South Link Connections
As Link light rail expands farther south with three new stations in Kent Des Moines, Star Lake and Downtown Federal Way, the South Link Connections project aims to improve transportation options for communities in South King County. Metro is working with Sound Transit Opens in a new tab and other partners to create a new transit network based on community feedback.
Project overview
As soon as 2026, Sound Transit will expand Link light rail south with three new stations: Kent Des Moines, Star Lake and Federal Way Downtown. Changes to the ST Express buses in the area may also occur.
To improve the transit network for everyone, Metro has started a project for the South King County communities of Algona, Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Normandy Park, Pacific, SeaTac, Tukwila and parts of unincorporated King County. This project will create a new transit network that connects Metro buses with Link light rail, ST Express buses and Pierce Transit services in King County. Metro is working together with Sound Transit and other transit agencies and cities on this effort. The new transit network will be put in place around the same time the new Link light rail stations open.
Project goals
- Improve travel options for priority populations (as defined by the Metro’s adopted policies).
- Engage and inform the community about transit changes.
- Offer integrated services that meet community needs.
- Enhance the overall efficiency and sustainability of the transit network.
Quick definitions
A fixed-route service with the flexibility to pick up and drop off passengers in requested locations specific to their area. Usually a small bus.
The number of minutes between bus trips.
Bus service scheduled to run approximately every 15 minutes or better from 6 am to 7 pm on weekdays, and every 30 minutes or better on evenings and weekends.
An on–demand transit service that provides rides within multiple King County neighborhoods. Riders can book rides using the Metro Flex smartphone app or with a phone call to the reservation line.
Transit service that operates during peak travel periods (from 6 to 9 am and from 3 to 7 pm on weekdays).
Community members who are Black, Indigenous and of color; have low or no income; are immigrants or refugees; have disabilities; or are linguistically diverse.
Sound Transit
All types of public transportation in an area that work together to help people travel. This includes bus, rail, train, flexible services, etc.
Project mobility priorities
Metro gathered community feedback in multiple ways in Phase 1 and worked with the Mobility Board to set the five main priorities below. Metro used these priorities to inform the proposed changes to the transit network.
Greater transit coverage
Improved early morning and nighttime service
Faster travel times within and beyond the project area
Improved east-west transit connections
Increased weekend service, especially on Saturdays
Metro will continue working with our partners on other identified needs including:
- Maintaining and improving bus frequencies.
- Enhancing midday service during weekdays.
- Making transfers easier within the South Link Connections project area.
- Improving safety and comfort at transit stops and on buses/trains.
- Increasing reliability and on-time trips.
Phase 3 network proposal
Metro has used the priorities above, best practices in service design and equity considerations to suggest updates to the transit network in South King County.
Key points of the Phase 3 proposal
- New transit connections: Adding new connections to future Link light rail stations.
- All-day service: Investing in bus routes that operate all day, every day, with 47% more trips on weekdays and 80% more weekends trips.
- New and improved weekend service: New service on Saturdays and Sundays in Burien and new service on Sundays between Kent and Federal Way. More frequent service on weekends between Kent Des Moines Station, Kent Station, Kent East Hill and Green River College. In total, the Phase 3 network would provide 61% more trips on Saturday and twice as many trips on Sunday when compared to today.
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Improved east-west service: Enhancing important
routes across the area, including:
- New frequent service connecting Highline College, Kent Station and Green River College.
- Frequent service between Twin Lakes Park & Ride, Federal Way Downtown Station and Auburn Station.
- On-demand services: Launching two new Metro Flex on-demand pilot services in Federal Way and Auburn to connect more people to transit.
- Faster service: Updating bus routes between West Federal Way and Downtown Federal Way to make this connection quicker, more direct and easier to navigate.
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Route changes: Removing some commuting routes
between South King County and Downtown Seattle to:
- Avoid overlapping services with Link light rail.
- Reinvest resources from these routes to enhance the all-day, all-week services that connect to Link light rail.
Tap or select the map to enlarge and explore the proposed network or view the comparison with the current network.
