View source for King County Metro

{{short description|Public transit operator in King County, Washington, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
| name=King County Metro
| logo            = King County Metro logo.svg
| logo_size       = 200
| image           = Seattle RapidRide E Line NFI XDE60 3rd Ave @ Union St (52229747799).jpg
| image_size      = 250
| image_caption   = A King County Metro bus operating on the [[RapidRide E Line]] in [[Downtown Seattle]]
| founded         = {{Start date and age|1973|1|1}}
| headquarters    = 201 S. Jackson St., [[Seattle, Washington]], U.S.
| service_area    = [[King County, Washington]]
| service_type    = [[Transit bus]], [[Vanpool]], [[Paratransit]]
| alliance        = [[Sound Transit]]
| routes          = 237<ref name="Times-ESN">{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=February 12, 2019 |title=As the snow melts, King County Metro running more bus routes Wednesday |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/as-the-snow-melts-king-county-metro-will-run-90-percent-of-its-bus-routes-wednesday/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=February 13, 2019 |archive-date=February 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213162645/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/as-the-snow-melts-king-county-metro-will-run-90-percent-of-its-bus-routes-wednesday/ |url-status=live }}</ref> (excluding routes operated by Metro under contract for another agency {{as of | 2019 | lc=y}})
| destinations    = 
| stops           = 8,521<ref name="2012 Report">{{cite web|author1=King County Metro|author-link1=King County Metro|title=2012 Annual Management Report|url=http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/reports/2012/2012_Annual_Management_Report.pdf|access-date=September 30, 2014|date=October 2013|archive-date=October 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007065304/http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/reports/2012/2012_Annual_Management_Report.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> (year-end 2012)
| hubs            = 13 transit centers
| stations        = 
| lounge          = 
| fleet           = 1,540<ref name="METRO Mag Survey">{{Cite news|url=http://files.metro-magazine.com/images/top100-2017.pdf|title=2017 Top 100 Transit Bus Fleets Survey|last=Roman|first=Alex|date=September 25, 2017|access-date=September 26, 2017|work=[[Metro Magazine]]|orig-year=print edition of September–October 2017, pp. 28|archive-date=September 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927052313/http://files.metro-magazine.com/images/top100-2017.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| ridership       = {{American transit ridership|WA Seattle King County total daily}} ({{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}}
| annual_ridership = {{American transit ridership|WA Seattle King County total annual}} ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}
| fuel_type       = [[Battery electric bus|Battery electric]], [[Hybrid electric bus|Diesel-electric hybrid]], [[Electric trolleybus]]
| operator        = 
| ceo             = Michelle Allison (General Manager)<ref>{{cite news |last=Switzer |first=Jeff |date=February 28, 2023 |title=Michelle Allison confirmed as King County Metro General Manager |url=https://kingcountymetro.blog/2023/02/28/michelle-allison-confirmed-as-king-county-metro-general-manager/ |work=Metro Matters |publisher=King County Metro |access-date=September 10, 2023}}</ref>
| website         = {{URL|https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/metro}}
}}

'''King County Metro''', officially the '''King County Metro Transit Department''' and often shortened to '''Metro''', is the [[public transit]] authority of [[King County, Washington]], which includes the city of [[Seattle]]. It is the eighth-largest transit bus agency in the United States. In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the system had a ridership of {{American transit ridership|WA Seattle King County total annual}}, or about {{American transit ridership|WA Seattle King County total daily}} per weekday as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}. Metro employs 2,477 full-time and part-time operators and operates 1,540 [[bus]]es.

King County Metro formally began operations on January 1, 1973, but can trace its roots to the '''Seattle Transit System''', founded in 1939, and Overlake Transit Service, a private operator founded in 1927 to serve the [[Eastside (King County, Washington)|Eastside]]. Metro is also contracted to operate and maintain [[Sound Transit]]'s [[1 Line (Sound Transit)|1 Line]] Link light rail line and eight of the agency's [[Sound Transit Express]] bus routes along with the [[Seattle Streetcar]] lines owned by the City of Seattle. Metro's services include [[Trolleybuses in Seattle|electric trolleybuses]] in Seattle, [[RapidRide]] enhanced buses on eight lines, commuter routes along the regional freeway system, [[dial-a-ride]] routes, [[paratransit]] services, and [[Night service (public transport)|overnight “owl” bus routes]].

==History==
[[File:Seattle Street Railway, the first streetcar in Seattle, at Occidental Ave and Yesler Way with Mayor John Leary and city (CURTIS 2035).jpeg|thumb|[[Seattle Street Railway]]'s first streetcar at Occidental Avenue and Yesler Way with Mayor [[John Leary (politician)|John Leary]] and city officials in the fall of 1884]]
A horse-drawn streetcar rail system debuted in Seattle in 1884 as the [[Seattle Street Railway]]. In 1918, the city of Seattle bought many parts of the Seattle Street Railway, on terms which left the transit operation in financial trouble.

In 1939, a new transportation agency, the Seattle Transit System, was formed, which refinanced the remaining debt and began replacing equipment with [[Trolleybuses in Seattle|"trackless trolleys"]] (as they were known) and motor buses. The final streetcar ran on April 13, 1941.<ref name=histlink>{{cite web|url=http://www.historylink.org/File/2707|title=Street Railways in Seattle|last=Crowley|first=Walt|date=February 10, 2000|website=historylink.org|access-date=February 16, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918154346/http://www.historylink.org/File/2707|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle was created by a local referendum on September 9, 1958, as a regional authority tasked with management of [[wastewater]] and [[water quality]] issues in King County. The authority was formed after civic leaders, including those in the [[Municipal League]], noted that solutions to regional issues were complicated by local boundaries and a plethora of existing special districts.<ref name="HistoryLink">{{cite web |last=Oldham |first=Kit |date=June 18, 2006 |title=Metro: Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle |url=http://www.historylink.org/File/7813 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |access-date=July 1, 2018 |archive-date=July 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702011504/http://www.historylink.org/File/7813 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Washington State Legislature|state legislature]] approved the formation of a combined transportation, sewage, and planning authority in 1957, but the countywide referendum was rejected by a majority outside of Seattle. Metro, as the authority came to be called, was restricted to sewage management and given a smaller suburban jurisdiction ahead of the successful September referendum.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fussell |first=E. B. |date=August 31, 1958 |title=Metro Narrowed to One Issue—Sewage Pollution |page=3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> By 1967, the agency had completed its $125&nbsp;million sewage treatment system, which diverted 20&nbsp;million gallons ({{convert|20|gal|L|disp=number}}&nbsp;million liters) that had previously contaminated [[Lake Washington]].<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Corr |first=O. Casey |date=November 14, 1988 |title=How Metro cleaned up lake mess |page=C29 |work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]}}</ref>

After [[Forward Thrust|two failed attempts]] to enable it to build a regional [[rapid transit]] system, it was authorized to operate a regional bus system in 1972. The bus system was known as Metro Transit and began operations on January 1, 1973; other suggested names included King Area Rapid Transit (KART) and Seattle Metropolitan Area Rapid Transit (SMART).<ref>{{cite book |last=Kershner |first=Jim |year=2019 |title=Transit: The Story of Public Transportation in the Puget Sound Region |pages=84–85 |publisher=HistoryLink |location=Seattle |isbn=9781933245553 |oclc=1084619121}}</ref> Its operations subsumed the Seattle Transit System, formerly under the purview of the City of Seattle and the Metropolitan Transit Corporation, a private company serving suburban cities in King County. In the early 1970s, the private Metropolitan faced [[bankruptcy]] because of low ridership. King County voters authorized Metro to buy Metropolitan and operate the county's mass transit bus system.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} Metro Transit introduced its new services in September 1973, including a ride-free area in downtown and express routes on freeways (known as "Flyer" routes),<ref>{{cite news |last=Lane |first=Bob |date=August 30, 1973 |title=Big changes coming for [bus] riders |page=F5 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> and a unified numbering scheme in 1977 that replaced named routes.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lane |first=Bob |date=March 24, 1977 |title=Metro to go by the numbers |page=G3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The agency introduced its first [[paratransit]] service in 1979, which was followed by buses equipped with [[wheelchair lift]]s in 1980.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 14, 1979 |title=Changes to paratransit offered |page=H6 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=October 5, 2017 |title=Disability Awareness Month – a history of Metro's Accessible Transit Services |url=https://bytesandboxes.org/2017/10/05/disability-awareness-month-a-history-of-metros-accessible-transit-services/ |work=Bytes and Boxes |publisher=King County Archives |accessdate=March 3, 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Metro bus and Link light rail passing at University Street Station (2010).jpg|left|thumb|A hybrid electric King Country Metro bus passing a [[Link light rail]] train at [[University Street station]] (now Symphony station) in 2010]]

