RapidRide bus line to service Renton, Kent, Auburn

A King County Metro RapidRide will soon be servicing the Renton area.

On Jan. 15, Renton City Council President James Alberson Jr. joined King County Metro, King County Executive Dow Constantine, and representatives from Sen. Maria Cantwell and Sen. Patty Murray’s offices to celebrate the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration announcement of a $79.7 million federal grant for King County.

The grant was funded by former President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The money will support building out the new RapidRide I Line, which will connect Renton, Kent and Auburn.

“It will expand and get more frequent transit service for the folks in Renton,” Alberson said. “The money coming in will also help to fund some sidewalk improvements, pedestrian crossings, signal improvements and things like that to really even go beyond transit, but all tied into making things more convenient for the Renton residents.”

The RapidRide I Line will replace the current Route 160, which currently runs between Auburn Station and downtown Renton. The benefits of the RapidRide line are buses that come more often and on schedule, along with the ability to board the buses with an ORCA card through any door. The project will include new bus station upgrades.

Alberson said the new line will provide more high-quality transit options to connect Renton better to other cities in South King County.

“When you think about those individuals that might count on getting to medical appointments or jobs and things like that, everybody may not have access to their own personal transportation or someone to get them there,” Alberson said. “This is one of those aspects that will make things more convenient for individuals really to and from Renton as far as I see it.”

Construction is set to begin this year and the planned service start for RapidRide Line I service is 2027.

As far as future additions to the Renton public transit system, Alberson gave an “easy” answer to what he would like to see: light rail.

“It’s unfortunate that in the planning stages or the decisions that were made a number of years back, that Renton was bypassed in this round of building a light rail network in and around the area,” Alberson said. “I know it takes time for those types of projects to be put in the plan and then be built.”

Alberson said because of its central location in South King County and the railroad tracks that run near the city, Renton would be a great candidate for light rail, and the services would give even greater opportunities for people in Renton and the surrounding areas.