On the morning of Monday, June 8, the City of Mercer Island and King County Metro will launch a new commuter oriented, weekday shuttle service to replace the terminated 202/205 routes.

The new Metro Route 630 is jointly funded by the City of Mercer Island, Metro and the City of Seattle, and will operate five trips to downtown Seattle during the morning rush hour, and five trips back home again in the evening.

The 19-person vehicle will look like a small Metro shuttle bus, and come equipped with a wheelchair lift, a two-slot bike rack in front, and an ORCA card reader. In addition to scheduled service, flexible service will be offered in the Shorewood neighborhood. Riders can call ahead for a ride off the route.

Former 202 and 205 riders are hoping for the best.

“Many of us former 202 and 205 bus riders have been following the development of the new 630 service and are very much looking forward to next Monday.  How well it will serve Mercer Island bus commuters is yet to be seen, but even if there are some initial glitches and, if required, some schedule and route modifications over time, most of the riders I know are deeply appreciative of the City Council’s efforts on this,” said long-time 202-rider, Don Cohen.

But there are a few holes.

The UW 205 riders can use the 630 as a single bus to downtown, Cohen noted, but they still have to transfer to another bus to get to the UW, unlike the (old) 205 service.

Another issue is that there will still not be any weekend service for people who don’t drive, or would prefer taking the bus, even to events like the Farmer’s Market.

Mayor Bruce Bassett said the shuttle is a start.

“This new service is an exciting first step in rebuilding our local access to transit. We appreciate Metro’s dedication to finding creative solutions and Seattle’s willingness to share costs. I hope all Islanders will take advantage of the route and make it a success,” Bassett said.

About the Metro Route 630 shuttle

• 30-minute service will operate between 6:10-8:13 a.m. and 4:02-6:32 p.m. weekdays.
• Riders will be able to plan their trip using Metro’s online Trip Planner and track location status real time.
• The shuttle will accept standard Metro fares.

Another travel benefit is coming this summer when an additional flexible rideshare option is launched for Mercer Island riders looking for a new way to get to the Mercer Island Park-and-Ride. The shared commuter van service, driven by volunteers who are commuters themselves, will provide an additional commute choice while helping to reduce park-and-ride overcrowding. Drivers and riders will use a mobile phone app to book trips. TripPool will be free for drivers and free for riders already paying for their transit trip with an ORCA card.

Metro and the city of Mercer Island are also exploring the concept of a community van that could provide local service throughout the day to a variety of destinations on the island using an online scheduling system, according to a Metro press release.

Learn more about Metro’s Alternative Services program by visiting its website.