Service changes by type
New service
164, 166, DART 902, Federal Way Link Extension, South Auburn Metro Flex pilot, Federal Way Metro Flex pilot
Improved service
181, 182, 183, DART 631, DART 903
Revised service
156, 187, 193
No change to service
A Line
Removed routes
121*, 122*, 123*, 154*, 157*, 162, 165, 177, 178*, 179*, 190*, 197*, DART 901
*Routes that are currently suspended/not operating
Service changes by area
The South Link Connections project is divided into two areas: north and south. The north area includes Burien, Des Moines, Kent, Normandy Park, SeaTac and Tukwila. The south area includes Auburn, Algona, Federal Way and Pacific. To learn more about the proposed changes in your area, select the north area and south area tabs below.
North area
Side-by-side comparison of the current and proposed north area maps. Tap or select the image to enlarge.
Summary of proposed changes in the north area
- Improved east-west connections with frequent all-day, all-week service between Kent Des Moines Station, Kent Station, Kent East Hill and Green River College (Route 164).
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New connections to Link light rail at:
- Kent Des Moines Station (Routes 156, 164, 166, RapidRide A Line)
- Star Lake Station (Route 183)
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New service on weekends, including:
- New weekend service between Burien Transit Center, Highline Medical Center and Gregory Heights (DART 631).
- New Sunday service between Kent Station, Star Lake Station and Federal Way Downtown Station (Route 183).
- Improved service between Kent Des Moines Station, Highline College, SeaTac and Southcenter, with more trips every day of the week, especially on weekends (Route 156).
- More trips during weekday peak hours and on Sundays between Des Moines, Highline College, Normandy Park and Burien (Route 166).
- Continued service at Kent Des Moines Park & Ride for peak-hour trips to and from First Hill (Route 193).
- Service provided on Saturdays and Sundays is the same on every route, for more consistent, easier-to-understand weekend service.
In order to improve the all-day, all-week transit network, the South Link Connections network uses resources saved by removing or reducing lower-ridership routes and routes that overlap with other transit service. Many of the routes proposed for removal have been suspended since Metro’s pandemic response and are not operating today.
Routes proposed for removal include: 121*, 122*, 123*, 154*, 157*, 162, 165 (fully replaced by Routes 164/166), 177, 178*, 179*, 190*, 197*, DART 901. Additionally, Route 193 is proposed for trip reductions, with one less morning and one less afternoon trip.
*Routes that are currently suspended/not operating
Proposed route maps and details
| Route sheet | Description |
|---|---|
| 156 Serves Kent, Des Moines, SeaTac, Tukwila |
Kent Des Moines Station to Southcenter via Des Moines and
SeaTac Station
Improved with more trips every day of the week. Will connect with Link light rail at Kent Des Moines Station and have a more direct route through McMicken Heights. |
| 164 Serves Des Moines, Kent, Auburn |
Kent Des Moines Station to Green River College via Kent
Station
New frequent route with more trips every day of the week. Replaces part of Route 165. Will connect with Link light rail at Kent Des Moines Station. Some trips will become Route 166 trips for riders traveling beyond Kent Des Moines Station. See how routes 164 and 166 will operate |
| 166 Serves Des Moines, Normandy Park, Burien |
Kent Des Moines Station to Burien Transit Center via Des
Moines and Normandy Park
New local route with more trips every day of the week. Replaces part of Route 165. Will connect with Link light rail at Kent Des Moines Station. All trips will become Route 164 trips for riders traveling beyond Kent Des Moines Station. See how routes 164 and 166 will operate |
| 183 Serves Federal Way, Kent |
Federal Way Downtown Station to Kent Station via Star Lake
Station
Improved with new Sunday service and more trips on weekdays and Saturdays. Will connect with Link light rail at Federal Way Downtown and Star Lake Stations. |
| 631 Serves Burien |
Burien Transit Center to Gregory Heights via Highline Medical
Center
Improved with new weekend service. |
| Federal Way Link Extension Serves Des Moines, Kent, Federal Way | Three new light rail stations: Kent Des Moines, Star Lake and Federal Way Downtown |
South area
Side-by-side comparison of the current and proposed south area maps. Tap or select the image to enlarge.
