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Dec
21

Lynnwood Link Connections

As Link light rail extends to Lynnwood, the Lynnwood Link Connections mobility project will address changing transit needs and improve mobility options for communities in northwest King County and southwest Snohomish County. Metro is collaborating with Sound Transit and Community Transit, among other partners, to coordinate bus routes based on feedback from communities.

Project overview

In 2024 and 2026 Sound Transit will expand the Link light rail to include five new stations in Seattle, Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, and Lynnwood. In addition to the new light rail stations, Sound Transit may change the ST 522 Express route to match the planned Bus Rapid Transit service between Bothell and Shoreline as early as 2025.

To prepare for the extension of Link light rail service to Lynnwood Transit Center and potential change to ST 522 Express service, to respond to changing mobility needs, and improve mobility access for historically underserved populations, Metro is launching a mobility project in northwest King County, generally serving communities within North Seattle, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Bothell, and Mountlake Terrace. This project will deliver an updated mobility network that connects with Sound Transit Link light rail and connects with Sound Transit and Community Transit services. The project will be done in coordination with Sound Transit, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), City of Shoreline, Community Transit, and other partners.

Routes

The following routes will be explored for potential changes as part of the Lynnwood Link Connections Project.

  • Metro routes: 5, 16X, 20, 28, 45, 64, 65, 67, 73, 75, 301, 302, 303, 304, 320, 322, 330, 331, 345, 346, 347, 348, 372
  • Sound Transit Express route: 522

Goals

Through the Lynnwood Link Connections project, Metro aims to:

  1. Improve mobility for priority populations (as defined by the Mobility Framework), who are an important part of our current and potential customer base.
  2. Equitably inform, engage, and empower current and potential customers traveling in the project area.
  3. Deliver integrated service that responds to Link expansion, changes in the transit network and community needs
  4. Improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and environmental sustainability of the transit system.

Equity Impact Review

The Lynnwood Link Connections project will include an Equity Impact Review (EIR) study to ensure that proposed route changes will improve mobility and access to transportation for priority populations in King County. At each phase of the planning process, Metro will review technical data and results from engagement with priority populations to understand the expected impact to underserved communities and inform planning decisions. Public engagement and EIR summaries will be shared at the end of each phase of engagement under the Process and Timeline section below.

Mobility Priorities

In Phase 1, we received direct feedback from surveys, conversations with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), and input from our Partner Review and Mobility Boards. We looked through feedback, found common themes and summarized the following priorities used to create the potential new bus routes.

Create new and improved east-west transit connections.
Provide transit to/from important, community-identified destinations where priority populations live, and locations with dense housing development plans by 2026.
Improve nighttime transit service serving major and important destinations.
Maintain and improve frequencies on routes that connect to/from major destinations and/or frequent high-capacity transit (RapidRide, Link, Stride BRT, etc.).
Improve weekend transit service serving major and important destinations.
Ensure that transit transfers are convenient, accessible, reliable and as seamless as possible for all riders, especially priority populations.

Final network proposal

The Lynnwood Link Connections Ordinance was unanimously passed on March 26 by the King County Council.

Metro is preparing rider outreach and communications before new service is planned to begin on September 14, 2024.

Through a three-phase engagement process, Metro developed a final bus network proposal which will begin opening alongside the Link light rail extension to Lynnwood in Fall 2024.

The final bus network proposal makes improvements toward addressing community mobility priorities identified in North King County. During each phase of engagement, Metro made changes to address community and partner feedback, especially from priority populations. The Lynnwood Link Mobility Board helped Metro prioritize community feedback to refine the network proposal, selected preferred routing and service level options, and unanimously voted to approve the final proposed network in October 2023.

Highlights of the final bus network in the project area include:

  • Increased total weekday trips (+9%) and total weekend trips (+32%)
  • Increased evening trips (+43%) after 10pm
  • Increased span of service on weekday (+68 minutes) and weekend routes (+78 minutes)
  • Net increase of three frequent routes, and four existing routes with frequency improvements
  • Three new and three improved east-west routes

In addition to the proposed changes to the bus network, Metro is introducing a new on-demand Metro Flex zone in Lake Forest Park, north Kenmore, Brier and southeast Mountlake Terrace. This service will provide improved connections to community destinations, schools, and other transit services including Link light rail and future Bus Rapid Transit.

