Proposed cuts to King County Metro Transit service could impact nearly half of all routes serving Issaquah.
Metro is preparing to cancel 74 bus routes and reduce service on another 107 routes starting next year.
Temporary funding dedicated for Metro expires in 2014. In addition, Metro has exhausted its reserves, and implemented numerous efficiencies and cost savings. State lawmakers are considering statewide transportation funding during a special session, but until a solution is finalized, Metro is considering service cuts.
If these proposed cuts are enacted, Issaquah would lose 44 percent of trips, according to Metro’s preliminary analysis.
• Under Metro’s proposal, the following local routes would be deleted: 200, 209, 210, 211EX, 215, 217, 927
• The following local routes would be reduced or revised, which could mean fewer trips, service ending earlier at night, deletion of the tail-end of a route and combination of routes: 208, 214, 269
• The following local routes would be unchanged, but would likely become more crowded as they absorb additional riders: 216, 218, 219
The proposed cuts are needed to reduce Metro’s costs, and would affect riders and communities across King County starting as soon as June 2014.
To learn more about these proposed cuts, and to see a calendar of public meetings where you can offer input, go to Metro’s service cuts website. Use #KCMetroCuts to join the conversation on social media.