King County Metro proposes service changes that add frequent routes and two MetroFlex zones serving Auburn

King County Metro representatives told the Auburn City Council on Feb. 24 that a planned restructure tied to the Sound Transit Federal Way Link extension would increase frequent and weekend service through South King County and add two MetroFlex on‑demand zones that will serve parts of Auburn.

Nicola Geary, transportation planner and project manager for Metro’s South Link Connections project, said the agency is considering changes to 22 routes and is proposing several improvements that would affect Auburn directly: upgrading Route 181 to frequent service, creating a new frequent route 164, and establishing two MetroFlex pilot zones, one centered on Auburn and one in Federal Way that would also extend to some Auburn job sites. “We are proposing to improve Route 181 to frequent service,” Geary said. “So it would come every 15 minutes during most of the day on weekdays.” She added weekend improvements would include buses every 20 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays for that…