To address bus congestion in Downtown Seattle and prepare for a regional rapid transit system, Metro Transit proposed the construction of the [[Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel]] in the early 1980s. Excavation of the {{convert|1.3|mi|km|adj=mid}} tunnel began in 1987 and was completed on September 15, 1990, with five stations under 3rd Avenue and [[Pine Street]]. The project cost $455{{nbsp}}million to construct and used a fleet of 236 [[dual-mode bus|dual-mode]] diesel–electric buses manufactured in Italy by [[Ansaldobreda, S.P.A.|Breda]]. Buses on commuter routes would switch to electric trolleybus wires within the tunnel, which was also designed for future use by [[light rail]] trains.<ref>{{cite web |last=Crowley |first=Walt |author-link=Walt Crowley |date=October 1, 2000 |title=Metro Transit begins excavating downtown Seattle transit tunnel on March 6, 1987. |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/2700 |work=HistoryLink |accessdate=November 29, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=February 2, 2003 |title=Metro impressed by hybrid buses |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20030202/bumper02m/metro-impressed-by-hybrid-buses |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=June 12, 2025}}</ref>

The Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle was overseen by a federated board of elected officials, composed of elected officials from cities throughout the region. Its representation structure was ruled unconstitutional in 1990 on the grounds of [[Reynolds v. Sims|"one person, one vote"]] following a similar ruling in ''[[Board of Estimate of City of New York v. Morris]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=2705 |last=Crowley |first=Walt |date=October 5, 2000 |title=Federal District Judge William Dwyer rules that Metro Council is unconstitutional on September 6, 1990 |work=HistoryLink.org |access-date=May 21, 2014 |archive-date=May 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521221140/http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=2705 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite court |litigants=Evergreen Trail, Inc. v. King County |court=Wash. App. |date=March 1, 2011 |url=http://www.leagle.com/decision/in%20waco%2020100823789 |access-date=May 21, 2014}}</ref> In 1992, after gaining approval by popular vote, the municipality's roles and authorities were assumed by the government of King County.<ref name="HistoryLink" /> The municipality's transit operations was a stand-alone department within the county until 1996, when it became a division of the newly created King County Department of Transportation. In August 2018, the county council approved legislation to separate Metro from the Department of Transportation, creating the King County Metro Transit Department effective January 1, 2019.<ref>{{cite press release |date=August 20, 2018 |title=Metro Transit to become independent county department |url=https://www.kingcounty.gov/council/news/2018/August/08-20-Metro.aspx |publisher=King County Metro |access-date=March 20, 2019 |archive-date=August 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802222123/https://www.kingcounty.gov/council/news/2018/August/08-20-Metro.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

After completion of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel project in 1990, attention was drawn again to developing a regional rail system. This interest led to the formation of the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (more commonly known as [[Sound Transit]]) which holds primary responsibility for planning and building high capacity transit in the counties of King, Pierce and Snohomish, in western [[Washington state]].<ref>Sound Transit. [http://soundtransit.org/Documents/pdf/about/Chronology.pdf History and Chronology] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214040601/http://www.soundtransit.org/Documents/pdf/about/Chronology.pdf |date=December 14, 2007 }}. October 2007.</ref> Metro was contracted to operate Sound Transit's major [[light rail]] line, now the [[1 Line (Sound Transit)|1 Line]] of the [[Link light rail]] system, and several routes on its [[Sound Transit Express]] network.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=June 19, 2022 |title=Seattle's most dangerous light-rail stretch — and how to make it safer |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/the-worst-spots-for-light-rail-crashes-in-seattle-and-how-to-fix-them/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=March 3, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=March 2018 |title=2018 Service Implementation Plan |page=11 |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/2018-service-implementation-plan.pdf |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=March 3, 2024}}</ref> The Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel would form a major part of the light rail line's route and required extensive renovations to support joint use between trains and buses. A two-year closure from 2005 to 2007 allowed for the installation of new rails and a lowered roadbed for level boarding.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gilmore |first=Susan |date=September 24, 2007 |title=Reopening of downtown Seattle bus tunnel goes smoothly |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2003899601_webbustunnel24m.html |work=The Seattle Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202060937/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2003899601_webbustunnel24m.html |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |accessdate=June 12, 2025}}</ref> The dual-mode Breda buses were replaced by [[hybrid electric bus|diesel-electric hybrid buses]] within the tunnel and retrofitted for use on the city's trolleybus network.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=May 28, 2004 |title=Metro to roll out hybrid buses June 5 |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2001941025_hybrid28m.html |work=The Seattle Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721051553/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2001941025_hybrid28m.html |archive-date=July 21, 2016 |accessdate=June 12, 2025}}</ref> Bus service in the tunnel ended on March 23, 2019, as part of the demolition of [[Convention Place station]] to prepare for an expansion of the [[Washington State Convention Center]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Groover |first=Heidi |date=March 25, 2019 |title=Buses no longer using Seattle's transit tunnel; Monday commutes test new routes |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/buses-are-out-as-downtown-transit-tunnel-shifts-to-rail-only-monday-commutes-will-test-new-bus-routes/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=March 25, 2019 |archive-date=March 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325205029/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/buses-are-out-as-downtown-transit-tunnel-shifts-to-rail-only-monday-commutes-will-test-new-bus-routes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The transit tunnel remained owned and operated by Metro until it was transferred to Sound Transit in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=March 19, 2023 |title=Seattle's bleak downtown light-rail stations have nowhere to go but up |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/seattles-bleak-downtown-sound-transit-stations-have-nowhere-to-go-but-up/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=March 3, 2024}}</ref> Metro also operates two streetcar routes in Seattle under contract with [[Seattle Streetcar]].

===Ride Free Area===
[[File:Downtown Seattle bus stop, 1975 (53906482458).jpg|thumb|right|A Downtown Seattle bus stop on Pine Street with a sign for the Magic Carpet zone, 1975]]

For almost 40 years, until 2012,<ref name="metro.kingcounty.gov">{{cite web |url=http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/ride-free-area/changes.html |access-date=March 10, 2014 |title=Ride Free Area (discontinued Sept. 2012) |website=King County Metro |publisher=King County |archive-date=March 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317225119/http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/ride-free-area/changes.html |url-status=live }}</ref> most of downtown Seattle was designated as a [[free public transport|zero-fare]] zone, an area in which all rides on Metro vehicles were free, known as the "Ride Free" Area. Intended to encourage transit usage, improve accessibility and encourage downtown shopping, the zone was created in September 1973 and was originally called the "Magic Carpet" zone.<ref>{{cite web|author=Walt Crowley|title=Metro Transit establishes free Magic Carpet zone in downtown Seattle in September 1973|year=1993|publisher=HistoryLink.org Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History|url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=2698|access-date=February 5, 2013|archive-date=October 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014002500/http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=2698|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Robert Lindsey|title=Seattle Joining Movement for Free Bus Rides|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 9, 1973|page=228|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/09/09/archives/seattle-joining-movement-for-free-bus-rides-10-increase-in-riders.html?sq=1973%2520Seattle%2520free%2520bus%2520service&scp=1&st=cse|access-date=October 12, 2009|archive-date=July 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723182714/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/09/09/archives/seattle-joining-movement-for-free-bus-rides-10-increase-in-riders.html?sq=1973%2520Seattle%2520free%2520bus%2520service&scp=1&st=cse|url-status=live}}</ref> It was later renamed the Ride Free Area (RFA). The RFA extended from the north at Battery St. to S. Jackson St. on the south and east at 6th Avenue to the waterfront on the west.<ref name="MetroRFA">{{Cite web |url=http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/ridefree.html |title=Metro Transit Ride Free Area |access-date=February 15, 2009 |archive-date=February 15, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215084142/http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/ridefree.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Until 1987, the zone was in effect 24 hours a day, but in October of that year Metro began requiring fare payment within the zone during night-time hours, between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m., to reduce fare-related conflicts that sometimes led to assaults on drivers;<ref name="PI-1987aug21">Sanger, S.L (August 21, 1987). "Metro puts the brakes on free rides at night". ''[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]'', p. B1.</ref> in February 1994, the RFA's hours were reduced further, with fare payment required between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.<ref name="PI-1994feb4">Foster, George (February 4, 1994). "Free downtown bus service to be cut in compliance with security plan". ''[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]'', p. C1.</ref>