Summary of proposed changes in the south area
- Improved east-west connections with all-day frequent service on weekdays between Twin Lakes, Federal Way Downtown Station, Auburn Station and Green River College (Route 181).
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New connections to Link light rail at:
- Federal Way Downtown Station (RapidRide A Line, Routes 181, 182, 183, 187, DART 902, DART 903, Federal Way Metro Flex)
- Star Lake Station (Route 183)
- Improved service between northeast Tacoma, south Federal Way and Federal Way Downtown Station with more frequent, earlier and later service every day of the week. (Route 182).
- New DART service connecting Federal Way Downtown Station, Mirror Lake and Twin Lakes (DART Route 902).
- Two new Metro Flex pilot zones providing weekday service from 5:30 AM to 7:30 PM in Federal Way and Auburn.
- New Sunday service between Federal Way Downtown Station, Star Lake Station and Kent Station (Route 183).
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Multiple connections with two-way service between west Federal Way
and Federal Way Downtown Station:
- Connections between Northeast Tacoma and Federal Way Downtown Station via south Federal Way (Route 182).
- Connections between Northeast Tacoma and Federal Way Downtown Station via Southwest 320th Street (Route 187).
- Connections between Twin Lakes and Federal Way Downtown Station via Southwest 320th Street (Route 181)
- Connections between Twin Lakes and Federal Way Downtown Station via Dash Point Rd and Mirror Lake (Route 902)
- Connections between Twin Lakes and Federal Way Downtown Station via Southwest Campus Drive and south Federal Way (Route 903)
- Continued peak-hour service at Star Lake between Federal Way Downtown Station and First Hill (Route 193).
- Service provided on Saturdays and Sundays is the same on every route for a more consistent, easier-to-understand weekend service.
In order to improve the all-day, all-week transit network, the South Link Connections network uses resources saved by removing or reducing lower-ridership routes and routes that overlap with other transit service. Many of the routes proposed for removal have been suspended since Metro’s pandemic response and are not operating today.
Routes proposed for removal include: 121*, 122*, 123*, 154*, 157*, 162, 165 (fully replaced by Routes 164/166), 177, 178*, 179*, 190*, 197*, DART 901. Additionally, Route 193 is proposed for trip reductions, with one less morning and one less afternoon trip.
*Routes that are currently suspended/not operating
Proposed route maps and details
| Route sheet | Description |
|---|---|
| 181 Serves Federal Way, Auburn |
Twin Lakes Park and Ride to Green River College via Federal
Way Downtown Station, Outlet Collection Seattle and Auburn
Station
Improved frequent route with more trips every day of the week. Will connect to Link light rail at Federal Way Downtown Station. |
| 182 Serves Federal Way, Tacoma |
Federal Way Downtown Station to northeast Tacoma
Improved with more trips every day of the week. Will connect to Link light rail at Federal Way Downtown Station. |
| 187 Serves Federal Way |
Federal Way Downtown Station to Twin Lakes via Southwest 320th
Street
Revised two-way service on 320th Street between Federal Way Downtown Station and Northshore QFC/Shopping Center. More weekday and weekend trips. Will connect to Link light rail at Federal Way Downtown Station. |
| 193 Serves Federal Way, Tukwila, Seattle |
Federal Way Downtown Station to First Hill (Seattle) via
Tukwila Park & Ride
Revised to begin and end at Federal Way Downtown Station. Removing one AM and one PM trip to better match demand. |
| 902 Serves Federal Way |
Federal Way Downtown Station to south Federal Way
New DART route. Partially replaces DART Route 901 with more trips every day of the week. Will connect to Link light rail at Federal Way Downtown Station. |
| 903 Serves Federal Way |
Federal Way Downtown Station to Twin Lakes via south Federal
Way
Improved with more trips every day of the week. Will connect to Link light rail at Federal Way Downtown Station. |
| RapidRide A Line Serves Federal Way, Des Moines, Kent, SeaTac, Tukwila |
Federal Way Downtown Station to Tukwila International
Boulevard Station
Will connect to Link light rail at Federal Way Downtown Station and Kent Des Moines Station. Will continue to serve Link at Angle Lake, SeaTac/Airport and Tukwila International Boulevard Stations. |
| South Auburn Metro Flex Pilot Serves Auburn | New Metro Flex pilot zone providing on-demand service Monday through Friday. Serving areas south of State Route 18, east of A Street Southeast, north of the White River and west of Auburn Way South/Forest Villa Manor. Includes Auburn Station and Riverside High School. |