Changes in area:

  • Improved east/west connections, with new, frequent all–day service on N 145th (Routes 72, 333 and 522 BRT), new continuous service on 125th to 130th (new Route 77), and a new connection between Lake City, Northgate and Greenwood (new Route 61).
  • Multiple new connections between Lake City and Link include the following:
    • Shoreline South/148th: Routes 65, 72 and 522 BRT
    • NE 130th Street Station: Route 77
    • Northgate Station: Routes 61, 67, 75, 322, and 348
    • Roosevelt Station: Routes 67 and 77
    • University of Washington Station: Routes 65, 67, 72, 75 and 77.
  • New all–day service on Lake City Way, connecting to Roosevelt Station and the University of Washington (new Route 77).
  • Continued connection from north Lake City to Nathan Hale High School and Jane Addams Middle School (Route 65), and new connection from Pinehurst (new Route 77).
  • Continued service to Sanford Hildebrant Towers, with a new connection to Shoreline Place and Shoreline South/148th Station (revised Route 345).
  • Direct service to Ingraham High School (new Route 365).
  • Frequent service from Northgate to North Seattle College and Northwest Hospital (revised Route 345 and new Route 365).
  • Peak-frequent service from Northgate Station to downtown Seattle and First Hill, with new service to South Lake Union (revised routes 303, 322)
  • Continued frequent service to downtown Seattle via Link, routes 5, 40, 62 and RapidRide D and E Lines.
  • Some routes in this area require further coordination with the City of Seattle.
  • Improved east/west connections, with new frequent all–day service on N 145th (routes 72, 333, and 522 BRT) and N 175th (Route 333), and improved service on N 185th (Route 348) and N 155th (Route 345).
  • Continued frequent service to downtown Seattle via Link, Route 5 and RapidRide E Line.
  • New frequent all–day routes providing connections to Link (routes 72, 333, 348 and 522 BRT).
  • Improved connections to Shoreline Community College with new Route 333 offering frequent all-day service from Shoreline South/148th Station, and revised Route 331 offering a connection from Mountlake Terrace Station and service later into the evening than today.
  • Improved service to Shorewood High School (new Route 333 and revised Route 331) and Shorecrest High School (revised Route 65).
  • Continuous service on 5th Ave NE between Shoreline South/148th Station and Shoreline North/185th Station, offering a direct connection to Link (new Route 365).
  • Continuous service on Meridian Ave N between Aurora Village Transit Center and Shoreline South/148th Station, serving King County District Court and Metro’s North Base (revised Route 346).
  • More direct service to Shoreline Place and NW School for Deaf and Hard–of–Hearing (revised Route 345).
  • Continued all–day connections to Northwest Hospital and North Seattle College (revised Route 345 and new Route 365).
  • Continued peak service between Aurora Village, Northgate, downtown Seattle, and First Hill, with new service to South Lake Union (Route 303).

including Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore and Bothell

  • New connection to Mountlake Terrace Station extending to University of Washington Bothell, and improved evening and weekend service (revised Route 331).
  • New fast and frequent connection from Bothell, Kenmore, and Lake Forest Park to Shoreline South/148th Link Station (Sound Transit Route 522 Bus Rapid Transit).
  • New Metro Flex service area in north Kenmore, north Lake Forest Park and southeast Mountlake Terrace. This on–demand service will offer connections to Mountlake Terrace Station, Route 522 BRT, Lake Forest Park Town Center, Kenmore Park–and–Ride, and more.
  • New all–day frequent service from Mountlake Terrace to key destinations in Shoreline (Route 333).
  • Peak service between Kenmore, Lake City, Northgate, downtown Seattle and First Hill, with new service to South Lake Union (revised Route 322).
  • More frequent and faster service between University of Washington Bothell and Seattle campuses will be available by Route 522 BRT with a transfer to Link light rail at Shoreline South/148th Station or a transfer to new frequent Route 72 at 145th.

Final network routes

Final network route maps and details are included in each sheet below.

Route (PDF)
 Description
5

Shoreline CC to Downtown Seattle Via Greenwood Ave N
No change to current route

28

Crown Hill to Downtown Seattle via 8th Ave NW
Revised

45

Loyal Heights to University District via N 85th and Green Lake
Revised

61

Lake City to Greenwood via Northgate
New route, replaces part of route 20
65

Shoreline South/148th Station to University District via Lake City
Revised, partially replaces route 330
67

Northgate Station to University of Washington via Roosevelt
No change to current route
72

Shoreline South/148th Station to University District via Lake City
New route, replaces route 372 (expected 2025-2026)
75

Northgate to University District via Lake City and Sand Point
Revised

77

Bitter Lake to University District via Lake City
New route, replaces route 73, ST EX 522 (expected 2025-2026)
303

Aurora Village to First Hill via Northgate and South Lake Union
Revised
322

Kenmore to First Hill via Lake City, Northgate and South Lake Union
Revised, replaces routes 302, 320
331

