Transit Alert – Ride transit only for essential trips; please wear a mask; maintain 6 feet of distance & follow safety guidelines

King County, Washington sent this bulletin at 04/22/2020 05:15 AM PDT

In accordance with evolving guidance from public health officials, King County Metro Transit strongly urges all customers to wear a mask or face covering while riding on public transportation and while waiting for service at stops.

Masks or face coverings help protect the wearer, other passengers, and Metro employees.

Metro Transit and Sound Transit are continuing operation with significant service reductions in response to changing operating conditions associated with the COVID-19 crisis.

Metro thanks everyone who is staying home and keeping transit seats available for those who must travel for essential work, medicine or groceries.

This week’s new temporary service reductions, as well as added measures to support physical distancing, are designed to keep riders and employees safe while providing essential services. No payment of fare is required.

Before traveling, check Next Departures or Text for Departures for updated scheduled or predicted times at stops.

On the bus and in other public spaces, please wear a mask or face covering, maintain at least 6 feet of distance from other riders and Metro staff, and abide by all other safety guidelines.

Watch for updates, as conditions may change.

If you must go, please know:

  • Only ride transit for essential trips.
  • Do not travel if you are sick. Wear a mask. Cover coughs and sneezes.
  • Board and exit by the rear door if you are able to. Riders who require the front door or the ADA seating area are welcome to board at the front.
  • Maintain at least 6 feet of distance from other passengers and Metro staff. Observe and abide by all signs, decals and guidelines.
  • Safety straps are installed to provide separation on buses and other transit vehicles. Informational signs and decals are posted. 

‘Reduced Schedule’ operation
Metro’s temporary Reduced Schedule operation helps to maintain a sustainable transit system that is for necessary trips only. Some routes are not affected, many routes and services are temporarily completely canceled, and most routes that are operating have some trips that are canceled.

Many routes that are either canceled or that have reduced service also have some possible alternate service options.

Weekday routes & services that are completely canceled
 While some routes have two or more individual trips canceled, the weekday routes and services listed below are completely canceled until further notice:

  • Metro routes 5 Express, 9, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21 Express, 22, 29, 37, 47, 55, 56, 57, 74, 76, 77, 78, 102, 111, 113, 114, 116, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 143, 154, 157, 158, 159, 167, 177, 178, 179, 186, 190, 192, 197, 200, 208, 212, 214, 216, 217, 218, 219, 221, 224, 226, 232, 237, 241, 246, 249, 252, 257, 268, 301, 304, 308, 311, 312, 316, 330, 342, 355, 630 - Mercer Island Community Shuttle, 773, 775, 823, 824, 886, 887, 888, 889, 891, 892, 893, 894, 895, 907, 910, 913, 930, 931, 952, 980, 981, 982, 984, 986, 987, 988, 989, 994 & 995;
  • Sound Transit Express Bus routes 541, 555 and 556;
  • The South Lake Union Streetcar;
  • The Seattle Center Monorail, and
  • Via to Transit. 

Find specific canceled trips
Routes that are not listed above are operating, but may have up to several trips that are canceled.

To identify whether a specific trip is operating or canceled, the following tools are available:

Watch for updates, as conditions are subject to change.

Other services
Metro customer services
 Metro’s Customer Information phone line at 206-553-3000 is available during its regular weekday hours of 6:00 AM-8:00 PM for trip planning and general information, and from 8:00 AM-5:00 PM for ORCA transactions and submitting comments.

Metro’s walk-in fare media sales and lost-and-found offices in Pioneer Square are currently closed.

ORCA queries and transactions, submitting comments and reporting lost items can all be done on Metro’s website, or you are welcome to call the number above during regular operating hours for assistance.

King County Water Taxis
The King County Water Taxi is operating with one vessel for six roundtrip sailings per weekday. Water taxis are not currently operating on weekends.

Water Taxi shuttle routes 773 and 775 are discontinued until further notice.

City of Seattle First Hill Streetcar
The First Hill Streetcar is operating
- Monday-Saturday every 20 minutes from 5:30 AM-8:30 PM, with
- Regular Sunday hours and schedule expected.

The South Lake Union Streetcar is canceled until further notice.

Link light rail
Link service is currently operating every 30 minutes during its regular hours of service.

Additional Information
King County resources

Other transit agencies

Thank you for staying home if you can, and for wearing a mask, maintaining distance and following all safety guidelines while riding transit for essential trips only.

Be safe.