Metro Launches Summer Bus from Ballard to Golden Gardens
On Saturday, June 27, Metro is launching a new summer-only bus route connecting beachgoers to Golden Gardens Park, temporarily closing a hole in the agency's bus network.
Officials celebrated the launch of the new "Golden Gardens Direct" route at a media event Monday, with Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, Metro General Manager Michelle Allison, Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss, King County Councilmember Jorge Barón, and Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Acting Director Angela Brady speaking as part of the program.
Strauss sponsored the City budget amendment last year that made the route possible, with an investment of approximately $300,000 in Seattle Transit Measure funds for the 2026 season of service. The Seattle Transit Measure is up for renewal this fall, and Wilson has proposed doubling its size, pointing to the need for more frequent bus service.
Buses will run every 30 minutes from 15th and Market Street in Ballard to Golden Gardens Park, one of the region's most popular parks on Puget Sound. The service runs daily from 11 am to 9 pm through August 30. Rides cost $3 — a standard Metro bus fare — and are free for youth 18 and under.
https://www.theurbanist.org/metro-launches-summer-bus-from-ballard-to-golden-gardens/