Shoreline Community College to University of Washington-Bothell, via Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park, and Kenmore
Revised, replaces routes 302, 372
333

Shoreline South/148th Station to Mountlake Terrace Station via Shoreline CC, North City 
New route, replaces routes 301, 304, 330, 347
345

Shoreline South/148th Station to Northgate Station via Bitter Lake and Northwest Hospital
Revised, replaces route 330
346

Aurora Village Transit Center to Shoreline South/148th Station, via Meridian Ave N
Revised
348

Richmond Beach to Northgate Station, via N 185th St and 15th Ave NE
Revised, replaces routes 73, 302, 303, 347
365

Shoreline North/185th Station to Northgate via 5th Ave NE and Northwest Hospital
New route, replaces routes 346, 347
Metro Flex

North Kenmore/Lake Forest Park
New flexible, on-demand service
Lynnwood Link Extension

Northgate to Lynnwood City Center
New light rail stations opening in Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood
ST 522 BRT

Bothell to Roosevelt Station (2024)
Bothell to Shoreline South/148th Station (2025)

Process and timeline

During this first phase of engagement, Metro will inform the general public—including riders in impacted communities—about the project scope and vision, and gather information about service needs from the public, riders and key stakeholders. This information will help the Mobility Board and Metro staff as they co-create the draft service concept for public feedback during Phase 2 engagement.

Phase 1 Engagement Summary

During this second phase of engagement, Metro will inform the general public—including riders in impacted communities—about the project scope and vision and share the proposed bus routes developed with information gathered during Phase 1. We will collect feedback on the proposed route changes to learn more about community priorities and how they should inform the final proposal of bus routes.

Phase 2 Engagement Summary

Recording of our virtual community information sessions:

  • January 24, 2023
    (Spanish interpretation available under the language icon)
  • February 4, 2023
    (Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese interpretations available under the language icon)
  • February 27, 2023
    (Mandarin and Cantonese interpretations available under the language icon)

If you'd like to listen to a recording in a different language, let us know! Email us (in your preferred language) at: haveasay@kingcounty.gov

In the final phase of engagement, Metro will present a bus service proposal to the public, explaining how community input from Phase 2 influenced these updates. We will seek feedback on ways to further improve the service proposal prior to finalizing it. Finally, we will summarize the previous phases of engagement and project development, review how community input, priorities and equity analysis influenced concept development and the final service proposal and explain any other relevant next steps.

Phase 3 Engagement Summary

Recording of our virtual community information sessions:

  • July 24, 2023
    (Spanish and Mandarin interpretations available under the language icon)
  • August 15, 2023
    (Spanish and Mandarin interpretations available under the language icon)
  • August 19, 2023
    (Spanish and Mandarin interpretations available under the language icon)

If you'd like to listen to a recording in a different language, let us know! Email us (in your preferred language) at: haveasay@kingcounty.gov

The final network proposal is pending action by the King County Council, submitted in February 2024.

Public Engagement Report

  • FALL - WINTER 2021

    Pre-engagement Planning

  • WINTER - SPRING 2022

    Phase 1 - Need Assessment
    Mobility Broad prioritizes needs

  • FAll - WINTER 2022

    Phase 2 - Service Concepts
    Mobility Board reviews recommendations

  • SUMMER - FALL 2023

    Phase 3 - Service Proposal
    Mobility Board reviews final proposal

  • WINTER - SPRING 2024 (current)

    King County Council

Our rider survey is now closed.

Sign up to receive project updates and hear about future engagement opportunities.
Contact us

Please feel free to reach out to us in your preferred language by email at: haveasay@kingcounty.gov

How you can participate

Community engagement

Through a three-phase community engagement process, Metro will focus on listening to mobility needs, learning about barriers that riders face and opportunities to improve transit in northwest King County. We will stay informed by local communities about changing conditions that pose mobility challenges and explore benefits and tradeoffs of future mobility options with community members and stakeholders.

Mobility Board

Metro has brought together a 15 member Lynnwood Link Connections Mobility Board that equitably represents groups of people historically left out of decision-making conversations related to transit, and who are disproportionately affected by these decisions. The Mobility Board’s primary role is to collaborate with Metro staff to develop and refine a coordinated regional transit network in northwest King County.

Mobility Board

Partner Review Board

In addition to Metro’s individual engagement with project partners and stakeholders, Metro has also brought together a team of external stakeholders to serve as a concept review board, known as the Partner Review Board. The Board includes representatives from jurisdictions and major institutions in the project area, leaders of community-based organizations and representatives from partner transit agencies. The Partner Review Board’s primary role is to inform, review and provide comment on service concepts developed by the Mobility Board.

Partner Review Board

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