A King County Auditor's Office report released in September 2009 found that Metro "can neither fully explain nor provide backup documentation for the operating cost savings that offset the fare revenues in the calculation of the annual charges to the City of Seattle for the city's Ride Free Area" and that some assumptions in the methodology Metro used to calculate the amount of lost fares were "questionable" and have not been updated to reflect changes to the fare structure and fare collection methods.<ref>[http://www.kingcounty.gov/operations/auditor/Reports/Year/~/media/operations/auditor/documents/2009Documents/FinancialCapitalPlanningTechRptA.ashx#%22Performance%20Audit%20of%20Transit%20-%20Technical%20Report%20A%22] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091020174142/http://www.kingcounty.gov/operations/auditor/Reports/Year/~/media/operations/auditor/documents/2009Documents/FinancialCapitalPlanningTechRptA.ashx#%22Performance%20Audit%20of%20Transit%20-%20Technical%20Report%20A%22|date=October 20, 2009}}. King County Auditor's Office, September 15, 2009.  Retrieved September 15, 2009.</ref>

A 1975 study found that while the Ride Free Area generally reduced bus travel times within the RFA itself, buses that traveled through the Ride Free Area to other destinations generally did not benefit. It also found that unloading outbound coaches once outside the RFA took additional time, though not entirely quantified vis-à-vis time saved within the RFA.{{Citation needed|date=February 2009}}

On September 29, 2012, the Ride Free Area was eliminated. All riders boarding in downtown must now pay as they board.<ref name="metro.kingcounty.gov"/>

==Operations==
===Routes===
[[File:Route 7 on Rainier Avenue at South Jackson Street.jpg|thumb|right|An [[Trolleybuses in Seattle|electric trolleybus]] on Route 7 in Seattle]]
{{See also|List of King County Metro bus routes}}

Metro has 139 bus routes that combine service patterns typical of both city and suburban bus networks, carrying over 280,000 daily passengers {{as of|October 2024|lc=y}}. The agency's ridership peaked at 425,000 daily passengers in October 2015.<ref name="Times-Fares2025">{{cite news |last=Deshais |first=Nicholas |date=February 23, 2025 |title=Metro to resume bus fare inspections: What to expect |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/metro-to-resume-fare-inspections-aboard-buses/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=February 23, 2025}}</ref> The city network was descended in large part from the Seattle Transit system of converted streetcar routes. Most service is operated in a hub-and-spoke pattern centered either on [[Downtown, Seattle, Washington|downtown Seattle]] or the [[University of Washington]], with lesser amounts of crosstown service. The suburban network typically operates on major streets between the regions employment and population centers.

Routes in the city network are numbered from 1 to 99. Because of the scattershot evolution of the system, there is no easily discernible pattern to the route numbers, although there are clusters in certain neighborhoods. Suburban routes follow a numbering system: 100–199 for South King County, 200–299 for the Eastside, 300–399 for North King County, and 900–999 for dial-a-ride and custom routes.<ref>{{cite news |last=Baruchman |first=Michelle |date=August 27, 2018 |title=Readers ask: How are bus-route numbers picked, and why are empty buses in the HOV lane? |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/qa-how-bus-route-numbers-are-determined/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=March 10, 2020 |archive-date=December 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208221929/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/qa-how-bus-route-numbers-are-determined/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=June 2010 |title=Rider Alert! Bus Service Revisions began Saturday, June 12, 2010 |url=http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/sc/rideralert/ra-062010.html |publisher=King County Metro |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804002408/http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/sc/rideralert/ra-062010.html |archive-date=August 4, 2014 |access-date=March 10, 2020}}</ref>

The in-city routes with the highest ridership are the RapidRide D Line from downtown to Crown Hill via Uptown/Seattle Center and Ballard; the 7, traveling from downtown through the [[International District, Seattle, Washington|International District]] to the [[Rainier Valley, Seattle, Washington|Rainier Valley]]; the 40, traveling from downtown through South Lake Union, Fremont, and Ballard to Northgate; the RapidRide C Line from South Lake Union and downtown to West Seattle's Alaska Junction and Westwood Village; the 36, traveling from downtown through the International District to [[Beacon Hill, Seattle, Washington|Beacon Hill]]; the 5 from downtown via the Woodland Park Zoo and Greenwood/Phinney Ridge to Shoreline Community College; the 44, a crosstown route connecting the University District and [[Ballard, Seattle, Washington|Ballard]]; the 8, a crosstown route connecting Uptown/Seattle Center and South Lake Union with Capitol Hill, the Central District and Mount Baker; and the 70, connecting downtown to South Lake Union, Eastlake, and the University District.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

The Metro-operated [[Seattle Streetcar]] routes are numbered in the 90s, with the [[South Lake Union Streetcar]] numbered 98 and the former bus replacement for the [[Seattle Waterfront Streetcar|Waterfront Streetcar]] numbered 99.

The suburban system is more numerically organized. Roughly speaking, areas in South King County (from [[Burien, Washington|Burien]] and [[Des Moines, Washington|Des Moines]] through [[Renton, Washington|Renton]] and [[Maple Valley, Washington|Maple Valley]]) are served by routes numbered in the [[List of King County Metro bus routes#100s|100s]], areas in East King County (from Renton to [[Bothell, Washington|Bothell]]) are served by routes numbered in the [[List of King County Metro bus routes#200s|200s]], areas in North King County (from Bothell to [[Shoreline, Washington|Shoreline]]) are served by routes numbered in the [[List of King County Metro bus routes#300s|300s]]. The Metro-operated [[Sound Transit Express]] routes are numbered in the 500s.

Route numbers in the lower [[List of King County Metro bus routes#900s|900s]] (901–931) are used for [[Dial-a-Ride]] services, while shuttles connecting to the [[King County Water Taxi]] are numbered in the [[List of King County Metro bus routes#700s|700s]].{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} The dial-a-ride system is contracted to [[Hopelink]], a non-profit organization.<ref>{{cite web |title=DART service |url=https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/metro/travel-options/bus/dart |publisher=King County Metro |accessdate=July 2, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gaudette |first=Karen |date=February 11, 2005 |title=Little bus makes a big difference |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/little-bus-makes-a-big-difference/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=July 2, 2024}}</ref> Since 2003, Metro has contracted with senior charities to operate the Hyde Shuttle system, which provides free rides to elderly or disabled passengers in Seattle and other cities.<ref>{{cite news |last=Green |first=Sara Jean |date=December 5, 2015 |title='Staying home would drive me nuts': Senior Services keeps loneliness at bay |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/senior-services-dispenses-nurturing-and-nutrition-to-older-adults-disabled/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=November 27, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite map |year=2016 |title=King County Accessible Travel Map |url=https://metro.kingcounty.gov/advisory-groups/mobility-coalition/pdf/king-county-accessible-travel-map-en.pdf |publisher=King County Mobility Coalition |accessdate=November 27, 2022}}</ref> Metro formerly funded a shuttle system named Ride2 that served West Seattle and Eastgate using contracted private buses, which ended in 2019.<ref name="Times-Flex"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Baruchman |first=Michelle |date=December 13, 2019 |title=Metro's Ride2 shuttle service to West Seattle water taxi and Eastgate Park-and-Ride to end this month |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/metros-ride2-shuttle-service-to-west-seattle-water-taxi-and-eastgate-park-and-ride-is-ending/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=December 13, 2019 |archive-date=December 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213160001/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/metros-ride2-shuttle-service-to-west-seattle-water-taxi-and-eastgate-park-and-ride-is-ending/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A set of three shuttle van services contracted out to private operators, including [[Via (company)|Via]] in the Rainier Valley, Community Ride, and Ride Pingo in Kent, were launched starting in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last=Porterfield |first=Elaine |date=February 28, 2023 |title=Metro Flex: On-demand transit services now even better, united under one name |url=https://kingcountymetro.blog/2023/02/28/metro-flex-on-demand-transit-services-now-even-better-united-under-one-name/ |work=Metro Matters |publisher=King County Metro |accessdate=March 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |date=April 16, 2019 |title=New on-demand shuttle service makes it more convenient than ever to take transit in southeast Seattle and Tukwila |url=https://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/constantine/news/release/2019/April/16-transit-hubs-seattle-tukwila.aspx |publisher=King County Metro |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422023638/https://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/constantine/news/release/2019/April/16-transit-hubs-seattle-tukwila.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> They were merged in 2023 under the "Metro Flex" brand with a shared livery.<ref name="Times-Flex">{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=March 6, 2023 |title=King County Metro Transit's shuttle vans will go more places with new app |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/king-county-metro-transits-shuttle-vans-will-go-more-places-with-new-app/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=March 7, 2023}}</ref>

