2016 Fourth Of July Transit Service

Transit agencies across the region are operating at decidedly reduced levels today in observance of the national holiday, but there is some special service.

King County Metro is operating a Sunday service schedule across their bus network. However, the agency plans to put an extra 25 buses into service this evening to help crowds get home from the fireworks display on Lake Union:

• Ride routes 32 & 44 from the Wallingford area to the Link light rail University of Washington Station; 10-15 minute service after 10 p.m.; Route 44 service until 2 a.m.; Route 32 will be rerouted between Stone Way North and the U-District.
• To downtown Seattle, ride routes 5, 40 or 62 from the Fremont area; service operates about every 10-15 minutes until almost 1 a.m.
• From Aurora Avenue North, the RapidRide E Line operates to downtown every 15-30 minutes until about 2 a.m.
• Ride routes 26 & 40 to Northgate from Fremont and Wallingford respectively; service operates about every 30 minutes until about 1:30 a.m.; Route 26 will be rerouted off of Northeast 40th Street.
• Between downtown Seattle and the University District, ride Route 70 via Eastlake Avenue East; service about every 15 minutes until 1 a.m.; last trip northbound from downtown is 1:06 a.m.; last trip southbound from the University is 1:51 a.m.
• The South Lake Union Streetcar is operating additional trips after the fireworks display ends.
• Additional buses will be used to mitigate overloads.

Metro also says that there other tweaks to service:

• The West Seattle Water Taxi will operate a Saturday schedule, as will DART routes 773 and 775.
• The Vashon Island Water Taxi route will not operate on Monday.
• The South Lake Union Streetcar will operate extended service until midnight and the First Hill Streetcar will operate a weekday schedule with service until 1 a.m.
• Sound Transit Link light rail will operate additional service with the last southbound trip leaving UW Station at 12:36 a.m.
• The downtown Seattle transit tunnel will stay open to accommodate the extra Link service.
• Tunnel buses will not operate in the tunnel after midnight and will continue on their regular surface street routing.

Aside from the special Link service, Sound Transit will operate as Sunday service.

Pierce Transit is operating a Sunday schedule with the exception of Route 13. Service on all routes are free and two special routes will help bring crowds to and from the Freedom Fair at the Old Town Dock.

Catch a Freedom Fair Express bus from Tacoma Community College at 19th & Mildred, or at Tacoma Dome Station at 610 Puyallup Avenue; parking is FREE at both locations. Service runs every 30 minutes from 10 am until 8 pm sharp, then resumes after the fireworks.

Community Transit is on Sunday service as well, but isn’t be adding any special services unless you count their beloved mascot:

Oxy Gene, Community Transit’s Defender of Truth, Justice and Really Clean Air will join the agency’s 1959 GMC “antique” bus at the Bothell Freedom Festival Grand Parade at Noon on July 4. Bring the family and celebrate the nation’s birthday with Community Transit.

Everett Transit is operating a Sunday schedule with free bus service on all routes. Special shuttles will also be in effect to Downtown Everett and the Legion Park Festival.

Kitsap Transit is not operating any service.

Intercity Transit is operating on Sunday service.

Washington State Ferries is running on a slightly reduced holiday schedule.

Be patient with transit today as there will be many reroutes around parades and events as they happen. And stay safe!