SUMMARY 

King County Executive Dow Constantine is proposing a boost to Metro bus service on the Eastside in 2025 and 2026 to better serve communities and to connect with Sound Transit’s upcoming East Link light rail extensions. The King County Council will review and consider the legislative proposal in the coming weeks. 

STORY 

Executive Constantine today announced a proposal for Metro bus upgrades that Eastside riders and residents asked for, including more frequent bus service along key corridors, more service on nights and weekends, new and improved connections to key destinations, and connections to Sound Transit Link 2 Line stations.  

If adopted by the King County Council, Metro would add eight new bus routes, revise 16 routes, and delete and replace 20 routes in the network. The final network will roll out in phases that align with Sound Transit’s 2 Line light rail service extension across Lake Washington. Once completed, buses will connect riders to 12 rail stations in Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue, and Redmond. 

“Through the East Link Connections project, we are adding over 3,300 bus trips each week all across the Eastside, with more service on weekdays, nights, and weekends to better serve riders and communities," said Executive Constantine. "As we continue to grow transit ridership at a rapid pace, and especially when we launch Link Light Rail service across Lake Washington, travel between the Eastside and Seattle - the state’s largest employment centers - will become significantly easier, faster, and more predictable.”