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 route.

Under Metro’s draft, Route 164 (created by splitting today’s Route 165) would run between the Kent Des Moines light rail station, Kent Station and Green River College and be upgraded to frequent service, with Sunday service proposed every 30 minutes (current Sunday service on the corridor is hourly). Metro plans to increase trips overall by about 35% on Saturdays and 75% on Sundays compared with current schedules.

Metro project staff said the plan aims to shift some long, duplicative bus trips into connections with light rail once the Federal Way extension opens — a change intended to free resources for more frequent and later service across the system. Geary noted the draft removes 10 peak‑only routes systemwide (9 of which are currently suspended) and reduces some low‑productivity service, but she said none of the routes proposed for removal or reduction serve Auburn.

Metro’s community engagement planner Christina Gonzales described outreach efforts in Auburn and throughout South King County. “We have over 2,000 folks that have already responded” to the phase‑2 survey, she said, and staff are distributing materials in 15 languages and holding on‑the‑ground outreach. Gonzales thanked Auburn staff — naming Veronica Bean, Ingrid and Jacob for their help — and said the team has fliered at seven Auburn locations and visited the Auburn Transit Station to speak with riders. Metro is accepting public feedback on the phase‑2 draft concepts through Feb. 28 and expects to return to Auburn with refined proposals in summer 2025, adopt a final plan via King County Council action in spring 2026, and begin implementing service changes in fall 2026.

Council members asked about advisory‑board composition, equity for shift workers and local outreach. Council member Tracy Taylor asked why only three Mobility Board members represent Auburn and requested a city‑level breakout of board membership; Metro staff said they would provide that information. On equity for shift and blue‑collar workers, Geary said Metro sought to maintain peak service levels while building stronger early‑morning, late‑night and weekend options and said staff had consulted employers and community‑based organizations that represent shift workers.

Council member Teresa Stewart asked whether Metro had partnered with Auburn‑based community organizations; Gonzales listed local partners and said Metro had engaged Green River College, the Auburn Senior Center and the Auburn School District and welcomed additional referrals from the council.

Metro staff also said they would work with the city on outreach events such as ribbon cuttings or promotional rides when service changes launch. The South Link Connections website is southlinkconnections.com; the phase‑2 comment period was open through Feb. 28 according to Metro staff.

No council action was taken during the presentation; Metro sought feedback and public comment as part of its continuing outreach process.