Metro service changes start this weekend

Starting this weekend, King County Metro will be revising and restoring a number of bus routes in Seattle.

The change will come Oct. 2, with Metro transit’s service returning to nearly 95 percent of pre-pandemic levels. In all, they’re adding back 200,000 transit hours.

Many Ballard routes will see some changes, including revisions of Routes 40, 44, and 45. Metro also plans to reduce some RapidRide D Line trips due to decreased funding.

Here are the routes in Ballard with upcoming revisions:

• Route 40: Beginning Saturday, October 2, the Northgate Transit Center will close to the public, and Route 40 will no longer stop there. Route 40 will serve bays 1 and 4 at the new Northgate Station, just west of the Northgate Transit Center.
• Route 44: The westbound Route 44 will be revised to operate on NE 43rd St and 12th Ave NE between 15th Ave NE and NE 45th St, to serve the new U District Station.
• Route 45: Route 45 will be revised to connect with Route 75 and provide direct service to the University of Washington Campus along Stevens Way. Route 45 will no longer operate along Roosevelt Way NE, 12th Ave NE, NE Pacific St, NE Pacific Pl, or Montlake Blvd NE. Routes 45 and 75 are being revised to better integrate Metro service with Link light rail and reduce duplication of service.

The new and restored routes serving areas around Ballard will include Routes 16, Rapid Ride D Line, and 20.

• Route 16X: New Route 16X will provide peak-only service on weekdays between Broadview and downtown Seattle, including Greenwood. This route replaces route 5X.
• RapidRide D Line: Several trips will be deleted due to decreased STBD funding.
• Route 20: Creates a new all-day connection between Lake City, Northgate, Green Lake, the University District, U District Station, and UW Medical Center. Provides an alternate route for removed routes 26 and 75.

A full list of revised and new routes is available here.