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South Link Connections
With Link light rail expanded farther south with three new stations in Kent/Des Moines, Star Lake and downtown Federal Way, the South Link Connections project aims to improve public transportation options for communities in south King County. Metro has worked with Sound Transit Opens in a new tab and other partners to create a new transit network based on community feedback.
Project overview
New Link light rail stations are now open in Kent Des Moines, Star Lake, and Federal Way Downtown.
To improve the transit network for everyone, Metro began a project for the south King County communities of Algona, Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Normandy Park, Pacific, SeaTac, Tukwila and parts of unincorporated King County. This project will create a new transit network that connects Metro buses with Link light rail, ST Express buses and Pierce Transit services in King County. Metro is working together with Sound Transit and other transit agencies and cities on this effort.
Learn more about proposed changes to ST Express buses
Project goals
- Improve travel options for priority populations (as defined by the Metro’s adopted policies).
- Engage and inform the community about transit changes.
- Offer integrated services that meet community needs.
- Enhance the overall efficiency and sustainability of the transit network.
Quick definitions
A fixed-route service with the flexibility to pick up and drop off passengers in requested locations specific to their area. Usually a small bus.
The number of minutes between bus trips.
Bus service scheduled to run approximately every 15 minutes or better from 6 am to 7 pm on weekdays, and every 30 minutes or better on evenings and weekends.
An on–demand transit service that provides rides within multiple King County neighborhoods. Riders can book rides using the Metro Flex smartphone app or with a phone call to the reservation line.
Transit service that operates during peak travel periods (from 6 to 9 am and from 3 to 7 pm on weekdays).
Community members who are Black, Indigenous and of color; have low or no income; are immigrants or refugees; have disabilities; or are linguistically diverse.
Sound Transit
All types of public transportation in an area that work together to help people travel. This includes bus, rail, train, flexible services, etc.
Project mobility priorities
Metro gathered community feedback in multiple ways in Phase 1 and worked with the Mobility Board to set the five main priorities below. Metro used these priorities to inform the proposed changes to the transit network.
Greater transit coverage
Improved early morning and nighttime service
Faster travel times within and beyond the project area
Improved east-west transit connections
Increased weekend service, especially on Saturdays
Metro will continue working with our partners on other identified needs, including:
- Maintaining and improving bus frequencies.
- Enhancing midday service during weekdays.
- Making transfers easier within the South Link Connections project area.
- Improving safety and comfort at transit stops and on buses/trains.
- Increasing reliability and on-time trips.
Final network proposal
Metro used community feedback from all three engagement phases, service design best practices, and equity considerations to develop the final proposal for updating the transit network in south King County.
Key points of the final network proposal
- New transit connections: Adds new and improved connections to Link light rail stations.
- More all-day service: More all-day service: Invests in bus routes that operate all day, every day. There will be 51% more trips on weekdays and 72% more on weekends.
- Expanded weekend service: Introduces new Saturday and Sunday service and increases weekend frequency on main pathways. More specifically, there would be new weekend service in Burien, new Sunday service between Kent and Federal Way, and more frequent weekend services between Kent Des Moines Station, Kent Station, Kent East Hill and Green River College. The final network proposal would provide 57% more trips on Saturday and almost twice as many trips on Sunday when compared to today.
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Stronger east–west travel:
Improves essential east-west routes connecting major destinations across the area including:
- Highline College, Kent Station and Green River College
- Twin Lakes Park & Ride, Federal Way Downtown Station and Auburn Station
- New on-demand options: Launches two new Metro Flex on-demand pilot services in Federal Way and Auburn.
- Faster service: Updates bus routes between west Federal Way and downtown Federal Way to make this connection quicker, more direct and easier to navigate.
- Simplified network: To reduce service that is now covered by Link light rail and reinvest transit hours where they’re needed most, we proposed to remove: 122*, 123*, 154*, 157*, 162, 165 (entirely replaced by Routes 164/166), 177, 178*, 179*, 190*, 197*, DART 901. Additionally, Route 193 is proposed for trip reductions, with one less morning and one less afternoon trip.
*Routes that are currently suspended/not operating.
Tap or select the map to enlarge and explore the proposed network or view the comparison with the current network.
Service changes by type
New service
New bus routes and Metro Flex options.
Bus routes: 164, 166, DART 902
Metro Flex: Federal Way pilot, South Auburn pilot
Improved service
More frequent service, longer service hours and/or improved reliability.
Bus routes: 168, 181, 182, 183, DART 631, DART 903, RapidRide A Line
Changed routes
Routes that will change or return to service to better match travel patterns.