Metro is contracted to operate special custom buses. Custom routes that serve schools in Bellevue and on Mercer Island are numbered in the [[List of King County Metro bus routes#800s|800s]] (823, 824, 886–892) and routes serving the private [[Lakeside School (Seattle, Washington)|Lakeside School]] and [[University Prep]] numbered in the higher [[List of King County Metro bus routes#900s|900s]] (980–995). Metro also operates custom routes to major employment sites (like [[Group Health Cooperative]] in Tukwila and the [[Boeing Everett Factory]]). Custom routes are also occasionally established to serve as shuttles for large local events, including [[Seattle Seahawks]] and [[Washington Huskies football]] games.

Since 2008, Metro has maintained an Emergency Snow Network plan to be implemented during major snowstorms and other periods of inclement weather. The network uses only 67 routes on high-frequency corridors with flat topography to compensate for a reduced number of drivers and workers. Several routes were also split between trunk routes using articulated buses and shuttles to serve hillier areas with smaller buses.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=February 11, 2019 |title=Metro buses still on reduced snow schedules while slush brings new driving risks |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/metro-buses-are-reduced-for-its-first-emergency-snow-network/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=February 13, 2019 |archive-date=February 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214115655/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/metro-buses-are-reduced-for-its-first-emergency-snow-network/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The network plan was first implemented during the February 2019 snowstorm.<ref name="Times-ESN"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Millman |first=Zosha |date=February 12, 2019 |title=Metro buses are now operating on the first use of 'Emergency Snow Network' |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/local/weather/article/Metro-buses-Emergency-Snow-Network-Seattle-storm-13607515.php |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |access-date=February 13, 2019 |archive-date=February 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212175238/https://www.seattlepi.com/local/weather/article/Metro-buses-Emergency-Snow-Network-Seattle-storm-13607515.php |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2019, the King County Council voted to waive transit fares during snow emergencies.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gutman |first=David |date=August 28, 2019 |title=You can ride King County Metro buses for free during the next snow emergency |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/you-can-ride-king-county-metro-buses-for-free-during-the-next-snow-emergency/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 2, 2019 |archive-date=September 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903043103/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/you-can-ride-king-county-metro-buses-for-free-during-the-next-snow-emergency/ |url-status=live }}</ref> An earlier plan from the 1980s replaced Seattle–Eastside commuter routes with a set of routes that exclusively served predetermined park and ride lots.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Marshall |date=December 21, 1983 |title='Sno joke: Metro has Eastside plan for those slippery mornings |page=H1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

===RapidRide===
{{Main|RapidRide}}
[[File:RapidRide H Line southbound at Alaskan Way and Jackson Street, March 2023.jpg|thumb|RapidRide service features enhanced bus stops, articulated buses, and frequent service]]
King County Metro operates RapidRide, a network of [[limited-stop]] bus lines with some [[bus rapid transit]] features. All RapidRide routes have frequent service with frequencies of 10 minutes or better during peak commuting hours and 15 minutes during most off-peak hours and on weekends. Most lines (except the B and F lines) have late night and early morning service. 

RapidRide stops are placed farther apart than typical Metro service to increase speed and reliability. Stops with heavier ridership have "stations" with an awning, seating, lighting, real time information signs to communicate estimate arrival times of RapidRide buses. Most stations and some stops in Downtown Seattle have ORCA card readers that allow passengers to pay before the bus arrives and board at any of the buses' three doors.<ref name="RapidRide">{{cite web|title=RapidRide - King County Metro Transit|url=http://metro.kingcounty.gov/travel-options/bus/rapidride/|access-date=February 7, 2014|archive-date=August 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826101745/http://metro.kingcounty.gov/travel%2Doptions/bus/rapidride/|url-status=live}}</ref> All lines use low-floor, [[Articulated bus|articulated buses]] that are painted with a distinct red and yellow livery and have onboard Wi-Fi.

The RapidRide corridors are:
* '''[[RapidRide A Line|A Line]]''': [[Tukwila, Washington|Tukwila]] – [[Federal Way, Washington|Federal Way]]
* '''[[RapidRide B Line|B Line]]''': [[Redmond, Washington|Redmond]] – [[Overlake, Washington|Overlake]] – [[Bellevue, Washington|Bellevue]]
* '''[[RapidRide C Line|C Line]]''': [[West Seattle, Seattle|West Seattle]] – [[Downtown Seattle]] – [[South Lake Union, Seattle|South Lake Union]]
* '''[[RapidRide D Line|D Line]]''': [[Ballard, Seattle|Ballard]] – [[Lower Queen Anne, Seattle, Washington|Uptown]] – [[Downtown Seattle]]
* '''[[RapidRide E Line|E Line]]''': [[Shoreline, Washington|Shoreline]] – [[Downtown Seattle]]
* '''[[RapidRide F Line|F Line]]''': [[Burien, Washington|Burien]] – [[Southcenter Mall|Southcenter]] – [[Renton, Washington|Renton]]
* '''[[RapidRide G Line|G Line]]''': [[Madison Valley, Seattle|Madison Valley]] – [[Downtown Seattle]]
* '''[[RapidRide H Line|H Line]]''': [[Burien, Washington|Burien]] – [[White Center, Washington|White Center]] – [[West Seattle]] – [[Downtown Seattle]]

===Freeway express services===
[[File:KCM 6843 at Evergreen Point Freeway Station.jpg|thumb|Metro express buses use an extensive network of bus-only infrastructure, such as the Evergreen Point Freeway Station on  [[Washington State Route 520|SR-520]]]]
Metro operates many regional routes serving [[park and ride]]s, which travel on the region's extensive network of [[High Occupancy Vehicle lane|High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes]].<ref name="WSDOT07Summary">Washington State Department of Transportation. [http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/publications/manuals/fulltext/m0000/TransitSummary/KingCounty.pdf Summary of Public Transportation - 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008092033/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/publications/manuals/fulltext/m0000/TransitSummary/KingCounty.pdf |date=October 8, 2012 }}. November 2008.</ref> This practice was pioneered at Seattle Transit as the ''[[Blue Streak (bus)|Blue Streak]]'' express bus service running between Northgate Park & Ride and Downtown Seattle. Special stops called "freeway flyers" or freeway stations were constructed to allow efficient transfer between local and express buses.<ref>Chapter 2. Bob Lane, Better Than Promised: An Informal History of the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (Seattle: King County Department of Metropolitan Services, 1995) https://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/library/wastewater/wtd/about/History/1995BetterThanPromised/ch02.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128155643/http://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/library/wastewater/wtd/about/History/1995BetterThanPromised/ch02.pdf |date=January 28, 2017 }}</ref> 

The first freeway flyer stop opened in 1975 at Montlake Boulevard and [[Washington State Route 520|State Route 520]].<ref name="Milestones70s">King County Metro. [http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/history/history-1970.html Transit Milestones 1970s] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507143947/http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/history/history-1970.html |date=May 7, 2017 }}</ref> Metro also takes advantage of new HOV direct-access ramps and freeway stations constructed by Sound Transit to improve speed and reliability of its commuter routes.<ref>King County Department of Transportation. [http://your.kingcounty.gov/kcdot/transtoday/2006news/oct/tt102306.htm New transit/HOV ramps now open at Eastgate]{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} March 7, 2007.</ref><ref>Sound Transit. [http://www.soundtransit.org/x2156.xml ST Express Regional Bus Projects and Related Projects] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316071513/http://www.soundtransit.org/x2156.xml |date=March 16, 2009 }}</ref>

