Transit Alert – Seattle area transit service will be rerouted & delayed during Saturday’s Seafair Torchlight Run & Parade

On Saturday, July 25, from approximately 3:00 to 10:45 PM, transit service in the Seattle Center, downtown Seattle, Alaskan Way Viaduct and adjacent areas will be rerouted and delayed by the Seafair Torchlight Run events and parade.

There are also Mariners games, other community festivals and events and several major construction projects in the greater Seattle area throughout the weekend, which could cause additional traffic congestion and delays on area roadways.

Transit customers are encouraged to plan ahead for Saturday’s service disruptions and to allow plenty of time in their travel plans.

Ride Transit to Torchlight
While most buses that operate on surface streets in the Seattle Center and downtown Seattle areas will be rerouted, riding transit is still the best way to get to these events, as traffic will be congested, streets will be closed and parking downtown will be limited. Rerouted buses still go to within 1-2 blocks of the parade route.

Pine Street Weekend bus service revisions
Some Torchlight-related service revisions start Friday evening when Pine Street bus service is rerouted until midday Sunday due to the grandstand placement at 4th Avenue.

During the Seafair Torchlight Run events, starting at about 3:00 PM, the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed for about one hour until the runners clear that area. Northbound Viaduct buses will operate via I-5 during this time. The southbound Viaduct is not affected and will remain open.

From about 6:00 PM until the parade ends, the entire length of 4th Avenue in downtown Seattle will be closed, and nearly all east/west streets will also be blocked at 4th Av.

Many buses will be rerouted and there will likely be schedule delays. Delays in one area can cause delays at other points along a route.

Most transit service will return to its regular routing and stops at 10:45 PM. Schedule delays are expected until crowds and traffic clear. The exception is Pine Street service, which will remain rerouted until about midday on Sunday when the grandstand is removed and Pine St re-opens.

Reroute start and end times are subject to change.

Transit Information
Visit the Metro Online Service Advisories page to find out how your bus will be affected and what stops it will serve during this event. Use regularly published transit schedules on Saturday, but expect possible delays due to expected heavy traffic and crowds.

For complete information about transit service, or to plan your trip, visit Metro Online or Metro’s online Trip Planner. 

For information about Seafair and Torchlight events, visit the Seafair website.

Thank you for riding and for using Metro’s services.