The Kirkland Transit Center will close on Sept. 19 for approximately one year, while several construction projects are underway in the downtown area – including an expanded transit center.

Sound Transit is building the new transit center on Third Street between Kirkland Avenue and Central Way. By next fall, Sound Transit will have constructed and installed new bus bays and passenger shelters, enhanced pedestrian crossings, widened sidewalks, landscaping, bicycle amenities, and public art. An entirely new roadway will be constructed along Third Street. Prior to installation of these, all new utilities including sewer, storm, water, and electrical/communication systems will be installed underneath the transit center site.

During construction, the eight bus routes that use the transit center will have temporary bus stops in downtown Kirkland. That includes King County Metro Transit routes 230, 234, 236, 238, 245, 248 and 255, and ST Express 540. These routes will be redirected to bus stops on Central Way just east of Third Street and on Sixth Street south of Fourth Avenue.

These changes in Kirkland coincide with Metro Transit’s seasonal service change that also starts on Sept. 19. Bus riders can prepare by picking up a new purple timetable, and using the online Trip Planner at www.kingcounty.gov/tripplanner for some advance research. Enter a travel date of Sept. 19 or later to find the changed service.

For this service change, most of Metro’s revisions are occurring in southeast Seattle and southwest King County where more than 20 bus routes are being updated to better connect with light rail service at Sound Transit’s Link stations.

Metro revises its routes and scheduling three times a year to improve service and keep up with the changing needs of transit customers. Bus riders can find all the September changes detailed in the Special Rider Alert brochure, which will soon be in Metro information racks and posted online. The new purple timetables will soon be available on buses and in Metro displays. The information is also in the online Trip Planner at www.kingcounty.gov/tripplanner.

Beyond bus service, Metro’s Rideshare Services can help provide resources for carpooling, vanpooling or vansharing. Carpooling and vanpooling match people traveling to common destinations. VanShare helps those who need to make a connection to or from bus service. You can VanShare from home and connect to your bus, or use VanShare from the bus stop or park-and-ride lot to complete a trip to work.

For information about all the services Metro provides, visit Metro Online at www.kingcounty.gov/metro, or call Metro Rider Information at (206) 553-3000.