===Skip-stop spacing===
Metro uses [[skip-stop]] spacing on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Avenues in Downtown Seattle, whereby buses skip every other bus stop. On 3rd Avenue, each bus route is assigned to Blue, Yellow, Red or Green stop groups and each bus stop has two color designations; in the northbound direction, every other bus stop is a Red/Yellow or Green/Blue stop, while in the southbound direction they are Green/Yellow and Red/Blue. On 2nd and 4th Avenues, routes are grouped into Orange and White stops. The bus stop color groupings are identified by a colored plate installed above or on the side of the bus stop sign. On 3rd Avenue only, there are additional colored markers one block ahead of each bus stop on the trolley overhead wires, to help bus drivers identify the colors of the upcoming bus stop.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/sc/rideralert/2011/feb/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616105709/http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/sc/rideralert/2011/feb/ |archive-date=June 16, 2011 |title=Service Change Information - King County Metro Transit}}</ref>

=== Night Owl services ===
Metro operates a network of 13 routes with [[Night bus service|late-night "Night Owl"]] service, which is defined as having regular service between midnight and 5 am.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/metro/travel-options/bus/night-owl.aspx|title=Night Owl bus service - King County Metro Transit - King County|website=kingcounty.gov|language=en|access-date=September 24, 2017|archive-date=September 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924222258/http://kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/metro/travel-options/bus/night-owl.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> The Night Owl network is made up of some of Metro's most popular routes, and is designed to connect neighborhoods with major transportation hubs including downtown Seattle, Sea–Tac Airport, park & ride lots, transit centers, and Link stations (providing service during the hours when trains are not in service). The City of Seattle's transportation benefit district funds service on Night Owl routes that operate entirely within the city limits.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/TransitAdvisoryBoard/Presentations/STBD-September2017-ServiceInvestments-TAB.pdf|title=STBD Service Investments September 2017|date=May 24, 2017|website=Seattle Department of Transportation|access-date=September 24, 2017|archive-date=September 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925083331/http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/TransitAdvisoryBoard/Presentations/STBD-September2017-ServiceInvestments-TAB.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Routes with Night Owl service include the 7, 36, 48, 49, 124, 160, 161, and the RapidRide A, C, D, E, G and H Lines.

===Trailhead Direct===

King County Metro contracts with [[Hopelink]] to operate a weekend express shuttle between Seattle and hiking areas in the [[Cascade Mountains|Cascade foothills]] called Trailhead Direct from April to October. The service, operated in partnership with the county's park and recreation department and private companies, is intended to relieve parking issues at popular [[trailhead]]s at peak times.<ref name="Times-Trailhead"/> It debuted in 2017 and was expanded the following year to cover three routes: [[Capitol Hill station]] to [[Mount Si]]; [[Mount Baker station]] to the [[Issaquah Alps]]; and a shuttle from [[North Bend, Washington|North Bend]] to [[Mailbox Peak]].<ref>{{cite press release |date=April 4, 2018 |title=Popular transit-to-trails program returns with new service in Seattle connecting to more hiking destinations |url=https://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/constantine/news/release/2018/April/04-trailhead-direct-returns.aspx |publisher=King County Metro |access-date=June 25, 2018 |archive-date=June 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626084555/https://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/constantine/news/release/2018/April/04-trailhead-direct-returns.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Paul |first=Crystal |date=May 1, 2018 |title=Trailhead Direct offers shuttle service from Seattle to the Issaquah Alps, with more stops coming soon |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/trailhead-direct-offers-shuttle-service-from-mount-baker-to-the-issaquah-alps-with-more-stops-coming-soon/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=June 25, 2018 |archive-date=June 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623205619/https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/trailhead-direct-offers-shuttle-service-from-mount-baker-to-the-issaquah-alps-with-more-stops-coming-soon/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A fourth route, between [[Tukwila International Boulevard station]], [[Renton, Washington|Renton]], and [[Cougar Mountain]], was added in 2019.<ref>{{cite press release |date=April 11, 2019 |title=Trailhead Direct returns with more routes connecting hikers to more trails |url=https://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/constantine/news/release/2019/April/11-trailhead-direct.aspx |publisher=King County Metro |access-date=April 11, 2019 |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412064016/https://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/constantine/news/release/2019/April/11-trailhead-direct.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> The service was suspended in 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and returned in 2021 with only two routes.<ref name="Times-Trailhead">{{cite news |last=Gladish |first=David |date=May 18, 2023 |title=Why King County wants more people and fewer cars at the trailhead |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/why-king-county-wants-more-people-and-fewer-cars-at-the-trailhead/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=May 14, 2024}}</ref> Due to staffing issues, service to the Issaquah Alps was suspended for the 2022 and 2023 seasons but returned in 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last=Howie |first=Stephen |date=May 14, 2024 |title=Yes, hiking. No, traffic. Trailhead Direct offers car-free travel from Seattle to the mountains |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/trailhead-direct-offers-car-free-travel-from-seattle-to-the-mountains |publisher=KUOW |accessdate=May 14, 2024}}</ref> The Trailhead Direct routes carried a total of 11,400 passenger trips in 2023 using a fleet of smaller buses with 14 to 32 seats.<ref>{{cite news |last=Phair |first=Vonnai |date=May 21, 2024 |title=Seattle-area Trailhead Direct hiking shuttle will serve Issaquah Alps |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/seattle-area-trailhead-direct-hiking-shuttle-will-serve-issaquah-alps/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=July 7, 2025}}</ref>

==Fares==

King County Metro has had a flat rate fare structure for all riders since July 2018. The flat rate of $2.75 for adults and $1 for senior, disabled and qualified low-income passengers<ref>{{cite web |title=Prices |url=https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/metro/fares-and-payment/prices/ |publisher=King County Metro |accessdate=August 4, 2024}}</ref> replaced a previous system with two zones—divided between Seattle and the rest of the county—and [[peak period]] surcharges.<ref>{{cite news |last=Baruchman |first=Michelle |date=June 29, 2018 |title=King County Metro's $2.75 flat fare for adults takes effect Sunday |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/king-county-metros-2-75-flat-fare-for-adults-takes-effect-sunday/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=March 26, 2023}}</ref> A separate rate of $1.50 was levied for youth passengers and ORCA Lift low-income passholders until September 2022; the ORCA Lift rate was lowered to $1 and the youth fare was eliminated as part of a statewide program.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Al |date=August 31, 2022 |title=ORCA LIFT fare reduced to $1 |url=https://kingcountymetro.blog/2022/08/31/orca-lift-fare-reduced-to-1/ |work=Metro Matters |publisher=King County Metro |accessdate=March 26, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kroman |first=David |date=July 26, 2022 |title=King County approves free transit for youths |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/king-county-approves-free-transit-for-youth/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=March 26, 2023}}</ref>

Fares can be paid using cash, a paper transfer, the e-purse or passes on [[ORCA card]]s, or the Transit Go smartphone app.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ways to pay |url=https://kingcounty.gov/en/depts/metro/fares-and-payment/ways-to-pay |publisher=King County Metro |accessdate=March 26, 2023}}</ref> Monthly and daily passes are available for ORCA cards, including the PugetPass and inter-agency regional passes.<ref name="Fares"/> From 2020 to 2025, the inspection of fares by Metro personnel was suspended due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and later changes in county policy to address racial bias.<ref name="Times-Fares2025"/> The fare inspection and enforcement program resumed in March 2025 and consists of uniformed inspectors who board buses and request identification from non-paying passengers; a previous [[misdemeanor]] charge for four instances of non-payment was removed.<ref name="Times-Fares2025"/><ref name="Times-FaresMar">{{cite news |last=Uyehara |first=Kai |date=March 25, 2025 |title=King County Metro fare enforcement restarts March 31 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/king-county-metro-fare-enforcement-restarts-march-31/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=April 19, 2025}}</ref>