Bus routes: 121, 156, 187, 193
Removed routes
Some routes are removed to reduce doubling up of service and to reinvest hours in other places.
Bus routes: 122*, 123*, 154*, 157*, 162, 165, 177, 178*, 179*, 190*, 197*, DART 901
*Routes that are currently suspended/not operating
Service changes by route
| Route sheet | Description |
|---|---|
| 121 Serves Burien, downtown Seattle |
Burien Transit Center to downtown Seattle via E Marginal Way
Restored and pathway revised. Service provided in both directions during the peak hours. |
| 156 Serves Kent, Des Moines, SeaTac, Tukwila |
Kent Des Moines Station to Southcenter via Des Moines and
SeaTac Station
Improved with more trips every day of the week. Will connect with Link light rail at Kent Des Moines Station and have a more direct route through McMicken Heights. |
| 164 Serves Des Moines, Kent, Auburn |
Kent Des Moines Station to Green River College via Kent
Station
New frequent route with more trips every day of the week. Replaces part of Route 165. Will connect with Link light rail at Kent Des Moines Station. Some trips will become Route 166 trips for riders traveling beyond Kent Des Moines Station. See how routes 164 and 166 will operate |
| 166 Serves Des Moines, Normandy Park, Burien |
Kent Des Moines Station to Burien Transit Center via Des
Moines and Normandy Park
New peak-frequent route with more trips every day of the week. Replaces part of Route 165. Will connect with Link light rail at Kent Des Moines Station. All trips will become Route 164 trips for riders traveling beyond Kent Des Moines Station. See how routes 164 and 166 will operate |
| 168 Serves Kent, Covington, Maple Valley |
Kent Station to Maple Valley via Covington and Kent East Hill
Improved with more trips during the weekday peak periods. All trips will be connected to trips on Route 161. |
| 181 Serves Federal Way, Auburn |
Twin Lakes Park and Ride to Green River College via Federal
Way Downtown Station, Outlet Collection Seattle and Auburn
Station
Improved frequent route with more trips every day of the week. Will connect to Link light rail at Federal Way Downtown Station. |
| 182 Serves Federal Way, Tacoma |
Federal Way Downtown Station to northeast Tacoma
Improved with more trips every day of the week. Will connect to Link light rail at Federal Way Downtown Station. |
| 183 Serves Federal Way, Kent |
Federal Way Downtown Station to Kent Station via Star Lake
Station
Improved with new Sunday service and more trips on weekdays and Saturdays. Will connect with Link light rail at Federal Way Downtown and Star Lake Stations. |
| 187 Serves Federal Way |
Federal Way Downtown Station to Twin Lakes via Southwest 320th
Street
Revised two-way service on 320th Street between Federal Way Downtown Station and Northshore QFC/Shopping Center. More weekday and weekend trips. Will connect to Link light rail at Federal Way Downtown Station. |
| 193 Serves Federal Way, Tukwila, Seattle |
Federal Way Downtown Station to First Hill (Seattle) via
Tukwila Park & Ride
Revised to begin and end at Federal Way Downtown Station. Removing one AM and one PM trip to better match demand. |
| 631 Serves Burien |
Burien Transit Center to Gregory Heights via Highline Medical
Center
Improved with new weekend service. |
| 902 Serves Federal Way |
Federal Way Downtown Station to south Federal Way
New DART route. Partially replaces DART Route 901 with more trips every day of the week. Will connect to Link light rail at Federal Way Downtown Station. |
| 903 Serves Federal Way |
Federal Way Downtown Station to Twin Lakes via south Federal
Way
Improved with more trips every day of the week. Will connect to Link light rail at Federal Way Downtown Station. |
| RapidRide A Line Serves Federal Way, Des Moines, Kent, SeaTac, Tukwila |
Federal Way Downtown Station to Tukwila International
Boulevard Station
Will connect to Link light rail at Federal Way Downtown Station and Kent Des Moines Station. Will continue to serve Link at Angle Lake, SeaTac/Airport and Tukwila International Boulevard Stations. |
| South Auburn Metro Flex Pilot Serves Auburn | New Metro Flex pilot zone providing on-demand service Monday through Friday. Serving areas south of State Route 18, east of A Street Southeast, north of the White River and west of Auburn Way South/Forest Villa Manor. Includes Auburn Station and Riverside High School. |
| Federal Way Metro Flex Pilot Serves Federal Way, Auburn | New Metro Flex pilot zone providing on-demand service Monday through Friday. Serving Federal Way Downtown Station, Laurelwood south of South 288th Street and West Hill south of South 298th Street, west of West Valley Highway North, and north of State Route 18. |
| Federal Way Link Extension Serves Des Moines, Kent, Federal Way | Three new light rail stations: Kent Des Moines, Star Lake and Federal Way Downtown |
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March to May 2024
Phase 1: Needs assessment
During the first phase of engagement, Metro shared information about the project overview. We gathered information about service needs by reviewing existing data and reports from recent engagement, survey feedback, in-person engagements, conversations with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and input from our Partner Review Board and Mobility Board. We analyzed the feedback to find common themes and worked with the Mobility Board to identify key priorities. These priorities helped shape the draft service plan, which we shared for public feedback in the second phase.
