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AN ORDINANCE approving Lynnwood Link Connections public transportation service changes for King County.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

1.  The proposed Lynnwood Link Connections changes to the Metro transit department's bus transit network include revisions to bus service in the cities of Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Seattle, and Shoreline.

2.  The proposed changes are consistent with the policy direction and priorities adopted in Ordinance 19367, enacted December 15, 2021, via which the King County council adopted the 2021 update to the King County Metro Strategic Plan for Public Transportation 2021-2031 and Service Guidelines.

3.   Incremental implementation of the proposed changes is consistent with the policy direction and policies approved in the Metro Service Recovery Plan by the adoption of Ordinance 19581.

4.  The proposed changes reinstate or replace the fully or partially suspended service on Routes 16, 20, 28, 45, 64, 65, 67, 73, 75, 301, 303, 304, 320, 322, 345, 346, 347, 348, and 372 within the Lynnwood Link Connections project consistent with the approach identified in the Metro Service Recovery Plan.

5.  In 2022 and 2023, the Metro transit department conducted public outreach concerning proposed changes to service in the north Seattle, Shoreline, and North Shore areas of King County currently provided by Routes 5, 16, 20, 28, 45, 64, 65, 67, 73, 75, 301, 302, 303, 304, 320, 322, 330, 331, 345, 346, 347, 348, and 372.

6.  The proposed service changes would eliminate and replace Routes 16, 20, 64, 73, 301, 302, 304, 320, 330, 347, and 372, and reinvest savings to create new Routes 61, 72, 77, 333, and 365, and expand service on Routes 65, 303, 331, 345, and 348.

7.  The proposed changes would modify the routing of Routes 28, 45, 303, 322, 345, 346, and 348.

8.  Sound Transit will initially open four new light rail stations on the Link 1 Line between Northgate and Lynnwood, with a fifth station at Northeast 130th Street in Seattle to open at a later date.

9.  Sound Transit may consider changes to ST Express Route 522 at or after the opening of the Link 2 Line extension between Bellevue and downtown Seattle.

                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     SECTION 1.  The Lynnwood Link Connections service changes for King County, substantially as described in Attachment A to this ordinance, are hereby approved.  The Metro transit department may implement the changes beginning with the Fall 2024 service change.

                     SECTION 2.  A.  To ensure successful implementation of the Lynnwood Link Connections Mobility Project, the executive shall work with Sound Transit and other stakeholder organizations to carry out a joint public outreach and promotional campaign focused on customer education and assistance to help riders identify new travel options using the Lynnwood Link as part of the Metro transit department bus network and the greater regional public transit system.  The public outreach and promotional campaign should include opportunities to encourage riders to take transit, including, but not limited to, vouchers for or offers of free rides for those boarding transit within the Lynnwood Link Connections Mobility Project area during the first week the service change is implemented.  The public outreach and promotional campaign should also encourage and assist riders to enroll in appropriate ORCA fare products, including the ORCA LIFT card that provides discounted fares for low-income riders, the Regional Reduced Fare Permit ORCA card that provides discounted fares for senior and disabled riders, and the youth ORCA card that assists youth in taking advantage of the free fare for youth.

                     B.  The executive shall provide a summary of the activities already implemented or planned to be implemented for the joint public outreach and promotional campaign for the Lynnwood Link Connections Mobility Project in a letter to the council, to be sent no later than the date of the Fall 2024 service change to the clerk of the council, who shall retain an electronic copy and provide an electronic copy to all councilmembers, the

council chair of staff, and the lead staff for the transportation, economy, and environment committee or its successor.