King County Metro Transit addresses crowding on Issaquah-bound route
October 8, 2012
NEW — 6 p.m. Oct. 8, 2012
King County Metro Transit is attempting to ease afternoon crowding on buses from downtown Seattle to the Issaquah Highlands by eliminating a Bellevue stop, starting Oct. 15.
The transit agency is cutting a stop at the Eastgate Freeway Station to reduce crowding on the Issaquah-bound Route 218 buses. Metro Transit provides 15 trips on the route during the weekday afternoon commute.
Riders heading to the Eastgate Park & Ride in Bellevue can instead use alternate service on Second Avenue in downtown Seattle.
Metro Transit plans for weekday morning Route 218 buses to Seattle to continue to serve the westbound Eastgate Freeway Station.
Meanwhile, afternoon riders headed to the Highlands from Eastgate can ride Metro Transit Route 211 or Sound Transit Express routes 554 and 556.
King County Metro Transit offers discounted tickets to homeless people
September 24, 2012
NEW — 6 a.m. Sept. 24, 2012
King County Metro Transit is poised to offer more than 41,000 additional subsidized bus tickets to community service groups.
Officials said the human services bus ticket program offers critical support for homeless people by providing a means to get to jobs, medical appointments, shelters and other services.
Funding for the program came in a mass transit package approved last year by the King County Council. The funding for subsidized tickets augments the $1.8 million Metro Transit already contributes each year for discounted tickets.
The package approved by the council imposed a $20 vehicle-tab fee to forestall a 17-percent reduction to mass transit countywide.
Used vanpool vehicles return to service for nonprofit organizations
September 19, 2012
NEW — 8 a.m. Sept. 18, 2012
Leaders donated used vehicles from the King County Metro Transit vanpool fleet Monday to provide transportation assistance to local governments, community programs, seniors and youths.
King County Council members authorized the donation. The vans served in the Metro Transit vanpool fleet for at least six years and reached the end of service life.
“Serving the mobility needs of those too young and too old to drive, as well as those with health challenges, is an important service for King County to provide,” Councilwoman Kathy Lambert — Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee chairwoman and the Issaquah representative — said in a statement. “Using our retired vanpool vans for these important transportation needs is an efficient way of serving those who do not have other options.”
King County Metro Transit route changes impact Issaquah riders
September 11, 2012
King County Metro Transit riders should prepare for major changes in the weeks ahead, as the agency launches a pay-on-entry system and updates several routes.
Transit planners advised thousands of riders to expect changes on bus routes starting Sept. 29, as the agency changes bus stops on dozens of routes, shifts buses to different streets and alters schedules.
King County Metro Transit riders should prepare for changes
September 6, 2012
NEW — 8 a.m. Sept. 6, 2012
King County Metro Transit riders should prepare for major changes in the weeks ahead, as the agency launches a pay-on-entry system and updates several routes.
Transit planners advised thousands of riders to expect changes on bus routes starting Sept. 29, as the agency changes bus stops on dozens of routes, shifts buses to different streets and alters schedules.
The changes affect the routes 217 and 218. Both routes run through Issaquah.
On Route 217, planners also intend to eliminate one morning eastbound trip and one afternoon westbound trip.
Labor Day means limited Metro Transit, Sound Transit service
September 1, 2012
NEW — 6 a.m. Sept. 1, 2012
Sound Transit and most King County Metro Transit buses operate on a Sunday schedule Monday for Labor Day.
If a route does not usually run on Sunday, then the route does not operate on the holiday, Monday. Riders should expect to pay holiday and Sunday fares on Metro bus routes on Labor Day.
Metro offices remain closed on the holiday, including the Customer Information Center phone lines. Customers should turn to Metro Online for updates about transit service.
Riders headed to Seattle should prepare for Bumbershoot at the Seattle Center. Use the Trip Planner to determine the best route.
Sound Transit also operates on a Sunday schedule for Labor Day. On holidays with a Sunday schedule, only certain bus routes operate, including Route 554 between Issaquah and Seattle.
King County promotes human trafficking awareness
August 7, 2012
King County plans to embark on a campaign to call awareness to human trafficking, after a July 9 decision to use ads on public buses.
The campaign is meant to inform the public about human trafficking crimes and let victims learn about available resources. Issaquah-area King County Councilman Reagan Dunn introduced the measure in May, and a council committee endorsed the proposal June 27.
“As a former federal prosecutor and member of the County Council I have seen this crisis continue to grow,” Dunn said in a statement. “Educating the public on what human trafficking is and providing information to trafficking victims on where to turn for assistance will help to combat these crimes. This motion is an important step in protecting our children and using Metro resources in a positive way.”
Under federal law, human trafficking includes children involved in the commercial sex trade, adults 18 and older coerced or deceived into commercial sex acts, and anyone forced into different forms of “labor or services” — such as domestic workers held in a home or farmworkers forced into work.
Independence Day brings changes to transit schedules
June 29, 2012
NEW — 4:30 p.m. June 29, 2012
Issaquah bus riders should prepare for Sunday schedules on July 4 as King County Metro Transit and Sound Transit observe Independence Day.
The holiday schedule means many Metro Transit commuter bus routes do not operate. Bus riders should be sure to check the schedule for individual routes in advance of the holiday. Sunday fares go in effect on all Metro Transit routes July 4.
Due to many holiday events starting over the weekend and continuing through July 4, riders should check for bus reroutes in the Metro Online Alerts Center under the Construction & Events heading. Or, sign up for Transit Alerts to receive news about specific routes.
In addition, all Metro offices, including the Customer Information phone lines, close for holiday. When the Customer Information Office is closed, most transit information is available on Metro Online, or in the online Trip Planner.
King County Council committee endorses awareness campaign for human trafficking
June 27, 2012
NEW — 3:15 p.m. June 27, 2012
King County Council members, led by Issaquah-area Councilman Reagan Dunn, recommended a proposal Wednesday to educate the public about human trafficking.
The motion unanimously passed by the Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee calls on County Executive Dow Constantine to embark on a public awareness campaign and for the King County Transit Division public service to educate the public the crime and to let human trafficking victims know about available resources.
The measure heads to the full council for consideration.
Under federal law, human trafficking includes children involved in the commercial sex trade, adults 18 and older coerced or deceived into commercial sex acts, and anyone forced into different forms of “labor or services” — such as domestic workers held in a home or farmworkers forced into work.
Leaders call for awareness campaign on human trafficking
June 26, 2012
King County Council members called May 29 for a public awareness campaign to educate citizens about human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
Officials said human trafficking is among the fastest-growing criminal industries around the globe and a serious problem for law enforcement agencies in King County.
The proposed motion from the council calls on County Executive Dow Constantine to embark on a public awareness campaign and support efforts using King County Metro Transit public service advertising resources to help educate the public.
Officials estimate between 300 and 500 children could be bought and sold in King County in 2012. Washington is a focal point for human traffickers due to the abundance of ports, proximity to the border between the United States and Canada, and a dependency on agricultural workers.
The motion calls for the use of transit resources, such as public service advertising on buses, and for the county to examine placing information on county Internet sites and other county resources.