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Winter 2024 to 2025
Phase 2: Service concepts
During the second phase of engagement, Metro shared proposed route changes based on Phase 1 feedback. We collected feedback on the proposed changes to better understand community priorities and how they should guide any updates to the plan. We gathered direct feedback from surveys, in-person engagement and conversations with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). We informed people about how to get involved through social media campaigns, blog posts in different languages, ads in diverse media, Transit Alerts via text and email, Rider Alert signs at bus stops and transit centers and online and print information in multiple languages. We brought together the Mobility Board and Partner Review Board to talk about the impacts of Phase 2 on equity, what we learned from community engagement, and the main pros and cons of different transit network options.
Phase 2 Engagement Summary -
Summer 2025
Phase 3: Service proposal
In the final phase of engagement, Metro shared updated service plans with the public, explaining how community input from Phase 2 influenced these updates. We gathered feedback on how to improve the plans before finalizing them. We also summarized the earlier phases of the project, explained how community feedback shaped the final plan and discussed the next steps. Metro worked with the Mobility Board and Partner Review Board to finalize the South Link Connections proposal in the fall of 2025. The King County Council is expected to take action in early 2026.
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Early 2026
Current phase
Final Network submitted to the King County Council
In early 2026, the King County Executive plans to submit a final ordinance package for the proposed South Link Connections network investments to the King County Council for consideration and a vote. The King County Council is expected to take action in Spring 2026.
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March and August 2026
Service Change Implementation
Metro implements major changes twice a year, in March and August. Since the Federal Way Link Extension opened in December 2025, Metro is planning minor service changes aligned with the South Link Connections final network proposal for the March 2026 service change. These changes focus on connecting routes to new stations and expanding the hours of service.
Pending approval by the King County Council, implementation of the remaining planned changes would begin with the August 2026 service change. Implementation with each Metro service change is based on workforce capacity to ensure service is delivered reliably, which may require changes to happen in phases. More information on when specific changes will happen will be available on Metro’s Service Change website. Service changes are also announced on the Metro Matters blog. Sign up to receive updates.
Ways to participate
Through a deliberate, transparent three-phase community engagement process, Metro removed barriers and provided opportunities for South King County communities to express their transit needs and to have a meaningful role in shaping Metro’s route changes. Metro worked with local communities, particularly priority populations who have been historically left out of decision-making conversations and disproportionately impacted by these decisions, using meaningful, inclusive and community-driven approaches. We worked together to inform, gather feedback, evaluate and decide the best route changes for South King County communities.
During the engagement process, Metro met with external stakeholders who served as a concept review board, known as the Partner Review Board. The Board included representatives from local jurisdictions and major institutions in the project area, leaders of community-based organizations and representatives from partner transit agencies. The Partner Review Board’s primary role was to review and provide comments on service concepts developed by the Mobility Board.
During phase 1, Metro formed a South Link Connections Mobility Board, representative of the project area and equitably representing groups of people historically left out of decision-making conversations related to transit and disproportionately affected by these decisions. The Mobility Board’s primary role is to collaborate with Metro staff to develop and refine a coordinated transit network in South King County.
During the engagement process, Metro met with external stakeholders who served as a concept review board, known as the Partner Review Board. The Board included representatives from local jurisdictions and major institutions in the project area, leaders of community-based organizations and representatives from partner transit agencies. The Partner Review Board’s primary role was to review and provide comments on service concepts developed by the Mobility Board.
Equity Impact Review
The South Link Connections project includes an Equity Impact Review (EIR) study to ensure proposed route changes will improve mobility and access to transportation for historically underserved populations in King County. At each phase of the planning process, Metro reviewed technical data and results from engagement with priority populations to understand the anticipated impact on underserved communities and inform planning decisions.
The EIR analysis, community engagement feedback and service design best practices all informed the proposed changes in the South Link Connections project.
Resource library
Phase 1 resources
Phase 2 resources
Phase 3 resources
Final network resources
Additional resources
Contact us
Please reach out to us in your preferred language by email at: haveasay@kingcounty.gov
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