Sound Transit, Metro to run late night service for July 4 revelers

Link trains to operate extended service until 2 a.m.

For the first time since light rail began operating service, revelers celebrating Independence Day this year will be able to ride Link trains until 2 a.m. on Wednesday, July 5—an hour later than normal. For bus riders, King County Metro will deploy more than 40 extra buses from 10:30 p.m. to midnight on routes serving Seattle Center, Gas Works Park, downtown and light rail stations to help crowds get home.

The last southbound Link train from the University of Washington Station will leave at 2 a.m. The last northbound train from Angle Lake Station will leave at 1 a.m. Southbound trains from the UW will operate every 30 minutes starting at midnight. Northbound trains from Angle Lake will operate every 30 minutes starting at 11:30 p.m. The downtown transit tunnel, which will stay open late to accommodate extended light rail service, will close at 2:20 a.m.

Light rail trains will operate on a Sunday schedule on July 4. Link service will resume normal weekday operating hours on July 5.

Metro will add 250 hours of service, augmenting 20 routes that serve large crowds after July 4 festivities, as well as routes that connect with Link light rail. Routes include the 5, 8, 26, 28, 31, 32, 40, 44, 49, 62, 70, 120, RapidRide A, B, C, D, and E Lines, and ST Routes 545, 550, 554. Metro’s Service Quality supervisors will monitor crowds during the evening and deploy the extra service as needed. 

Several ST Express bus routes will not operate on July 4, while other routes will run on a Sunday schedule. Sounder commuter rail service also will not operate on July 4. In addition to the extra buses described above, Metro will operate on a normal Sunday/Holiday schedule. More holiday schedule information is available at soundtransit.org or metro.kingcounty.gov/alerts/holidays.html.

Riders can sign up to receive automatic email service alerts for Link light rail, Tacoma Link, ST Express, Sounder Seattle-Everett and Sounder Seattle-Tacoma/Lakewood and Metro. Rider Alerts provide information about special service to events, schedule changes and help riders plan trips around inclement weather. Just go to soundtransit.org/Subscribe-to-alerts or 
kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/metro/alerts-updates.aspx.