Transit Agencies in Puget Sound – Riding Sound Transit buses

Brian is writing a series of articles about transportation options in the area

Riding Sound Transit Busses

By Brian Doennebrink

Sound Transit buses consist of long distance routes, and their fares are based on counties. If one rides only within one county, e.g. from Shoreline or Lake Forest Park or Kenmore to Seattle or Bellevue, the fare is $2.50 for an adults and $1.25 for youths aged six to 18. Passengers under 6 ride free with a fare-paying passenger. If you are a senior or a disabled person who has obtained a Regional Reduced Fare Permit, a one-county ride costs $0.75. Once you travel across a county line, for instance a trip from Mountlake Terrace to Seattle, the fares are $3.50, $2.50, and $1.50, respectively.

Sound Transit routes stop near the southern Shoreline border, just south of N. 145th, but only in non-peak times, except for the #512, which only runs on Sundays. The nearest Park / Ride is at N. 147th and NE 5th Street on the northeast side of the freeway, a fairly-long and typically wind-blown walk to the southbound buses, a moderate walk from the northbound stop. All-day access points are the Mountlake Terrace freeway station and Bothell Way NE.

ST’s north-end bus routes:

• Route 510: Everett to downtown Seattle
• Route 511*: Ash Way (164th/I-5) to downtown Seattle
• Route 512*: Everett to downtown Seattle (Sundays only)
• Route 513*: Everett to downtown Seattle (peak hours only)

* Stops at Mountlake Terrace freeway station, connections to Shoreline from King County Metro (#347 to Ballinger, North City, and Ridgecrest) and Community Transit (#130 to Aurora Village).

Other ST bus routes that you may find useful:

• Route 522 (Woodinville to Seattle) operates seven days/week and can be accessed on Bothell Way NE, with connecting service with King County Metro.
• Route 535 ( Lynnwood Transit Center to Bellevue) all day service M-Sat., connections to Community Transit’s #115 and #130 to Aurora Village.
• Routes 550 and 554: seven-day service between downtown Seattle and Bellevue or Issaquah, respectively.
• Route 555 and 556: weekday service between Northgate Transit Center, the University District, and Bellevue, Eastgate, and Issaquah.