The King County Metro fares as of September 1, 2022 are:<ref name="Fares">{{cite web |title=Prices |url=https://kingcounty.gov/en/depts/metro/fares-and-payment/prices |publisher=King County Metro |accessdate=March 26, 2023}}</ref>
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|-
! Type !! Fare
|-
| '''Adult''' || $3.00 
|-
| '''Senior (65+) / Disabled / [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]]'''<br /><small>(Regional Reduced Fare Permit required)</small> || $1
|-
| '''Low-income'''<br /><small>(Income verified ORCA Lift card required)</small> ||$1
|-
| '''Youth'''<br /><small>(6–18 years)</small>  ||Free 
|-
| '''Children'''<br /><small>(5 and under)</small> ||Free
|}

=== Fare history ===

Metro Transit initially had 38 fare zones that it inherited from its two predecessor operators, with a surcharge of 10 cents per zone crossing.<ref name="FaresReport"/> The fare system was overhauled in 1977 and simplified to two zones: one within Seattle and one for the rest of the county.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lane |first=Bob |date=December 25, 1976 |title=It's going to cost more to ride bus |page=A9 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The fare change also introduced a one-hour pass for free transfers—either within the same hour or for a return trip on the same route—and monthly passes.<ref>{{cite news |last=Watts |first=Al |date=December 29, 1976 |title=Home Free—If You Use The New Bus Pass |page=B1 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>

One-way fare (Peak, 1 Zone), with year of rate change:<ref name="FaresReport">{{cite web |url=http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/reports/2014/transit-fares-report.pdf |publisher=King County Metro |title=Report on Transit fares: Metro fare history |date=August 2014 |page=18 |access-date=November 21, 2015 |archive-date=May 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512045851/http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/reports/2014/transit-fares-report.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{col-float}}
*1973: {{0}}20¢
*1977: {{0}}30¢
*1979: {{0}}40¢
*1980: {{0}}50¢
*1982: {{0}}60¢ {{small|({{BSsplit|peak fares|introduced}})}}
*1985: {{0}}65¢
{{col-float-break|width=12em}}
*1989: {{0}}75¢
*1991: $1.00
*1993: $1.10 
*1998: $1.25
*2001: $1.50 
*2008: $1.75
{{col-float-break}}
*2009: $2.00
*2010: $2.25
*2012: $2.50
*2015: $2.75
*2018: $2.75 {{small|({{BSsplit|peak fares|discontinued}})}}
*2025: $3.00
{{col-float-end}}

== Facilities ==
{{Main|List of King County Metro facilities}}

===Transit centers===
While Downtown Seattle is Metro's main transit hub, transit centers act as smaller regional hubs and are served by many bus routes. Some transit centers also offer a [[park and ride]] facility. Metro operates out of several transit centers located throughout King County, some of which are shared with [[Sound Transit]] and other county agencies.<ref name="2007AMR">{{cite web |url=http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/reports/2007/2007-QMRyearend.pdf |title=2007 Annual Management Report |access-date=February 14, 2009 |date=December 14, 2007 |publisher=King County Department of Transportation |archive-date=May 31, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531191525/http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/reports/2007/2007-QMRyearend.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Park and ride lots===

In King County, Metro has 132 [[park and ride]] facilities containing a total of 24,524 parking stalls {{as of|2009|lc=y}}.<ref name='metrofacts' /> Half of the lots are leased from other property owners such as churches.<ref name="2007AMR" />

Metro began developing its park and rides in the 1970s using various funding sources, including federal grants.<ref>{{cite news |last=Watts |first=Al |date=January 19, 1977 |title=Park-and-ride: A Star Is Born—at Last |page=D10 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> By 1988, it had 37 lots across King County, mostly concentrated on the Eastside, and monitored property crimes with a team of four police officers and hired guards.<ref>{{cite news |last=Foster |first=George |date=August 24, 1988 |title=Crime is on the rise at park-and-ride lots |page=B2 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> In the 1980s, Metro proposed co-locating its park and rides with commercial developments to encourage [[transit-oriented development]] and attract more riders.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pryne |first=Eric |date=April 23, 1989 |title=Park and ride—and shop? Commercial development at Metro lots considered as a transit boost |page=B1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> In the 2000s, Metro opened its first park and ride garages as well as several lots that were integrated with housing and retail developments.<ref>{{cite news |last=Holt |first=Gordy |date=October 18, 2002 |title=New attitude among the changes at The Village |page=B3 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hadley |first=Jane |date=June 28, 2004 |title=That wily park and ride spot might be easier to find soon |page=B3 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>

=== Operations bases and facilities ===
Metro stores and maintains buses at seven [[Bus garage|bases]] (garages), spread throughout its {{convert|2134|sqmi|km2|adj=on}} operating area. In addition to the bases, maintenance of the fleet and operation of the system are supported by several other facilities.

==Security==

The Metro Transit Police Department is a unit of the [[King County Sheriff's Office]] that provides security and law enforcement onboard Metro buses and at the agency's facilities. {{As of|2025}}, it has 65 officers out of 79 budgeted positions. Metro also contracts with private firms to provide uniformed [[security guard]]s.<ref name="Times-Security">{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=January 13, 2025 |title=King County talks potential changes after fatal stabbing of bus driver |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/king-county-talks-potential-changes-after-fatal-stabbing-of-bus-driver/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 14, 2025}}</ref> Under a former contractor, security guards were trained to not physically intervene in criminal activity. The beating of a teenage girl at Westlake station in January 2010 drew criticism and national attention due to the lack of intervention by security guards present at the scene.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=February 10, 2010 |title=After tunnel beating, Metro wants guards to do more |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/after-tunnel-beating-metro-wants-guards-to-do-more/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=November 30, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Yardley |first=William |date=February 15, 2010 |title=In Wake of a Beating That Guards Watched, Seattle Tries to Mend Its Image |page=A9 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/15/us/15seattle.html |work=The New York Times |url-access=subscription |accessdate=November 30, 2025}}</ref> In response, [[Securitas AB|Securitas]] was hired by the county government in April 2010 to provide security services at Metro facilities.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Gene |date=January 21, 2011 |title=Seattle bus tunnel security firm cited |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattle-bus-tunnel-security-firm-cited/ |work=The Seattle Times |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=November 30, 2025}}</ref> Following the 2024 stabbing of an operator in the University District, Metro proposed the adoption of separate compartments for bus drivers in newer buses that are scheduled to arrive in 2026.<ref name="Times-Security"/> The existing [[sneeze guard]]s installed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic are planned to be replaced on most buses with a more solid barrier.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=February 4, 2025 |title=King County Metro unveils latest idea for keeping bus drivers safer |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/king-county-metro-unveils-latest-idea-for-keeping-bus-drivers-safer/ |accessdate=February 4, 2025}}</ref>

==Funding==

The adopted 2025 budget for King County allocated $2.12{{nbsp}}billion to Metro for operating and capital expenses related to its transit services. These include non-Metro services that the agency operates on behalf of other agencies.<ref name="Budget2025">{{cite web |date=September 2024 |title=2025 Budget, Executive Proposed: Executive Summary |pages=7–8, 21 |url=https://cdn.kingcounty.gov/-/media/king-county/depts/executive/performance-strategy-budget/budget/2025/2025-proposed-budget-book/2025budget-execsumm-booklet-final.pdf?rev=76b5f87942874d6aa70f4e8ecbe63ff9&hash=867F4F97315A1834A39306FFBECBB1C8 |publisher=Office of the King County Executive |accessdate=January 28, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Budget2025Packet">{{cite web |date=October 15, 2024 |title=Budget and Fiscal Management Committee Panel 1 Meeting Materials |pages=22–23 |url=https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/council/agendas/Budget_TCLI/20241015-Panel1-packet.pdf |publisher=Metropolitan King County Council |accessdate=January 28, 2025}}</ref> King County Metro is the sole metropolitan county transit agency in Washington and is authorized by the state legislature to collect a [[sales tax]] of 0.9{{nbsp}}percent across King County.<ref>{{cite web |title=Local Transit Authorities and Funding Sources |url=https://mrsc.org/explore-topics/government-organization/special-districts/local-transit-authorities |publisher=[[Municipal Research and Services Center]] |accessdate=January 28, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Groover |first=Heidi |date=February 27, 2020 |title=New sales tax for Metro bus service? It could be on the August ballot |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/a-sales-tax-for-metro-bus-service-could-come-to-the-august-ballot-but-details-remain-murky/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 28, 2025}}</ref> Prior to the 1999 approval of Initiative 695, the agency also collected a [[motor vehicle excise tax]] from the state government.<ref name="Finances2014">{{cite web |date=February 2014 |title=Metro Transit's finances: an overview |url=https://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/future/pdfs/20140321-metro-finances.pdf |publisher=King County Metro |accessdate=January 28, 2025}}</ref> The sales tax is Metro's primary funding source, comprising 55.8{{nbsp}}percent of anticipated revenue in 2025, followed by payments from Sound Transit.<ref name="Budget2025Packet"/> The agency derives approximately 9{{nbsp}}percent of its [[farebox recovery ratio|revenue from fares]].<ref name="Times-FaresMar"/><ref name="Budget2025"/>

