Transit Agencies Improve Bus Service and Operations

Public transit agencies in Seattle, WA, Queens, NY, and Summit County, OH, are celebrating improved bus service and operations through the completion of bus-priority infrastructure, faster routes, and a new maintenance facility.

In Seattle, King County Metro completed major construction on Route 40 that adds three miles of bus-priority lanes and traffic signal changes to reduce delays. Metro said travel times are already improving in some areas.

“We’ve heard from the community that speed and reliability are very important to them. That’s why we support projects like this that help the bus get through traffic quicker,” said Joe Rye, capital projects manager at King County Metro.

Additional improvements include 16 upgraded bus stops, 47 curb ramp upgrades, 6,000 feet of upgraded sidewalks, and 15 new or improved crosswalks.

Acting Seattle DOT Director Angela Brady said, “Improving a busy transit corridor means looking at how buses and other vehicles safely share our streets with people walking and biking. Along Route 40, we’ve added bus lanes, dramatically improved sidewalks and crossings, and upgraded traffic signals to help people travel more safely and reliably. These improvements will serve Seattle neighborhoods for years to come.”

In Queens, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (NYMTA) reported faster buses following the borough’s bus network redesign. Queens local buses are traveling 1.7 percent faster on weekdays, 1.9 percent faster off-peak, and 4.6 percent faster on rush routes. The analysis compared spring 2025 performance with spring 2026, after the redesign’s rollout.

“The Queens Bus Network Redesign is delivering on the promises of faster buses; greater reliability; and increased access to jobs, education, and more for the city’s most bus-reliant borough,” said NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow. “These improvements are the result of years of community input to ensure a bus network for the modern era.”

In addition, the new network gave 124,000 additional Queens residents access to service running every 10 minutes between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., expanding frequent-service connections across the borough.

In Summit County, OH, METRO Regional Transit Authority celebrated the grand opening of a new maintenance and operations facility. The facility includes 28 maintenance bays and modern equipment and technology to support daily operations.

METRO thanked community partners, elected officials, project teams, and staff for bringing the new facility to life. The grand opening included guest speakers Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH), Summit County Executive Assistant Chief of Staff Greta Johnson, City of Akron Mayor Shammas Malik, and Akron Ward 3 Councilwoman and Council President Margo Sommerville.