners.

 

For non-transit traffic or other local updates, check media sources, follow @seattledot or visit

- https://twitter.com/seattledot

- https://twitter.com/SeattlePD

 

Everyone's preparedness and patience during snow or other adverse conditions is appreciated.

Travel safely.