Sound Transit is collecting rider feedback through July 27, 2026, on draft 2027 ST Express and Link service changes that would reshape West Seattle bus access, Everett stop patterns, and overnight rail maintenance windows.
The agency’s July 14 news release and the live 2027 Service Plan page ask riders to take the multilingual survey before final proposals go to the Board in October.
If you ride ST Express Route 560, Link light rail, or Everett to Seattle buses, the traveler job is immediate: review the draft routes that touch your commute and submit comments while the survey is still open.
- Deadline: 2027 Service Plan survey open through July 27, 2026.
- Scope: ST Express proposals plus Link schedule options for more overnight maintenance.
- Biggest bus shift: Route 560 would end West Seattle service at Burien Transit Center and run more often to Bellevue.
- Board path: Final proposals after survey review, with Board action planned in October.
- Action: Take the official survey and check alternate Metro connections if you use West Seattle stops.
What Sound Transit is proposing for 2027
Sound Transit frames the annual service plan as a response to changing ST Express ridership, the expanding Link system’s need for more overnight maintenance time, and the future transition of some Express routes to Stride bus rapid transit.
On Route 560 between Bellevue and West Seattle, the draft ends service west of Burien Transit Center. Frequency between Burien and Bellevue would rise to about every 20 minutes daytime and every 30 minutes evenings on weekdays, and every 30 minutes all day on weekends.
The agency points Westwood Village and West Seattle riders to King County Metro RapidRide H Line for the segment between Westwood Village and Burien. It also notes Burien Transit Center as a future western end of Stride S1, which could replace Route 560 as early as 2028.
Airport-bound travelers from West Seattle would use the H Line to connect to Route 560, or Metro Route 60 to connect to Link 1 Line. Those transfers matter for cruise passengers and Sea-Tac day-trippers who currently treat 560 as a one-seat bridge.
For a 2026 Seattle trip, current maps still apply. The Seattle cruise port guide remains useful for waterfront logistics while the 2027 package is still in draft form.
The agency is also collecting how people use Link at the edges of the day before it locks a maintenance package. That input is the difference between a theoretical Night Bus map and a substitute that matches real last-train riders.
Routes 510 and 512 between Everett and Seattle or Lynnwood would drop several low-ridership early-morning and late-night Everett stops. Routes 532 and 535 would add a stop at the new Stride station on I-405 at NE 85th Street in Kirkland when that station opens in 2027.
Route 545 between Redmond and Seattle would add a stop at Downtown Redmond Station. That is a small stop change with large daily convenience for riders already transferring at the new Link-adjacent Redmond hub.
For Link, Sound Transit is reviewing earlier end times or more frequent planned weekend segment closures so crews get more overnight maintenance time. Expanded Night Bus service is listed as a possible support tool.
The Urbanist highlighted the Route 560 frequency gain paired with the West Seattle tail cut as the clearest rider tradeoff in the draft package.
How to use the survey window
The survey is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Tagalog. Sound Transit held a virtual information session on July 21 and still directs language help to [email protected].
Feedback collected now feeds evaluation in August, a public report on comments in September, and Board review of final proposals in October. A comment filed after the survey closes has less chance of shaping the package that lands on the Board calendar.
Regular Route 560 West Seattle riders should document their origin stop, usual transfer, and time of day in the survey. Vague opposition is weaker than a concrete path that shows how many extra minutes the H Line plus 560 transfer would add on a weekday.
Everett early-morning and late-night riders should check the exact stops listed for removal on Routes 510 and 512. If your stop is on that list, say whether you can walk to a retained stop or whether the cut ends a workable commute.
Link riders who depend on last trains or first trains should answer the maintenance questions carefully. More overnight work can cut unplanned day-of failures, but only if Night Bus or other substitutes are real for your station pair.
Visitors using Sound Transit to reach downtown Seattle attractions should not treat the draft as a same-week timetable change. These proposals target 2027 after Board approval.
Hotel guests near Pike Place Market or other central Seattle food corridors can still plan 2026 days around Link and current ST Express patterns. Use the survey only if you are a recurring regional rider who will still be here in 2027.
Employers and universities that issue transit benefits should share the survey link with staff who ride 560, 545, 510, 512, 532, or 535. Institutional comments that quantify shift times often carry more weight than a single anonymous form.
| If you are… | What to do now |
|---|---|
| A Route 560 West Seattle or Westwood Village rider | Map the H Line transfer to Burien and submit timed commute examples before July 27. |
| A Burien to Bellevue commuter on 560 | Note the proposed frequency gains and support or critique them with your peak-hour load. |
| An Everett early or late ST Express rider | Check the 510 and 512 stop list and comment if your stop is proposed for removal. |
| A Link first or last train rider | Answer the maintenance tradeoff questions and say whether Night Bus would work for you. |
| A short-term Seattle visitor in 2026 | Keep current schedules for this trip; treat 2027 proposals as future planning only. |
- Comment by July 27: Survey closes before August evaluation and October Board review.
- West Seattle access: Draft ends 560 west of Burien and points riders to RapidRide H.
- Bellevue-Burien frequency: Daytime weekday service would tighten if the proposal holds.
- Link nights: More maintenance time could mean earlier last trains or planned weekend closures.
- Not yet final: Nothing changes in 2026 schedules until Board approval of a final package.
The practical move is to treat the survey as a real planning lever, not a formality. Sound Transit already published concrete stop lists and frequency targets, so riders who answer with route, stop, and time details give the Board a clearer record than silence.
When does the Sound Transit 2027 Service Plan survey close?
Sound Transit says the survey is open until July 27, 2026. Comments after that date are less likely to shape the package that staff finalize for the fall Board review.
What happens to Route 560 in West Seattle under the draft?
The draft ends Route 560 service west of Burien Transit Center and increases frequency between Burien and Bellevue. Sound Transit points West Seattle riders to King County Metro RapidRide H Line for the local segment.
Are these service changes already approved for 2027?
No. These are proposals for public feedback only, not an adopted 2027 timetable.
Staff plan to evaluate survey results, report back, and take final proposals to the Sound Transit Board in October.
What Link changes are under discussion?
Sound Transit is studying more overnight maintenance time, which could mean ending service earlier at night or scheduling more weekend segment closures with bus support. Rider input is part of that tradeoff analysis.
Where can I read the full proposal list?
Use Sound Transit’s 2027 Service Plan page for route-by-route details and the July 14 news release for the survey window and language access information.
