Summary

Executive Constantine led the celebration of a new Metro Transit shuttle service that will connect a thriving new business park in Des Moines to Sound Transit’s Angle Lake light rail station.

Story

King County Executive Dow Constantine today led the celebration for a new Metro Transit commuter shuttle that connects Sound Transit Link light rail to an emerging business park in Des Moines.

Metro Transit’s Des Moines Community Shuttle will connect the Angle Lake light rail station to the new Des Moines Creek Business Park, which is now home to several major employers. The new Federal Aviation Administration’s regional headquarters alone will bring an additional 1,600 employees to the business park, which until now did not have a direct connection to Sound Transit Link light rail.

"Our new shuttle connecting Des Moines' thriving new business park to high-capacity light rail represents a nimble, responsive transit system that better connects our region -- one that promotes sustainable economic growth and improves the quality of life for the people of King County," said Executive Constantine. "We are creating innovative partnerships that meet the specific transit needs of communities, and integrating Metro and Sound Transit service to deliver the most value to our customers."

The new shuttle service is one of eight new Community Connections projects initiated in 2017. Metro Transit worked closely with the city of Des Moines and employers in and near the new business park to develop a transit service for the 2,600 additional workers expected in the next few years.

The Des Moines Community Shuttle travels from Sound Transit's Angle Lake light rail station via 26th Avenue South to the Des Moines Creek Business Park, then along South 216th Street to the city’s Marina District and back. Sound Transit's light rail station and the Des Moines business park both opened in 2016.

The shuttle operates about every 15 minutes Monday through Friday from 5:15 to 9:15 a.m. and from 2:15 to 7 p.m. Passengers can wait at any bus stop along the route for regularly scheduled trips. Metro Transit also provides reservation-based services with a flexible service area around the Wesley Homes senior living community. 

The shuttle is the first of three projects under the Des Moines Community Connections program led by Metro. The other two projects are scheduled to launch later this year.

Community Connections includes 25 partnerships throughout King County. It began as a way to serve transportation needs in areas where traditional fixed-route bus service does not fit or is not cost-effective. Metro typically launches these types of services as pilot projects, usually for two-year periods.

Relevant links

• VIDEO: Introducing the new Metro Transit shuttle service
• Metro Transit's Puget Sound Trip Planner
• Sound Transit Trip Planner
• Community Connections: Creating partnerships to meet the specific transit needs of communities

Quotes

Our new shuttle connecting Des Moines' thriving new business park to high-capacity light rail represents a nimble, responsive transit system that better connects our region -- one that promotes sustainable economic growth and improves the quality of life for the people of King County. We are creating innovative partnerships that meet the specific transit needs of communities, and integrating Metro and Sound Transit service to deliver the most value to our customers.

It’s wonderful to see the results of the Metro Community Connections partnership between the County and the cities they serve. The new shuttle will provide an important transit connection to the Des Moines area. I am always happy to see improvements to our transportation infrastructure in South King County.

Mobility provided by this frequent, peak period shuttle is absolutely critical in meeting the City’s economic and environmental sustainability objectives. It provides an essential public transportation link between our Marina District, South 216th Street and the Angle Lake Light Rail Station with a high-use park-and-ride garage.

Community Connections is a new approach that improves mobility and provides more options for people to access transit service. As this region grows, we’ll continue to explore new partnerships that connect customers with the mobility services they need.

For more information, contact:

Chad Lewis, Executive Office, 206-263-1250