Metro Transit Alert - 'It's a great day to ride Metro'; Via to Transit on-demand service arrives in South Seattle; travel safely

King County, Washington sent this bulletin at 08/13/2021 03:15 PM PDT

'It's a great day to ride Metro' to see people we love and places that matter.

South Seattle now has more transportation options in the Rainier Beach, Skyway, Renton Highlands and Tukwila areas with Via to Transit on-demand service.

Transit service continues to be rerouted during the month-long Montlake Bridge closure.

Be prepared for transit service disruptions that may occur due to hot weather or weekend construction and events.

Masks are still required while riding transit.

Visit the Metro Matters blog for transit news, and for updates and information about events and services.

Service updates

Trailhead Direct
King County Parks and King County Metro are operating Trailhead Direct service for the summer of 2021, featuring the Issaquah Alps and Mt Si routes, with a new Squak Mountain State Park trailhead stop added to the Issaquah Alps route. 

Metro encourages hikers to plan for safety as a first priority, especially in summer heat.

Metro’s West Seattle Water Taxi

Celebrate Metro’s ‘Water Taxi Summer’. The West Seattle Water Taxi Operates seven days a week from Pier 50 downtown to Seacrest Park in West Seattle.  

Check out the Water Taxi Captain’s Blog.

Fare news and updates
Visit Metro’s Fares & ORCA page for complete fare information. 

You can also find out which ORCA fare is right for you.

Youth aged 6-18 can now get their first ORCA card free.

The Transit GO Ticket app now accepts cash, available at participating retail locations.

Ride transit to vaccine sites
As vaccination strategies evolve with emphasis on smaller “pop-ups” and local sites, use Metro’s online trip planner to plan your transit ride to and from your vaccine.  Enter the address, intersection or associated or nearby location name. Metro’s trip planner has a tutorial and online help.

There are options for senior and youth, and for customers with lower incomes or disabilities. Customers with very low incomes may be eligible for a fully-subsidized ORCA LIFT card. Visit the Fares & ORCA page for information. 

Buses & bikes
Buses and bikes are a perfect pairing for getting around Metro’s service area, and, with a little planning, even around the greater Puget Sound area.

Ride safely

  • Wear a mask while riding on transit.
  • Stay home if you are sick.
  • Observe and abide by posted directions, signs and decals.

Tap your ORCA card for the fastest and safest way to pay your fare. Visit Metro’s website to learn about managing your ORCA account.

Watch for new or changing information.

Transit trip updates
For the scheduled (‘s’) or predicted departure times, and other information about transit service at your stop,

Transit information

Know before you go
During events that disrupt transit service, online or real time customer information planning tools and third-party apps may not be accurate and may not reflect temporary schedule changes.

Even during disruptive weather or other events, these systems may still provide useful information, such as maps and bus stop information.

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