Transit Alert – Metro is operating its Emergency Service Network on Tuesday; plan ahead for reduced service and delays; Monday evening conditions are causing significant delays

Metro is operating its Emergency Service Network on Tuesday.  If your route is not
listed in the ESN route list below, it is not operating.

Monday evening’s weather and road conditions are causing significant delays and
reroutes. It is a good idea to avoid area roadways if possible.

During ESN operation, no other routes, except for those listed below, operate, and
some King County neighborhoods and streets have no bus service because of difficult
travel conditions or geography.

The ESN includes only routes that Metro believes it can operate with a reasonable
degree of safety and reliability in severe conditions.

Emergency Service Network (ESN)
ESN operation means that, due to severe weather and road conditions, Metro service is
significantly reduced to 56 bus routes and several associated chained shuttles that
serve only designated major cleared arterials in more densely populated areas.

This reduced network of transit operation means that many King County neighborhoods
do not have the service or levels of service to which they are accustomed.

The ESN is not incorporated into Metro’s trip planner, however other trip planner
features and tools, such as maps and bus stops along ESN routes, may still be helpful
to riders.

Visit the Metro Matters blog for information about how to use the ESN to connect to
various locations.

ESN Routes
ESN operation includes a designated set of already-established Metro and Sound
Transit Express bus routes, however there may be revisions to the usual routes, and in
some cases a portion of the route may not be served.  Please review ESN routes
carefully.

The ESN includes: Metro routes 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 21, 24, 24 shuttle, 31, 32, 36, 40, 41, 44,
45, 48, 62, the 62 shuttle, 65, 70, 75, the 90 shuttle, 101, the 102 shuttle, 106, 106
shuttle, 120, 124, 128, 150, 166, 168, 169, 180, 181, 235, 245, 248, the 252/255 shuttle,
255, the 255 shuttle, 271, 331, 345, 348, the 348 shuttle, 372 Woodinville and 372 Lake
City; RapidRide A, B, C, D, E and F lines; DART routes 903, 906, 907, 930 and 931 all
on their snow routing; West Seattle Water Taxi shuttle routes 773 and 775;  Metro-
operated Sound Transit Express routes ST 522, ST 545, ST 550, ST 554 and the ST
554 shuttle, and the West Seattle and Vashon water taxis.

Using the ESN
Review ESN routing for your area and determine where your ESN route operates.

While ESN routes are based on Metro’s regular service routes, there may be
differences from the usual operation of some of the routes in the ESN.

Board or exit ESN service at regularly posted bus stops along the designated 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. 

Metro encourages intending riders to dress for the weather, be at the bus stop a few
minutes ahead of the normally scheduled time for that route, then be prepared for
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. It then remains in effect
for the entire day.

Getting information about ESN operation
When the ESN is activated, the Metro Snow, Ice & Flood map is blue and the ESN table
is posted and updated.

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

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

Customers should be aware that the Puget Sound Trip Planner and third-party apps will
not reflect ESN service or operation, 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 and tools, such as maps, bus stop locations and timetables for
ESN routes are valid.  Metro’s trip planner and other apps are still accurate for planning
trips or getting schedules or other information for regular service days.

Monday and beyond
Weather forecast
The National Weather Service is forecasting continuing snowfall and cold temperatures
for the next couple of days.

Check for updates during the afternoon about what to expect regarding Metro service
on the following day.

Plan ahead
Metro encourages people to avoid traveling in severe conditions if possible, or to make
alternate travel plans. If you plan to ride transit, plan ahead; be aware of ESN operation,
be prepared and anticipate delays, cancelations, cold weather and slick streets and
sidewalks.

Transit customers, check the Metro Winter, ESN  and Snow & Ice pages for information
about planned ESN service and reroutes for the routes they ride. The tables are
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 along the reroute.

Use regularly published schedules as a guide, then expect delays. 

Riding transit in adverse conditions
In areas where streets are slick, transit customers are advised to wait for ESN buses on
their designated routes at posted bus stops on flat portions of cleared arterials or at
major transfer points, such as park-and-ride lots and transit centers.

It is not possible to know when a bus will arrive at a specific location. 

It is possible for buses to temporarily go on unplanned reroutes if streets they normally
travel on are unexpectedly blocked. 

Temporary reroutes are not reflected in the Snow & Ice or ESN tables, 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
existing 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.  When the Customer Information line is open, 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 and the ESN.  Snow routes are shown in timetables.  The Snow &
Ice and ESN pages link to them.

King County snow 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 for each route in each area.

Using the snow & ice table
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, be
prepared with alternate plans, 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 always our highest
priority. Service may be reduced, buses may be delayed or rerouted, and Metro staff
cannot predict affected locations or tell riders exactly when a bus will 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 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 or ESN tables.

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, as
well as known trip cancelations.  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 using
regularly scheduled service, 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 TransitPierce TransitSound 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.