King County Metro reports ridership gains on Covington routes, outlines long-range MetroConnex vision and local service options

Michelle Allison, general manager for King County Metro, told the Covington City Council on Jan. 14 that local routes are showing ridership recovery and that the agency has a long-range vision—MetroConnex—that proposes several route upgrades for Covington over the coming decades.

Allison opened her update by acknowledging a recent operator death and saying safety remains Metro’s top priority. She then reviewed service and ridership data for two routes that serve Covington and described Metro’s planning framework and long-range options.

Key points from Metro’s presentation - Local route performance: Route 168 averaged about 1,565 weekday boardings in November 2024 and has exceeded its pre-pandemic ridership without showing crowding. Route 162 averaged roughly 300 weekday boardings in November and likewise shows no crowding. - No planned suspensions: Metro reported there are currently no suspensions planned for the 168. - Vanpool program and promotion: Metro operates six vanpools that originate in Covington and is running a promotion through June offering vanpool memberships for $49/month for riders making $25/hour or less. Metro supplies vans, insurance and maintenance; riders must form groups (minimum five riders) and provide volunteer drivers and a bookkeeper role. - Planning documents and priorities: Allison cited three guiding policy documents used to prioritize service investments—Metro’s service guidelines, its strategic plan, and MetroConnex (an unfunded long-range service and capital vision). Metro makes service changes twice yearly and prioritizes investments where crowding or ridership justify added capacity. - Long-range proposals for Covington: Conceptual options discussed include route 1514 (an upgraded frequent extension of today's 168 to the Berrien area), route 3062 (a local connection between Black Diamond and Kent), and an express route in the 2050 network connecting Auburn, Covington and Snoqualmie; all are contingent on resources and workforce capacity.

Council questions and context Councilmembers pressed Metro about timing and ridership projections, particularly for an SR 18/highway route that several members said would attract high demand. Allison said projecting ridership for not-yet-built corridors is difficult and that Metro must balance competing regional resource priorities and infrastructure investments such as Sound Transit light-rail openings. She offered to take specific data requests back to the Metro planning team.

Why it matters Covington councilmembers stressed the local importance of added service, citing large planned housing projects in nearby areas and a desire to reduce auto demand and parking pressure. Metro’s service decisions influence long-term land-use outcomes and local mobility options.

Quotes "Operator Sean Yim was slain while operating the route 70 on December 18th," Allison said, noting the agency’s renewed focus on operator and rider safety.

"These gains were only possible because we focused on our workforce," Allison said, summarizing Metro’s recent hiring and training efforts that contributed to a systemwide ridership increase.

Ending Allison invited questions and offered to follow up with ridership projections and employer-employee shuttle options. Councilmembers said they will continue to press Metro for accelerated service where local growth and employer demand suggest higher near-term need.