Metro Kicks Off South Link Connections
South Link Connections project map. Credit: King County MetroKing County Metro has started the first phase of South Link Connections, which will be used to determine how Metro bus should be changed upon the launch of the Federal Way Link Extension, which is anticipated to be in 2026. This phase is mainly a needs assessment, where Metro listens to feedback from riders, or potential riders, about how they use transit service, and what changes might benefit them. After the feedback period is over for phase 1, Metro will consider the feedback and use it to develop service concepts for phase 2. These service concepts will be the first glimpse of what the eventual network will look like, and is likely to have different concepts weighed against each other to see which one sees the best reception from the community. In phase 3, we will see what Metro's proposal is likely to look like, with the only changes from this point being minor changes.
The scope of the project includes routes 156, 162, 165, 177, 181, 182, 183, 187, 193, 631, 901, 903, and the RapidRide A Line, as well as fully suspended routes 121, 122, 123, 154, 157, 178, 179, 190, and 197. This will be the first time metro has solicited feedback on these suspended routes since March of 2021, as well as the first time since intentions to restore them in 2022 all but disappeared as did their numbers on bus stops.
There is a survey up, and Metro is also accepting applications for the South Link Connections mobility board. Mobility board applications are open until May 10th. The survey does not have a deadline listed, but it is most likely the same, as the phase 1 timeline is from March to May, 2024. There are also virtual information sessions on April 3 at 12:00 PM, April 21 at 10:30 AM, and May 6th at 6:00 PM. You will find links to register for these on the South Link Connections website.