South Link Connections

South Link Connections Phase 2 map

King County Metro (KCM) prepares to update their bus routes for the upcoming Federal Way Link Extension (estimated opening 2026 Spring). View their website www.southlinkconnections.com and take the survey by February 2025.

Federal Way Link Extension Map

Sound Transit for the Federal Way Link Extension will add three new Link stations: Kent Des Moines, Star Lake and Federal Way Downtown.

Overall summary:

New service: 164, 166, 186, South Auburn Metro Flex pilot, Federal Way Metro Flex pilot
Improved service: 181, 183, 631, 903, A Line
Revised service: 156, 162, 182, 187, 193
Removed routes: 165, 177, 901
Removed routes (that are currently suspended/not operating): 121, 122, 123, 154, 157, 179, 190, 197

Below will go into each route changes in more detail (going from north to south). Relevant ST express bus routes will be briefly covered as well.

ST Express 2025 Restoration

In 2023 there were ST Service Level Reductions for the ST Express routes to Federal Way and Tacoma. The reductions suspended Route 590 service between Tacoma Dome and downtown Tacoma, suspended Route 580, and reduced frequency on many other ST Express routes.

In September 2024, the operator of Routes 580 and 590, Pierce
Transit, notified Sound Transit that they identified the resources
necessary to restore the temporary service reductions, including
the potential major service changes to Routes 580 and 590, by
March 2025. (from page 14 of 2025 Service Plan)

The 2025 Service Plan recently published that Route 580 and Route 590 will have their service restored.

ST Express 2026 (maybe) RestructureSept 17 2014 WSDOT executive powerpoint

Sound Transit has not yet released their draft proposals for a Federal Way Link Extension restructure. An new article will be posted once Sound Transit has published their ST Express restructure proposal.

In past plans such as Metro Connects 2050 and the Federal Way FEIS, Sound Transit has usually proposed truncating ST Express buses from Pierce County to end at Federal Way Downtown Station instead of downtown Seattle. This would mirror similar restructures for Lynnwood Link Extension and East Link Extension. The truncation and passengers transferring would allow for more frequent buses on some routes. Though transit riders from Tacoma, Auburn and others may face comparably longer end-to-end transit times using Link versus the express buses when there isn't traffic on I-5.

Burien and SeaTac ChangesNorth Area Current RoutesNorth Area Proposed Routes

For Burien DART Route 631 will have slightly improved service. For SeaTac Route 156 will run earlier and later.

DART Route 631 (Burien): increased serviceDART Route 631DART Route 631 frequency table

DART Route 631 would have slightly increased service, no routing changes

Route 156 (Tukwila, SeaTac, Kent Des Moines Station) Route 156 mapRoute 156 frequency table

Route 156 from Southcenter to Highline College has some minor routing changes and span of service slightly increased. The route in SeaTac is slightly simplified to solely use S 164th St (instead of using S 170th St eastbound) and continue to stop at SeaTac Station. The route is extended from terminating at Highline College to terminate at Kent Des Moines Station. The earlier trips starting from 4:30 am will help airport workers reach SeaTac.

Kent Changes

For Kent the largest KCM bus route change is splitting the Route 165 into a north-south Route 166 from Burien to Kent and east-west Route 164 from Kent to Green River College. Route 183 from Kent to Federal Way would have slightly improved service. Route 162 (peak only) express bus would have decreased service.

Route 166 (Burien, Kent Des Moines): formerly north part of Route 165Route 165 map

The existing Route 165 from Burien via Kent to Green River College ran every 30 min frequency. This route would be split into two routes (1) a more frequent east-west Route 164 (Kent Des Moines Station to Green River College) and (2) the same 30 minute frequency north-south Route 166 (Burien to Kent Des Moines Station).

Route 166 frequency table

Route 166 would run from Burien to Kent Des Moines Station north / south along 1st Ave S. It would mostly continue to run every 30 minutes but would newly run on Sunday and slightly expanded hours of service running earlier and later.

Route 164 (Kent Des Moines, Kent, Green River College): frequent 15 minuteRoute 164 frequency table

Route 164 would run every 15 minutes from around 6 am to around 7 pm on weekdays. The bus would run from Kent Des Moines Station via downtown Kent and Lake Meridian to Green River College.

This greatly connects downtown Kent, Kent Sounder Station and Green River College to the Kent Des Moines Link Station with 15 minute frequent bus service. Those traveling between Burien to Green River College will now need to transfer at Kent Des Moines Station adding some extra travel time.

Route 183 (Kent, Star Lake, Federal Way): new Sunday serviceRoute 183 MapRoute 183 frequency table

Route 183 from Kent Station via Star Lake Station to Federal Way Downtown Station has the same alignment. There will be some added stops at the newly opened light rail stations. Additionally, there will be new service on Sundays with 30 minute frequency.

Route 162 (Kent Des Moines, Kent, Lake Meridian) Route 162 Map

Express peak-only Route 162 from Lake Meridian Park via Kent Station to downtown Seattle would have the earliest and last trip removed.

I-5 and SR 99 Corridor

The I-5 and SR 99 corridor's largest change is the addition of the Federal Way Link Extension.