| Federal Way Metro Flex Pilot Serves Federal Way, Auburn | New Metro Flex pilot zone providing on-demand service Monday through Friday. Serving Federal Way Downtown Station, Laurelwood south of South 288th Street and West Hill south of South 298th Street, west of West Valley Highway North, and north of State Route 18. |
| Federal Way Link Extension Serves Des Moines, Kent, Federal Way | Three new light rail stations: Kent Des Moines, Star Lake and Federal Way Downtown |
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March to May 2024
Phase 1: Needs assessment
During the first phase of engagement, Metro shared information about the project overview We gathered information about service needs by reviewing existing data and reports from recent engagement, direct feedback from surveys, in-person engagement, conversations with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and input from our Partner Review Board and Mobility Board. We analyzed the feedback to find common themes and worked with the Mobility Board to identify key priorities. These priorities helped shape the draft service plan, which we shared for public feedback in the second phase.
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Winter 2024 to 2025
Phase 2: Service concepts
During the second phase of engagement Metro shared proposed route changes based on Phase 1 feedback. We collected feedback on the proposed changes to better understand community priorities and how they should guide any updates to the plan. We gathered direct feedback from surveys, in-person engagement and conversations with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). We informed people about how to get involved through social media campaigns, blog posts in different languages, ads in diverse media, text and email Transit Alerts, Rider Alert signs at bus stops and transit centers, and shared information in multiple languages online and in print. We brought together the Mobility Board and Partner Review Board to talk about the impacts of Phase 2 on equity, what we learned from community engagement, and the main pros and cons of different transit network options.
Phase 2 Engagement Summary -
Summer 2025
Current phase
Phase 3: Service proposal
In the final phase of engagement, Metro will share updated service plans with the public, explaining how community input from Phase 2 influenced these updates. We will seek feedback on how to improve the plans before finalizing them. We will also summarize the earlier phases of the project, explain how community feedback shaped the final plan and discuss the next steps. Metro will work with the Mobility board and Partner Review Board to finalize the South Link Connections proposal this fall. The King County Council is expected to take action early 2026.
Ways to participate
Through a deliberate and transparent three-phase community engagement process, Metro removes barriers and provides opportunities for South King County communities to express their transit needs and have a meaningful role in shaping Metro’s route changes. Metro works with local communities, particularly priority populations who have been historically left out of decision-making conversations and have been disproportionately impacted by these decisions, using meaningful, inclusive and community-driven approaches. We work together to inform, gather feedback, evaluate and decide the best route changes for South King County communities.
During phase 1, Metro formed a South Link Connections Mobility Board representative of the project area and 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 transit network in South King County.
During the engagement process, Metro meets with external stakeholders who serve as a concept review board, known as the Partner Review Board. The Board includes representatives from local 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 review and provide comment on service concepts developed by the Mobility Board. If your organization is within the service area and is interested in joining the Partner Review Board, please complete the short inquiry form.
Equity Impact Review
The South Link Connections project will include an Equity Impact Review (EIR) study to ensure proposed route changes will improve mobility and access to transportation for historically underserved 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 anticipated impact to underserved communities and inform planning decisions.
The EIR analysis, community engagement feedback and service design best practices will all inform the proposed changes in the South Link Connections project.
Resource library
Phase 1 resources
Phase 2 resources
Phase 3 resources
Additional resources
Contact us
Please reach out to us in your preferred language by email at: haveasay@kingcounty.gov
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