King County Metro’s bus routes 165 and 181 are busy these days, big-time busy.
So, in partnership with the city of Auburn, Metro will restructure one of its transit networks starting in its south service area in the fall 2026.
The upshot will be a new bus stop near Green River College, on the west side of 124th Avenue SE, south of SE 318th Street It will require improvements to make a new pathway of Route 164 possible, at an estimated cost of $1.06 million.
The Auburn City Council on Aug. 18 approved a resolution authorizing an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) between Auburn and King County for services and construction related to the project.
Coinciding with Link Light Rail expansions in Kent and Federal Way, the project will include revisions and frequency increases to Route 165, which is at capacity and unable to support what Metro is proposing. Among these revisions will be:
1. Intersection improvements at 124th Avenue Southeast and Southeast 320th Street;
2. Splitting Route 165 to create a new Route 164; and
3. Frequency increases in Route 181.
The scope of work calls for shelter footings, channelization of a bus-only parking lane, and the addition of a pedestrian crossing with a rectangular rapid-flashing beacon across 124th Avenue SE at SE 318th Street, The project will include revising traffic signals, constructing new pedestrian means to activate them, and revising channelization on SE 320th Street for bus/bike stop with a raised bike lane.
Completing the needed layover improvements and intersection improvements ahead of the planned-service changes demands an expedited design and construction schedule, and that’s where Auburn comes in. With city staff resources available to help design and construct the work, the project is more likely to meet the expedited schedule requirements than if King County were to design and do the the work alone.
City officials say this partnership is the most cost effective and expedient way to finish the project.
The ILA authorizes Mayor Nancy Backus to execute it and authorizes her to implement administrative procedures necessary to carry out its directives, such as approving contracts and expenditures.
Metro has planned this restructuring in coordination with community members and jurisdictions within King County.
Metro will reimburse the City of Auburn for 100% of the reasonable actual costs it incurs to design and construct the layover, crossing, and intersection improvements, and pay the city within 60 days of receipt of invoices provided by the city. Metro will design, secure applicable permits, and install the shelters, furnishings, and electrical components that will sit on shelter footings the city installs.
The city will coordinate with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) to provide power service to the shelter and install conduits, vaults, and conductors necessary to complete the connection. Metro will provide the power service requirements for the shelter to the city. After Metro has issued written acceptance of the work elements as built, power service will be transferred to Metro.