[[Bus advertising]], primarily in the form of vehicle wraps and banners, comprises a portion of Metro's revenue. The agency prohibits the sale of advertising space for political campaigns and public or social issues.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Natural-gas ads shouldn't have gone on buses, King County Metro Transit says |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/fossil-fuel-ads-on-a-bus-no-thank-you-king-county-says/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 28, 2025}}</ref> The policy was challenged as a violation of [[freedom of speech]] by organizations that had their requests to advertise on Metro buses rejected.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dolan |first=Maura |date=March 18, 2015 |title=Court rules Seattle did not violate free speech in rejecting anti-Israel ad |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-seattle-transit-free-speech-20150318-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |accessdate=January 28, 2025}}</ref> A 2016 lawsuit from the [[American Freedom Defense Initiative]] was decided in Metro's favor by the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit|Ninth Circuit of Appeals]] and was declined to be heard by the [[United States Supreme Court]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Doyle |first=Michael |date=March 7, 2016 |title=Supreme Court lets King County reject transit ads targeting 'jihadis' |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/supreme-court-lets-king-county-reject-transit-ads-targeting-jihadis/ |work=The Seattle Times |agency=[[Tribune News Service]] |accessdate=January 28, 2025}}</ref>

===Operating costs===
{{update|section|date=May 2015}} 
The cost per boarding for Metro was $4.10 in 2005, compared to $2.50 among the country's 15 largest transit agencies and $2.97, the national average. Metro's cost per boarding is 38% above the national average.<ref name="MuniReview08">[http://www.munileague.org/about-us/press-releases/Metro%20Report.pdf Review of Metro Transit, Municipal League of King County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721071500/http://www.munileague.org/about-us/press-releases/Metro%20Report.pdf |date=July 21, 2011 }} (November 2008)</ref>

Metro's higher-than-average cost per boarding can be at least partially attributed to its high percentage of commuter routes, which run at peak hours only, and often only in one direction at a time. As of 2011, 100 of Metro's 223 routes are peak-only. These routes require significant [[Dead mileage|deadheading]] (particularly on the one-way routes), as well as a very large [[Part-time job|part-time]] labor force, both of which drive up costs.<ref>[http://www.transportchicago.org/uploads/5/7/2/0/5720074/7-the_case_for_peak_pricing_on_public_transit.pdf Public Transit and the Time Based Fare Structure] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324021817/http://www.transportchicago.org/uploads/5/7/2/0/5720074/7-the_case_for_peak_pricing_on_public_transit.pdf |date=March 24, 2012 }}, p29-32, sections "Peaked Demand for Transit Service Creates Operational Inefficiencies", "Scheduling Labor to Accommodate Peak Demand is More Expensive", & "Part-Time Transit Employees May Cost More in Long Run"</ref>

Metro's lowest-cost route overall, route 4 (East Queen Anne to Judkins Park), had a cost per boarding of only $0.46 during peak hours in 2009. By way of contrast, Metro's peak-only route with the lowest cost per boarding was route 206 (Newport Hills to International School), at $2.04. Metro's highest cost route by this measure, route 149 (Renton Transit Center to Black Diamond), had a peak time cost of $34.47 per boarding. Route 149 serves the rural southeastern corner of King County.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/reports/2009/2009-RtPerf.pdf |title=2009 route performance report |access-date=May 5, 2011 |archive-date=May 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501111304/http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/reports/2009/2009-RtPerf.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2007 it cost $3.64 per boarding to deliver service in the West (Seattle) subarea, $4.79 in the South subarea and $7.27 in the East subarea of King County.<ref name="MuniReview08" /> At the end of 2008, the systemwide cost per boarding was $3.70.<ref name='metrofacts'>{{cite web |url=http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/MetroTransit/Facts.aspx |title=Facts |access-date=July 9, 2009 |date=April 16, 2009 |publisher=King County Metro |archive-date=August 18, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090818000352/http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/MetroTransit/Facts.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Transit Now===
In April 2006, King County Executive [[Ron Sims]] announced a program entitled "Transit Now" that provided for a 20 percent increase in transit service by the end of 2016 over 2006 service levels, measured in annual operating hours. In order to realize this growth, Transit Now proposed an increase in the local option sales tax for transit of one-tenth of one percent. The Transit Now ordinance,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/transitnow/ordinance.pdf |title=King County Ordinance 15582 |access-date=April 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410164024/http://www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/transitnow/ordinance.pdf |archive-date=April 10, 2008 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> passed by the King County Council on September 5, 2006, and signed by Executive Sims on September 11, 2006, forwarded the tax proposition to the voters and identified the programs to which operating revenue generated from the sales tax increase could be appropriated. The measure was approved by 56.62% of King County voters in the November 2007 general election. The service programs identified in the ordinance are as follows:

# Implementation of RapidRide routes in five arterial corridors.
# Increase service on high-ridership routes that provide frequent, two-way connections throughout the agency's service area.
# Service for growing areas in outlying suburban/[exurban] areas.
# Partnerships with cities and major employers to provide more service than could otherwise be provided through typical resources.
# Additional improvements such as expanded ride-share and paratransit services in King County.

=== Seattle Proposition 1 (2014) ===
In November 2014, Seattle voters passed Proposition 1 with 59% support. It uses $45&nbsp;million in new annual funds from a 0.1% sales tax raise and a $60 annual car-tab fee to add King County Metro bus service within the City of Seattle.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lindblom|first1=Mike|title=Metro bus service to get boost with passage of Prop. 1|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/metro-bus-service-to-get-boost-with-passage-of-prop-1/|access-date=May 17, 2015|work=The Seattle Times|date=November 4, 2014|archive-date=September 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916171426/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/metro-bus-service-to-get-boost-with-passage-of-prop-1/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Technology==
Collaborating with several local jurisdictions, Metro was an early adopter of [[Bus priority|Transit Signal Priority]] (TSP), a system that can extend [[traffic signal|green lights]] to allow buses to get through. The system can boost average speeds as much as 8% and is in use on several of the city's busiest corridors, including Aurora Avenue North, Rainier Avenue S and Lake City Way NE.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/archives/2001/tsp.html|title=Transit Signal Priority tests a success,more signal synchronization planned countywide|access-date=February 14, 2009|date=February 15, 2001|publisher=King County Department of Transportation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529185027/http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/archives/2001/tsp.html|archive-date=May 29, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The system uses RFID tags that are read as buses approach a TSP equipped intersection. In 1998, the fleet was updated with an [[Automatic Vehicle Location]] (AVL) system that utilizes battery-powered beacons that read the RFID tags and communicate the buses' location to Metro.

In 2010, the AVL system was replaced with a GPS-based system as part of a system-wide radio update.<ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008597809_snowresponse07m0.html City never responded to Metro's request to plow routes, bus chief says] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414013727/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008597809_snowresponse07m0.html |date=April 14, 2009 }}. Emily Heffter. Seattle Times. January 7, 2009. Accessed May 6, 2009.</ref> As a part of the radio update Metro also added automated next stop signs and announcements to all buses.<ref>Page 3. [http://your.kingcounty.gov/kcdot/aboutus/intransit/InTransit_08Jul-Aug.pdf  In Transit Newsletter, July/August 2008 issue]{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. King County Department of Transportation.</ref>

In 2010, Metro rolled out a new [[Internet Protocol|IP]] network based ITS infrastructure for its [[RapidRide]] service. Buses will communicate with roadside equipment using [[802.11]] wireless technology on the 4.9 [[GHz]] public safety band. A [[Optical fiber|fiber optic]] [[Backhaul (telecommunications)|backhaul]] connects access points and roadside equipment together to Metro's Communication Center. The system will extend the legacy RFID-based TSP system. It will also be used in conjunction with GPS technology to provide frequent and accurate location updates for next bus arrival signs at RapidRide stations.

