Metro rolling out all-door boarding for all routes, making changes including new Route 8 path for opening of Judkins Park Station and 2 Line light rail

King County Metro is expanding all-door boarding — and paying — across every route.

Starting March 28th, riders will be able to enter every Metro bus via any door to reduce delays at busy stops and improve overall travel times.

As part of the changes, buses across the Metro fleet are being equipped with ORCA card readers at every door, allowing riders to tap and pay using ORCA cards, mobile wallets, and credit or debit cards. Metro says the readers were installed with $5 million “in investment” from Amazon.

Meanwhile, Metro is also rolling out its spring service updates it says will help better coordinate the bus system with this month’s launch of Sound Transit’s 2 Line light rail expansion.

One big change for the Capitol Hill and Central District area will come with the opening of Judkins Park Station and the 2 Line’s March 28th debut. Route 8 will “provide a direct connection to the new Judkins Park Station,” Metro says, by shifting its path from MLK Way South to 23rd Ave S between E Yesler Way and S Massachusetts.

You can read more about the service changes here.

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