Transit Alert – Seattle area transit service will be rerouted & delayed during Saturday’s Seafair Torchlight Parade and related activities

On Saturday, July 27, from approximately 5:30 PM until 10:30 PM, Metro routes 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 26, 28, 40, 41, 47, 49, 62, 70, 101, 131, 132, 150, 255, the RapidRide C and E Lines, Sound Transit Express routes 522, 545, 550 and 554, and Trailhead Direct – Mount Si service will be rerouted and delayed in the Seattle Center, downtown Seattle and adjacent areas by the Seafair Torchlight run and parade.  There are related impacts in the Pine Street area in downtown Seattle Friday evening and Sunday morning during grandstand work.

Transit customers are encouraged to plan ahead for Saturday’s events and related service disruptions, and to be prepared for possibly very warm weather. 

Plan your trip in advance, allow plenty of time for all travel plans, visit Metro’s online Alerts page, sign up for Transit Alerts, watch for Rider Alerts posted at bus stops and be prepared for possible delays.  Dress for the current weather conditions, stay hydrated and travel safely.

Ride Transit to Torchlight
Metro buses
Although buses that operate in the Seattle Center and downtown Seattle areas will be rerouted at some point, riding transit is still the best way to get to Torchlight and other events, as many streets will be closed, traffic will be congested and parking will be limited. Rerouted buses still go to within 1-2 blocks of the parade route.

Ride Metro with your ORCA card, or with a Transit GO ticket on your smart phone.  Transit GO offers day passes at $4 for youths aged 6-18, and $8 for adults aged 19-64.

Link light rail
Sound Transit Link light rail is also a good way to travel to downtown Seattle for Seafair and other events. Transit customers are encouraged to ride Link to travel quickly through downtown Seattle during the run and parade.  Please exercise caution on all station platforms and onboard trains.

Parade fans who ride transit into Seattle earlier in the day are reminded to also plan a return trip.  The parade ends around 10:30 PM, and some buses may not operate past that time.  It may be necessary to leave a little earlier, or plan to ride alternate service to some areas.

Pine Street weekend bus service revisions
Some Torchlight-related transit service revisions start Friday evening when Pine Street closes and bus service is rerouted due to the parade grandstand placement at 4th Avenue.

During this time, buses that normally operate along Pine St travel instead via Union St or Stewart St.

The Pine Street closure and associated transit reroutes last until about 3:00 PM on Sunday.

Saturday transit service revisions
On Saturday, starting at about 5:30 PM, buses will be rerouted due to the Torchlight Run. Significant schedule delays of possibly up to 30 to 60 minutes are expected during the run. Allow plenty of time for all travel plans during this event.

At 6:00 PM, the entire length of 4th Avenue in downtown Seattle will be closed, and nearly all east/west streets will also be blocked at 4th Av, for the duration of the parade.

Many buses will be rerouted and there will likely be schedule delays. Delays in one area can cause delays at other points along a route. Transit riders should plan their trips according to regularly published schedules, but allow plenty of extra time. Riding Link is a fast way to get through the downtown Seattle area.

After the parade, most transit service returns to its regular routing and stops at about 10:30 PM. Schedule delays are expected until crowds and traffic clear. The exception is Pine Street service, which will remain rerouted until Sunday afternoon when the grandstand is removed and Pine St re-opens.

Reroute start and end times are subject to change.

Transit service during unexpected or civic events
In areas where there are crowds, traffic, weather or civic events, whether scheduled or unexpected, disrupting normal travel patterns or activities, transit riders are advised to be aware of conditions in their immediate vicinity – such as street closures, detours, police directions, etc. - and be prepared for delays or to make revisions to travel plans, such as using a different bus stop or a different route, based on specific circumstances.

During these kinds of events, be prepared for unexpectedly revised traffic or routing, and for delays in transit service. Transit riders are encouraged to know the alternate stops or routes that may be in the vicinity of their starting points and destinations.

Depending on the time and the nature of such events, Metro may not be able to provide real-time information or service updates via email or text.  Event start and end times and other details may be subject to change.

Additional information
Visit Metro’s website for information about Metro and regional transportation services.

Visit Metro’s online or mobile regional Puget Sound Trip Planner to plan your travel, and for bus stop, schedule, predicted times at stops and other information.

Text your stop ID to 62550 for scheduled and estimated departure times, as well as known individual trip cancelations.

Sign up for Transit Alerts.

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

Visit the King County Water Taxi site for information about regular and holiday 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

Thank you for riding and for using Metro’s services.