Transit service is a key component of Auburn's transportation system, improving mobility within the City and providing connections to destinations throughout the Puget Sound region.
Auburn does not directly administer transit service. Rather, the City works with Metro Transit, Pierce Transit, and Sound Transit to coordinate and improve service in Auburn. These agencies are publicly funded and are responsible for providing transit service within their jurisdictions.
Transit Agencies Serving Auburn
To access a transit agency's website directly, use the link at the bottom of that section.
King County Metro Transit
Metro Transit is the local transit operator for King County, providing local bus services that link destinations within the community and provide regional connections at the downtown Auburn Transit Center and the Auburn 15th ST NW Park & Ride. Visit the King County Metro "We will get you there AUBURN" portal.
DART
DART (Dial-A-Ride Transit) offers variable routing in some areas within King County. By using vans that can go off regular routes to pick up and drop off passengers within a defined service area, DART service may allow you to arrange for transit service closer to a location. DART does not go door-to-door. It operates on a schedule, but one that has more flexibility than regular Metro Transit buses. The cost for DART service is the same as regular bus rides on Metro and is available to everyone.
To use DART, call toll-free 1-866-261-DART(3278) or 1-800-246-1646 (TTY), or view more information on the DART website.
ACCESS
Metro Transit also operates ACCESS Transportation, a paratransit service providing door-to-door, shared-ride van transportation within most of King County. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires curb-to-curb paratransit service as a safety net for persons whose disabilities prevent use of accessible non-commuter bus service. Complementary paratransit service is intended to offer a comparable level of service to that provided by regular bus service.
View more information on the ACCESS website.
Vanpools/Vanshares
Metro Transit also sponsors several vanpools and vanshares that serve residents or employees in Auburn. Vanpool is a shared-ride service that provides group transport for commuters with proximate origins and destinations. Vanshare is a similar shared-ride service that provides group transport for commuters from their home to the transit station at the beginning of the work day and from the transit station to their home at the end of the work day.
For more information call 800-427-8249 or go to RideshareOnline.com.
For more information about Metro Transit services, including routes, schedules and fares, please visit the Metro Transit website.
Pierce Transit
Pierce Transit is the local transit operator for Pierce County and offers many of the same types of services as King County Metro, such as local bus service including a commuter bus route from Lakeland to the Auburn Sound Transit Station, paratransit service for persons with disabilities (SHUTTLE), and vanpool/commute services. Pierce Transit also sponsors vanpools with origins or destinations in Auburn.
Route 497 is adding more trips for your convenience beginning January 8, 2018!
Two new bus trips on Route 497 to meet the new Sounder Train service:
- Weekday Mornings northbound
Leave: Sunset Park Park and Ride 5:39 AM - Arrive: Auburn Transit Center 5:58 AM
- Weekday Afternoons southbound
Leave: Auburn Transit Center 4:28 PM - Arrive Sunset Park Park and Ride 4:48 PM
For a full listing of services, routes, schedules and fares please visit the Pierce Transit website.
Sound Transit
Sound Transit is the regional transit provider, serving Snohomish, King, and Pierce Counties. Sound Transit provides limited-stop, regional transit services linking Auburn to major regional destinations in King and Pierce Counties. The agency offers two types of service: Sounder commuter rail and regional express bus.
Sound Transit operates the Sounder commuter rail service on the Lakewood-Tacoma-Seattle route via the BNSF Railway. Sound Transit provides weekday peak-hour trips northbound to Seattle in the AM and southbound to Tacoma in the PM. Limited weekday midday service is also available. Additionally, special-event service to and from games for the Mariners, Seahawks and Sounders FC is offered on selected weekends. Currently, eleven trains operate in each direction between Tacoma and Seattle each weekday.
Sound Transit also operates express buses, which provide connections between Auburn, Bellevue, Overlake, and portions of Pierce County. For more information about Sound Transit services, including routes, schedules and fares, please visit the Sound Transit website.
Transit Facilities
There are a number of transit facilities in Auburn including bus stops, shelters, park and rides (P&R), and the Auburn Transit Center. The Auburn Transit Center, opened in 2000, is located in the heart of downtown Auburn, south of W Main ST, west of A ST SW, and east of C ST SW. The Auburn Transit Station houses a parking garage to help accommodate the parking needs of transit users. It is served by Sounder commuter rail, regional express bus, and several local bus connections.
The City works closely with Metro Transit to identify bus stops that meet the criteria for shelters or benches. Metro Transit prioritizes these types of upgrades according to the number of passengers boarding at a particular stop daily. Parking is available for transit users or carpoolers at the Auburn Black Diamond Road P&R, Peasley Canyon P&R, Auburn P&R on 15th ST NW, and the Auburn Transit Center Parking Garage.
Trip Planning & Bus Stop Locations
Metro Transit maintains an interactive website to help transit riders locate their nearest bus stop and identify routes, which will take them to their desired destination(s). To locate a bus stop, plan a transit trip, and find schedule and fare information, visit Metro Transit's online Trip Planner website.
Commute Trip Reduction
Under Washington state law, the City is required to administer a Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) program for all employers in Auburn with at least 100 employees arriving at a single location during the peak morning commute hours. The goal of Commute Trip Reduction is to reduce the number of single-occupancy vehicles traveling during the peak commute hours. CTR incentives include, but are not limited to, providing transit subsidies, preferential parking for carpools, bicycle lockers and showering facilities, and flexible work schedules.