King County Metro Urges Caution on Local Roads

King County Metro Transit is advising riders to be aware of conditions in their local areas this morning and use caution where roads may be affected by the weather.

Areas that may see some snow or ice on the roads this morning include Aurora Village and parts of Covington, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Renton and Somerset, all of which are being sanded as necessary.

With the start of Tuesday's service, buses are operating normally with possible minor delays, although conditions could change quickly. For now the temperatures appear to be warming.

The National Weather Service is reporting

• Tuesday through Wednesday morning, snow levels will be at or near sea level.
• Expected daytime temperatures appear to be warm enough in most places to not support much accumulation.
• A dusting of snow is possible anywhere in Metro's service area over the next couple of days. Accumulations could be greater at higher elevations.
• There may be convergence zones in the north and south parts of King County.

Metro is monitoring forecasts and will provide updated information when available.

When snowy, icy or other disruptive conditions affect travel, Metro buses may use alternate routing as necessary, depending on road or traffic conditions in one or more King County geographic areas.

All Metro bus routes are assigned to one or more of seven geographic areas within King County. During a declared snow or other emergency event, the service status of each area is color coded and displayed on Metro’s online snow map. Additional information is then provided in the associated table on the same page.

Pre-planned snow routing for individual bus routes is displayed in print and online timetables.

Winter-travel tips for Metro customers

• Sign up to receive Transit Alerts for the routes you use.
• Check the print and online timetables for snow route maps.
• Pick up the new Metro Snow & Ice Guide on buses and at Metro information racks, or view the videos and other information online.
• If the weather is bad, check the color-coded status map on Metro Online before you travel.
• Be patient. Buses are not always on schedule in snowy or icy conditions. Increased ridership during bad weather can result in crowded buses and a longer-than-usual wait on the Customer Information phone line at 206-553-3000.
• Smartphone apps and online trackers may not be reliable when buses are rerouted or significantly delayed.
• Dress appropriately for the walk to the bus stop and expect delays.
• Avoid hills and wait at bus stops on flat portions of arterials or at major transfer points such as park-and-ride lots, transit centers, or shopping centers.  

For more information, visit Metro Online to preview snow routes, and review tips for winter travel.

(Ed. Note: The information above is from a King County Metro rider alert for Tuesday, Dec. 18.)