 Bus, on-demand service will bring riders to Crosslake Connection, 2 Line stations
Sound Transit’s 2 Line Crosslake Connection will be the first light rail across Lake Washington, giving riders fast, reliable train service between downtown Seattle and the Eastside. New stations at Mercer Island and Judkins Park also will have better Metro bus service, connecting riders to and from communities and destinations.
Metro began phasing in stronger bus connections to the 2 Line in spring 2024 when the first eight stations opened. Additional improvements followed in spring 2025 with the opening of the Downtown Redmond and Marymoor stations. The largest phase of improvements came in fall 2025, when Metro introduced the network in place today, including Overlake Metro Flex. The changes marked a significant expansion of transit connections for Eastside communities. In total, hundreds of additional bus trips were added each week across multiple routes, extending the reach of the 2 Line into neighborhoods throughout the Eastside and delivering the connections riders asked for during the planning process.
Starting March 28, Metro will make additional service changes to strengthen connections to 2 Line stations as the Crosslake Connection begins service between the Eastside and Seattle.
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Route 8 will provide a direct connection to the new Judkins Park Station by shifting its path from Martin Luther King Jr. Way South to 23rd Avenue South between East Yesler Way and South Massachusetts Street.
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Route 223 will operate every 20 minutes during midday service, connecting riders to Downtown Redmond and Overlake stations, Lake Hills, Bellevue College, and Eastgate Park and Ride.
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Route 224 will revise its pathway serving Downtown Redmond Station to better serve the growing employment center at Redmond Ridge Corporate Center.
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Route 225 will begin serving Overlake Station instead of Redmond Technology Station and will double frequency to every 30 minutes. The new path will provide stops on 148th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 36th Street adjacent to the Microsoft campus.
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Route 240 will add 20 weekday trips and operate every 15 minutes from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., connecting riders with 2 Line stations at South Bellevue, East Main, and Bellevue Downtown, along with Factoria and other destinations south to Renton.
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Route 250 will increase weekday frequency to every 15 minutes between Avondale Road, Bear Creek Park and Ride, and Downtown Redmond Station.
Spring changes for south King County
New or improved service and connections to Link 1 Line stations in south King County will support riders across the region, including those who travel earlier in the morning, later at night, and on weekends.
Better 1 Line connections
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Route 156 (Southcenter, SeaTac, Des Moines, Highline College) will be extended to Kent Des Moines Station.
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Route 183 (Federal Way, Camelot, Star Lake Kent) will be routed into the Star Lake Station for a more direct connection.
Earlier and later bus service
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Route 156 (Southcenter, SeaTac, Des Moines, Highline College) and Route 183 (Federal Way, Camelot, Star Lake Kent) will start weekday service earlier.
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Route 181 (Twin Lakes, Federal Way, Auburn, Green River College), Route 182 (Tacoma, Federal Way), and Route 187 (Twin Lakes, Federal Way) will start weekend service earlier and extend service later.
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Route 182 (Tacoma, Federal Way) and Route 903 (Twin Lakes, Federal Way) will start weekday service earlier and extend later at night.
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Route 183 (Federal Way, Camelot, Star Lake Kent) will extend weekend service later.
More bus service changes this fall
2026 marks a major milestone for transit integration across the region. Additional changes planned for the August 2026 service update will strengthen connections to the region’s expanding light rail network.
These improvements include;
- Lynnwood Link Connections to serve the new Pinehurst Station
- East Link Connections to link I-90 routes with the 2 Line stations at Mercer Island and South Bellevue
- South Link Connections that will improve frequency and expand service connecting riders to 1 Line stations and destinations across the region.
Details about the March service change are now available online in English, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese.
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