Metro Connects Concepts

We found Metro's long-term Interim and 2050 network maps that were published in 2016 but taken offline in 2020. These are part of Metro Connects, a long-term vision last revised November 2021. The Interim network is what Metro planners think would be best in the ST2 era (to complement Lynnwood, Redmond, and Federal Way Link). The 2050 network is for the ST3 era (to complement Ballard, West Seattle, and Issaquah Link, and Stride 1, 2, and 3). Since Metro is King County, its scope is between Shoreline and Federal Way. Community Transit and Pierce Transit have their own long-range plans for Snohomish and Pierce Counties.

A full buildout of the two phases would require additional funding that hasn't been identified yet. King County has talked about a Metro Connects levy but hasn't put it on the ballot yet. In the meantime all restructures are revenue-neutral - like the upcoming Lynnwood Link, East Link, and RapidRide G restructures - so they borrow some features from the Interim network but can't implement all the new routes or frequency. All restructures go through a subarea-specific reevaluation and public input, so the route concepts here are preliminary. Some routes have been superceded by subsequent events, but the network as a whole is the closest we have to knowing Metro's planners' ideals and recommendations, so it's a useful starting point for whatever network we might want to make.

More below the fold.

Metro Connects identifies four kinds of routes. (PDF pages 27-42.) RapidRide is minimum 15 minutes frequency until late night every day, plus street and other improvements. Frequent is 15 minutes minimum for 18 hours weekdays, 12 hours weekends. Express routes stop every 1-2 miles and run all day. This revision doesn't seem to have a frequency commitment, but past revisions had 30 minutes until 7pm. (Metro staff have said some Express routes may be peak only.) Local routes typically come every 30-60 minutes. Sometimes two Local routes have an overlapping segment, doubling the frequency. Metro Flex" app-taxi areas are also in the Local category.

The Interim network continues 37 existing routes numbered 5-250, a combination of Frequent, Express, and Local. It has 8 existing special routes numbered 630-920. It has 47 RapidRide and Frequent routes with 1xxx numbers (four digits): this includes the existing RapidRide lines and committed plans (G, I, J, K, R). It has 8 Express routes with 2xxx numbers, and 42 Local routes with 3xxx numbers. Some uncommitted RapidRide candidates are identified.

The 2050 network continues 6 existing routes numbered 67-231 (-84%), and 3 existing special routes 914-930. It has 59 RapidRide and Frequent routes numbered 1xxx (+20%), 22 Express routes numbered 2xxx (+64%), and 58 Local routes numbered 3xxx (+28%).

The Express routes are the most dramatic change. Here's a list of them:

• 2003 (2050): Westwood Village, Fauntleroy, WSJ, 99 tunnel, SLU.
• 2012 (Interim): Mercer Island, Issaquah Highlands, North Bend.
• 2016 (2050): Seattle, Burien.
• 2020 (2050): Auburn, Maple Valley, Snoqualmie.
• 2021 N (2050): Admiral District, Burien.
• 2021 S (2050): Burien, SeaTac, Des Moines, Kent. (Note: Kent-KDM Link connector.)
• 2022 (Interim): Renton, Issaquah.
• 2028 (2050): Auburn, Enumclaw.
• 2203 (2050): Redmond, Duvall.
• 2204 (Interim): Bothell, Duvall.
• 2205 (2050): Redmond, Fall City, North Bend.
• 2206 (Interim): Mercer Island, Issaquah, Sammamish, Redmond.
• 2207 (Interim): Seattle, Federal Way.
• 2402 (Interim): Seattle, Kent, Auburn.
• 2515 (Interim): Seattle, Roosevelt, Lake City, Bothell. (2050: Extend to Woodinville.)
• 2516 (Interim): Smith Cove, SLU, 405, Totem Lake.

For those who remember the 2020 version of these maps, we need to identify what has changed since then.

On-topic comments for this article are about these or other possible future Metro routes or restructures.