King County Metro is cranking up bus service and flipping the switch on systemwide all-door boarding this Saturday, giving riders earlier mornings, later nights and more weekend options across the Eastside and south King County just as the region’s light-rail network prepares to plug in a new Crosslake connection over Lake Washington.
we can help with that. increased services begin this weekend. learn more https://t.co/GyoSpDy0kg.
— King County Metro 🚏 (@kingcountymetro) March 25, 2026
According to King County Metro, the March service change lets riders board through any door on every bus and adds hundreds of additional weekly trips that stretch service earlier, later and deeper into the weekend on Eastside and south King County routes. Buses are now fitted with ORCA readers at every door, installed with a 5 million dollar investment from Amazon, so riders can tap using ORCA cards, mobile wallets or a credit or debit card.
Why It Matters
The timing is no accident. Sound Transit is scheduled to open the 2 Line Crosslake Connection this weekend, creating new direct light-rail service between downtown Seattle and the Eastside, and Metro officials say the bus upgrades are designed to tighten transfers to those new stations. Sound Transit confirms the Crosslake Connection’s March 28 opening, and county leaders told KIRO-TV the rollout is also meant to help the region absorb a packed summer events calendar, including FIFA World Cup matches.
What Riders Will Notice
Metro’s change list runs for pages, but the headline moves land on the Eastside. Route 8 will be rerouted to serve Judkins Park Station, Route 223 will run every 20 minutes at midday, Route 225 will start serving Overlake Station and double its frequency, and Routes 240 and 250 will add trips and tighten daytime headways. The update also stretches early-morning and late-night trips on several south King County routes to improve connections with the 1 Line. According to King County Metro, this is the first phase of changes ahead of a larger service update planned for August.
How To Pay And What To Expect
Once the new system goes live, riders should be ready to tap at any door. ORCA readers are now installed across the fleet and accept ORCA cards and contactless payments, which officials say will speed boarding at busy transfer points and transit centers. Local coverage notes that Metro received a 5 million dollar contribution from Amazon to install the readers, and Capitol Hill Seattle has summarized the payment rollout and funding details.
Riders can get into the weeds if they want to. Full timetables, stop maps and translated schedules are posted on Metro’s service-change page, and new teal paper timetables are being stocked on buses and at transit centers. King County Metro’s service change page includes maps, downloadable schedules and route-by-route notes.
