Transit Services Set to Increase Over 520 Bridge
Seattle Transit Blog reports that beginning in October, Metro and Sound Transit will extend their service routes to provide an alternative to paying a toll once the SR 520 bridge becomes a
toll bridge next spring. Metro will add service to routes 255, 265, 271, and 311; Sound Transit will debut a new express route (542) between the University District and Redmond.
Via Seattle Transit Blog (emphasis mine):
According to the SR 520 and SR 522 Service Implementation Plan, tolls are expected to increase transit demand by 15-35%. A recent poll suggests that tolls will encourage transit use, with 16% of respondents choosing transit as one of many alternatives to tolls. That figure increases to 22% if both 520 and I-90 were tolled. Currently, 15,000 riders cross the 520 bridge every day. Routes 255 and 271 together provide 4,300 crosslake trips each weekday.
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