King County Metro will significantly increase its transit service this fall, adding over 3,700 new bus trips each week, launching the RapidRide G Line in Seattle, connecting buses to new Sound Transit light rail stations, and expanding Metro Flex to Northshore.
Starting Sept. 14, King County Metro will expand evening and weekend transit service and launch its eighth RapidRide line, the G Line, which will provide fast and frequent service through downtown Seattle, First Hill, Capitol Hill, the Central District, and Madison Valley.
The RapidRide G Line project and Sound Transit’s Link 1 Line expansion north to four new stations represent more than $3.1 billion in public transportation investments. These new services, along with enhanced bus service upgrades, will strengthen rider connections and expand the transit network.
“I’m pleased to announce expanded bus service across the region, including the new RapidRide G Line from Madison Valley to downtown Seattle,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “With the continuous improvement and expansion of our integrated transit network, we are delivering on our commitment of frequent, safe, reliable transportation options for everyone.”
Starting in mid-September, Metro will increase the number of weekday bus trips by nearly 5%, providing 11,235 daily bus trips. Weekend service will also see an 8% increase, with 8,241 trips on Saturdays and 7,649 on Sundays.
“Seattle has an outstanding public transit system which is about to get even better with new travel options and more reliable service,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “Seattle voters helped make these upcoming enhancements possible, including the new RapidRide G Line funded by the Levy to Move Seattle and new Metro Flex service in South Park and Delridge, thanks to the Seattle Transit Measure.”
The new RapidRide G Line will offer around-the-clock service, with buses arriving as frequently as every six minutes during most of the day Monday through Saturday. The project includes funding from the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), the voter-approved Move Seattle Levy, the Federal Transit Administration, Sound Transit, King County Metro, and the state legislature. Funds from the Seattle Transit Measure also support Metro bus service on select routes in Seattle.
In partnership with Metro, the City of Seattle built key features for the RapidRide G Line to enhance safety, including:
• 8 miles of red bus lanes
• 36 intersections with upgraded traffic signals and new center boarding platforms for easy all-door boarding on both sides of the bus
• Approximately 50 blocks of improved sidewalks and 25 new ADA-accessible curb ramps
As part of the launch of RapidRide G Line, routes 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 47, 49, and 60 will see changes and improvements requested by the community. Metro and SDOT worked closely to prioritize equity by supporting underserved communities. The Seattle Transit Measure funding was reinvested in the Madison Street area and Lynnwood Link Connections mobility projects.
“Ridership is climbing and we’re adding more transit service on Sept. 14 to meet that demand,” said King County Metro General Manager Michelle Allison. “The launch of the RapidRide G Line, more than 3,700 additional bus trips each week, and new connections to the fast-expanding Link light rail network are fantastic news for our riders and our region. These changes are the result of trust we built with our riders, listening carefully as they guided us on what service they want and need. We’re grateful for their partnership, and to the hundreds of thousands of people who take Metro every day.”