King County Metro Seeks New Public Feedback On Bus Route Adjustments Ahead Of Potential Early Federal Way Light Rail Opening

Saturday, July 26, 2025

King County Metro is looking to stitchery nationalist input from residents of Federal Way earlier perchance launching ray obstruction work earlier than planned astatine nan Federal Way Station. Construction of nan ray obstruction line, which was primitively slated to beryllium complete by Spring 2026, has moved much swiftly than engineers first forecast, leaving unfastened nan anticipation of an up of schedule debut. Local officials want organization members’ perspectives connected opening nan Federal Way extremity anterior to nan anticipated timeline truthful transit authorities tin cautiously see really champion to present expanded transit entree to nan area without generating undue disorder aliases disruption.

Public Input Through Survey

As nan opening day draws nearer, Metro is finalizing changes to existing autobus routes to guarantee a seamless modulation to nan caller ray obstruction service. To stitchery insights and concerns from nan community, Metro has launched a study arsenic portion of nan South Link Connections project. The study is unfastened until August 31, 2025, and residents are encouraged to participate to stock their thoughts connected nan projected autobus work changes.

Sound Transit’s Early Light Rail Opening Update

In a caller municipality hallway gathering connected July 8, Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine discussed nan imaginable for an earlier opening of nan Federal Way Light Rail Station. Constantine confirmed that building connected nan Federal Way Link Extension is progressing smoothly, and testing is presently underway pinch affirmative results. Although an charismatic opening day has not been set, Sound Transit officials are optimistic that nan position could unfastened by late 2025, up of nan erstwhile estimate of spring 2026.

Sound Transit spokesperson David Jackson explained that nan building process is moving efficiently, pinch nan thoroughfare grid expected to beryllium restored by nan fall. Residents tin besides expect to spot regular train testing connected nan guideway soon aft Labor Day.

Metro’s South Link Connections: New Bus Routes for Better Access

The South Link Connections task is designed to merge section autobus services pinch nan upcoming ray obstruction system, ensuring residents of Federal Way and adjacent communities person convenient entree to nan caller transit options. Several improvements to nan autobus web are being proposed, including:

• Route 181: Increased all-day, predominant work betwixt Twin Lakes, Federal Way Downtown Station, Auburn Station, and Green River College, making east-west connections much reliable.
• Route 182: More predominant work betwixt Northeast Tacoma, southbound Federal Way, and Federal Way Downtown Station, pinch extended hours each time of nan week.
• DART Route 902: A caller on-demand work connecting Federal Way Downtown Station, Mirror Lake, and Twin Lakes.
• Metro Flex: Two caller aviator zones offering elastic weekday work successful Federal Way and Auburn.
• Route 183: New Sunday work connecting Federal Way Downtown Station, Star Lake Station, and Kent Station.
• Additional routes linking NE Tacoma and Federal Way Downtown Station, pinch connections via south Federal Way and SW 320th St (Routes 182 and 187).
• Improved work for Star Lake pinch peak-period routes to First Hill (Route 193).
• Every projected way will run pinch accordant work levels connected weekends, simplifying schedules for riders.

Route Changes to Ensure Efficient Service

While these changes purpose to heighten nan wide autobus network, King County Metro has besides stated that immoderate lower-ridership routes will beryllium reduced aliases removed to let for amended assets allocation. This includes routes that overlap pinch different transit services aliases those that person not been successful cognition since nan pandemic. Metro is committed to optimizing nan routes that remain, ensuring that they service nan communities successful nan astir businesslike mode possible.

Sound Transit’s Communication Efforts

Local leaders, specified arsenic King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer, person highlighted nan value of effective connection betwixt Sound Transit and nan community, peculiarly successful nan South King County area. von Reichbauer acknowledged that Sound Transit’s ample standard tin sometimes make it challenging for residents and mini business owners to enactment informed. However, he expressed his appreciation for nan efforts being made by nan caller Sound Transit CEO, Dow Constantine, to build amended connection channels pinch section residents.

A Vision for Seamless Public Transit successful South King County

The Federal Way Light Rail Station is group to go a awesome summation to nan region’s transit network, improving connectivity to downtown Seattle and different cardinal destinations. As building connected nan Federal Way Link Extension continues, Metro’s efforts to set autobus routes will guarantee that each transit modes, including nan caller ray rail, activity successful harmony to supply broad and businesslike work for nan residents of South King County.

The ongoing feedback from residents and transit riders will play a important domiciled successful shaping nan early of nationalist proscription successful nan region. With Metro’s committedness to adjusting autobus services and nan committedness of an earlier-than-expected ray obstruction opening, nan early of transit successful Federal Way is looking brighter than ever.

Get Involved and Have Your Say

Federal Way residents and predominant transit riders crossed nan region are powerfully encouraged to capable retired nan South Link Connections study anterior to nan deadline astatine nan extremity of adjacent month. Providing input connected this captious questionnaire will assistance last determinations surrounding modifications to autobus routes and thief guarantee that nan modulation to nan emerging ray obstruction strategy aligns pinch nan divers needs of section citizens.