Start	SeaTac	Westlake	UW
Kent Des Moines	8 minutes	45 minutes	55 minutes
Star Lake	12 minutes	49 minutes	59 minutes
Federal Way Downtown	18 minutes	55 minutes	62 minutes

The new Link stations will connect to downtown Seattle with 40~50 minute travel time.

I-5 Express Bus Removals

As discussed earlier, the suspended peak-only KCM routes in South King will be formally removed. Routes 121, 122, 123 (Burien to Seattle), Route 154 (Federal Center South to Tukwila Station), Route 157 (Lake Meridian to Seattle), Route 179 (Twin Lakes to Seattle), Route 190 (Star Lake to Seattle), Route 197(Twin Lakes to U District).

Additionally, currently running peak-only express Route 177 from Federal Way via Star Lake will also be removed in favor of transit riders using Federal Way Downtown Station or Star Lake Station. (Route 193 to First Hill will no longer stop at Star Lake).

As discussed earlier, Sound Transit is evaluating ST Routes 574, 577, 578, 580, 590, 592, 594, and 595 and will likely truncate most or all of them at Federal Way Downtown Station.

RapidRide A: No ChangesRapidRide A MapRapidRide A Frequency Chart

RapidRide A would have the same frequency and span of service. The line will continue to run every 10 to 12 minutes from 6 am to 10 pm.

While the popular bus route runs parallel alongside Federal Way Link Extension, the Link's I-5 freeway alignment rather than along Pacific Highway S means most will still need to transfer to the RapidRide line for their final destination.

Route 193 (Federal Way, First Hill): peak-only skipped stops

Peak-only (around 8 trips) Route 193 would begin at Federal Way Downtown Station and end in First Hill. Route 193 would no longer serve S 320th St Park & Ride, Star Lake, nor Kent Des Moines. It's approximately a 0.4~0.6 mile walk from the park & ride to the Federal Way transit center depending on where one parked their car.

The express bus during peak traffic takes around ~60 minutes the same as Link, but during off-peak takes around ~40 minutes or ~20 minutes faster than using light rail.

Federal Way and Auburn changesSouth Area Current RoutesSouth Area Proposed Routes

The largest bus change is the Route 181 increase to 15 minute service. Secondly are the removal of DART Route 901 replaced with new Route 186 and modifying Route 187s alignment. Route 182 is rerouted to Twin Lakes P & R creating a minor transit connection there. Other local routes have slightly increased frequency while peak-only express routes have had removed stops and frequency.

Route 186 (Lake Hills, Federal Way)Route 186 and 187 map

Route 186 would take over the south leg of Route 187 and run through the removed DART Route 901. The route starts in Twin Lakes (near Twin Lakes Elementary) and detours south to SW 342nd St near the QFC before heading north and eventually ending at Federal Way Downtown Station.

Route 186 Frequency table

The bus would run every 30 minutes all week.

Route 187 (Lake Hills, Federal Way): Straightened alignmentRoute 187 map

Route 187 would be simplified and straightened to run solely on 320th Street providing faster travel between Twin Lakes and Federal Way. The bus in west Federal Way will through-run and become Route 186

Route 187 frequency chart

Frequency would be increased to 30 minutes and slightly increased hours of service.

DART Route 903 (Federal Way): Increased weekday frequency Dart Route 903 mapDART Route 903 frequency map

DART Route 903 would increase to 30 minute frequency midday on weekdays from 60 minute frequency. The DART route currently runs from Federal Way Downtown Station to Twin Lakes predominantly on SW 336th St/SW Campus St.

It'll provide greater access to the commercial corner at SW 336th St & 21st Ave SW and the townhouses and apartments along SW Campus Drive.

Route 182 (Twin Lakes, Federal Way): changed routingRoute 182 MapRoute 182 frequency chart

Route 182 from Federal Way Downtown Station to west Federal Way would no longer serve NE Tacoma and stop at Twin lake P&R. There would be slightly more frequent bus service to 30 minute frequency from 6 am to 7pm and then reduced further in the evenings.

Route 181 (Twin Lakes, Federal Way, Auburn): increased frequencyRoute 181 mapRoute 181 frequency chart

The existing Route 181 would have it's frequency increased to 15/20 minute frequency from every 30 minute. The increased frequency will greatly connect Twin Lakes, downtown Auburn, and Green River College to each other and to Link light rail service.

15-minute bus routesSouth King 15-minute bus routes annotated by reusing Metro Connects map

With 15-minute frequency on both the new Route 164 and improved Route 181, South King will now have two new frequent east-west bus routes. The two routes together would both provide 15 minute frequency service from Green River College to a light rail station. This would give students much easier access to and from the college.

The east-west routes combined with the three existing north routes of Route 150, Route 160, and RapidRide A will form a new frequent local bus grid.

Conclusion

The Federal Way Link Extension bus restructure will provide quick and easy access for Federal Way, Auburn, Kent and SeaTac throughout their cities and to Seattle. New Route 164 will provide downtown Kent with 15 minute bus service to Link. Increased 15/20 minute frequency on Route 181 will connect Twin Lakes and downtown Auburn to Link. Green River College will be connected with both lines to Link light rail service. A couple infrequent 30 min frequency routes will start running on Sundays as well.