Metro Announces New Bus Routes, Added Trips

We know how bad this whole crashing economy is. Really, we do. But every cloud has a silver lining, and we're pretty sure the sparkle you can see just past today's bankrupt financial giants and tanked WAMU stock is increased transit ridership translating into more routes and added runs on existing routes so you don't have to drive (or pay for gas) anymore.

With ridership nearly 7 percent higher than this time last year, King County Metro Transit is making its largest single addition of new service since 2001. The new service includes two new bus routes and added service on 20 existing routes. Many of the changes are designed to help riders make transit connections and to ease commuter overcrowding.

According to Metro, the new routes will serve areas East of Kent and service to North Bend and Snoqualmie. Yes, there will be peak-hour buses way the heck out there starting September 20. If that's not a sign of people getting out of their cars, we're really not sure what is. Expanded service is coming to a bunch of in-Seattle routes (3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 14, 26, 28, 41, 44, 46) and a bunch on the Eastside and Southside too (209, 230, 253, 269, 929. South King County: 143, 153, 164, and 915).

And the best part? Most of it is being paid for through an already-passed voter initiative (Transit Now) and partnerships with suburban cities around the county. So there's no need to argue or worry about how we're paying for them.

Ain't that a pretty picture of a bus and our city and the sunset and all? We found it in Seattlest's Flickr pool courtesy of cloverity. You should put some pictures there too, if you'd be so kind.