The extent of Metro's application of [[intelligent transportation systems]] (ITS) for transit information available for customers has been limited to a few projects: 
* An early project called MyBus by the [[University of Washington]] (UW) utilized the tracking data to provide real-time bus information. This is now hosted by Metro under the name Tracker. An improved version of MyBus called [[OneBusAway]], developed by UW graduate students Brian Ferris and Kari Watkins, combines Tracker information with Google Maps. OneBusAway continued to be maintained by the University of Washington Department of Computer Science, until a new nonprofit organization was founded to house and administer it in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://opentransitsoftwarefoundation.org/overview/history/ |title=Open Transit Software Foundation History |date=January 11, 2015 |access-date=November 14, 2019 |publisher=Open Transit Software Foundation |archive-date=November 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114231140/https://opentransitsoftwarefoundation.org/overview/history/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Transit Watch displays, like those found in [[Public transport timetables#Dynamic displays|airports and major train stations]], are installed at some transit centers and transfer points to show real-time bus arrival information.
*A pilot project provided bus information displays along a city arterial. Metro discontinued the project in 2005, citing the cost of maintenance and technical problems.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/archives/2005/ledonaurora.html |title=Pilot Project for Real-time Bus Information System on Aurora Avenue North |access-date=February 14, 2009 |date=July 12, 2005 |publisher=King County Department of Transportation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529190912/http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/archives/2005/ledonaurora.html |archive-date=May 29, 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>
* Metro has a regional trip planner that provides itineraries for transit trips within King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, including those on Sound Transit services, Washington State Ferries, the Seattle Center Monorail, and the Seattle Streetcar. [[Google Maps]] also provides trip planning using schedule data as part of their [[Google Transit]] service.

===ORCA Card===
{{Main|ORCA card}}
Metro is a participating agency in the regional smart card program called '''ORCA''' ('''O'''ne '''R'''egional '''C'''ard for '''A'''ll). It was launched for public use on April 20, 2009, along with six other transit agencies in the region.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/NewsCenter/NewsReleases/2009/April/nr041709_orca.aspx |title=ORCA smart card limited rollout gets underway |access-date=May 4, 2009 |archive-date=September 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918104415/http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/NewsCenter/NewsReleases/2009/April/nr041709_orca.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=ORCA: FAQ|url=http://www.orcacard.com/ERG-Seattle/p3_001.do?m=3|access-date=January 24, 2012|archive-date=January 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126063403/https://www.orcacard.com/ERG-Seattle/p3_001.do?m=3|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Bus stop technology===
RapidRide stations as well as major bus stops in Downtown Seattle are also receiving what Metro calls a "Tech Pylon", a free standing wireless-capable kiosk, that has next bus arrival signs and an ORCA validator for off-board fare payment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://depts.washington.edu/itswa/2k8MtgPres/AnnualMtg/KCM_ITS_presentation%20for%20ITS%20WA.ppt |title=King County Metro Transit ITS |access-date=May 6, 2009 |date=December 12, 2008 |format=ppt |publisher=King County Department of Transportation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604225553/http://depts.washington.edu/itswa/2k8MtgPres/AnnualMtg/KCM_ITS_presentation%20for%20ITS%20WA.ppt |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.region43.org/documents/700MHz/20090429MeetingSlides.ppt |title=King County Metro Transit ITS |access-date=May 6, 2009 |date=April 29, 2009 |format=ppt |publisher=Region 43 Regional Review Committees - State of Washington |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727210428/http://www.region43.org/documents/700MHz/20090429MeetingSlides.ppt |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Fleet==
{{Main|King County Metro fleet}}

As of 2024, King County Metro operates with a total of 1,433 buses. <ref>{{Cite web |last=<!-- not stated --> |date=August 1, 2024 |title=Transit Development Plan 2024-2029 |url=https://cdn.kingcounty.gov/-/media/king-county/depts/metro/documents/about/data-and-reports/2024/transit-development-plan-2024-2029.pdf?rev=e4eeb04d5e4845caac1fa8ed63336ec8&hash=616CE5982F0092DA8E0006AA289C10F5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250523104259/https://cdn.kingcounty.gov/-/media/king-county/depts/metro/documents/about/data-and-reports/2024/transit-development-plan-2024-2029.pdf?rev=e4eeb04d5e4845caac1fa8ed63336ec8&hash=616CE5982F0092DA8E0006AA289C10F5 |archive-date=May 23, 2025 |access-date=May 23, 2025 |website=King County Metro |page=6}}</ref> The fleet includes a mix of electric trolleybuses, diesel-electric hybrids, and battery electric buses. Buses range in size from {{convert|35|ft|m|adj=mid}} shuttles to {{convert|60|ft|m|adj=mid}}, [[articulated bus]]es on higher-demand routes.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 2015 |title=King County Metro Service Guidelines Resource Notebook |page=10.18 |url=https://metro.kingcounty.gov/advisory-groups/service-guidelines-task-force/pdf/notebook/10-notebook-metro-background.pdf |publisher=King County Metro |accessdate=September 27, 2023}}</ref> The buses are painted in separate colors based on their vehicle type and intended services, with purple reserved for electric trolleybuses and red for RapidRide. The current livery and color scheme was adopted in 2004 and is intended to be replaced in 2025 with the introduction of a larger [[battery electric bus|battery electric]] fleet.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Al |date=September 27, 2023 |title=A 'New Energy' arrives as Executive Constantine unveils new colors for Metro's electric fleet |url=https://kingcountymetro.blog/2023/09/27/a-new-energy-arrives-as-executive-constantine-unveils-new-colors-for-metros-electric-fleet/ |work=Metro Matters |publisher=King County Metro |accessdate=September 27, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=September 27, 2023 |title=Metro's battery-powered buses come in a new, shocking palette |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/metros-battery-powered-buses-come-in-a-new-shocking-palette/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=September 27, 2023}}</ref>

In 1978, Metro was the first large transit agency to order high-capacity [[articulated bus]]es (buses with a rotating joint).<ref>{{cite web|last=Oldham|first=Kit|title=Metro: Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle|url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7813|date=June 18, 2006|work=[[HistoryLink]]|access-date=January 20, 2014|archive-date=December 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202234334/http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7813|url-status=live}}</ref> Today, King County Metro has one of the largest articulated fleets in [[North America]] (second only to [[MTA New York City Transit]]) and articulated buses account for about 42% of the agency's fleet.<ref name="2012 Report" />

In 1979, the agency ordered some of the first [[wheelchair lift]] equipped coaches in the nation,<ref>{{cite web|last=Voris|first=Michael|title=The evolution of Metro buses - video transcript|url=http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/vehicles/boneyardtour-060308.html|work=Metro Online|publisher=King County Metro|access-date=January 20, 2014|archive-date=February 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219154941/http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/vehicles/boneyardtour-060308.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Crowley|first=Walt|title=Routes: an interpretive history of public transportation in metropolitan Seattle|year=1993|publisher=Crowley Associates|location=Seattle|pages=2, 3}}</ref> promising a completely new level of independence for [[disabled]] residents. Early lifts were severely flawed, but by the mid-1980s the lifts were generally reliable and were ordered on all new buses. Metro's entire fleet has been wheelchair-accessible since 1999 and all new buses have been [[low-floor]] since their introduction in 2003. The final high-floor buses were retired in 2020.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

==See also==
* [[Eclipse (dog)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|King County Metro Transit}}

*{{official website|https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/metro}}
*[http://www.mehva.org Metro Employees Historic Vehicle Association] (MEHVA)

{{Puget Sound Transit}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:King County Metro| ]]
[[Category:Sound Transit]]
[[Category:Bus transportation in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Government of King County, Washington|Metro]]
[[Category:Transit authorities with alternative-fuel vehicles]]
[[Category:Transportation in King County, Washington]]
[[Category:Transportation in Seattle]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1973]]
[[Category:1973 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Transit agencies in Washington (state)]]