As the summer heat hits its stride, transit riders in Seattle and Madison are set to experience a flurry of changes and disruptions in the coming days. Both cities are rolling out significant updates to their public transportation systems, with Seattle bracing for a weekend packed with construction closures and reroutes, while Madison prepares for a suite of route adjustments and a new connection to the growing suburb of Verona.
In Seattle, King County Metro has announced a series of weekend service impacts that will affect dozens of bus routes from Saturday, August 9, to Sunday, August 10, 2025. The most notable disruption comes from a road closure on 3rd Avenue between Stewart Street and Pine Street, a busy corridor in downtown Seattle. According to King County Metro, this closure will force temporary stop closures for Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 13, 14, 21, 24, 27, 28, 33, 36, 40, 49, 62, 70, 101, 124, 131, 132, 150, and the RapidRide C, D, E, and H Lines. The closure is scheduled to last from 7 a.m. on Saturday through 7 p.m. on Sunday, with more details available on Metro’s Service Advisories page.
Other routes will see changes as well. Route 8, for example, will have stop #2285 at Denny Way & Fairview Avenue N (westbound) closed from 7 p.m. on Friday, August 8, until 5 a.m. on Saturday, August 9. Additionally, Route 8 will be rerouted off Denny Way between 5th Avenue and E Olive Way from 10 p.m. on Saturday to 5 a.m. on Sunday. Riders on Routes 40 and RapidRide C Line should also prepare for the closure of stop #26690 at Westlake & 9th-Denny (northbound) from Thursday evening through early Sunday morning.
Construction isn’t the only reason for detours. Community events are also prompting Metro to reroute buses. The Alphabet Vodka Dayfade Block Party will relocate stop #45910 for Routes 131 and 132 at 4th Avenue S & S Dawson Street (southbound) from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Meanwhile, the On The Block event will reroute Route 2 to W Queen Anne off E Union Street and Seneca Street between E Madison Street and Boren Avenue on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Over in Woodinville, Route 231 will be rerouted in the downtown area from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday due to the Celebrate Woodinville Parade.
There are also several route-specific closures to keep in mind. Route 24 will have stop #24300 at 34th Avenue W & W Dravus Street (northbound) closed from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday for construction. Route 49’s stop #10990 at 10th Avenue E & E Galer Street (southbound) will be closed from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both weekend days. Routes 62 and 75 will be rerouted off southbound Sand Point Way NE between NE 70th Street and NE 65th Street from Friday morning through Monday afternoon, accommodating ongoing roadwork.
Seattle’s busy weekend isn’t limited to transit disruptions. The city is also hosting a slew of major events, including Seattle Mariners games at T-Mobile Park (Friday and Saturday at 6:40 p.m., Sunday at 1:10 p.m.) and a Lady Gaga concert at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday at 8 p.m. Metro and Link light rail will be serving fans heading to these venues, and the Water Taxi’s new summer sailing schedule—launched in April—offers late-night weekend service to West Seattle. For those seeking alternative transit, the Seattle Center Monorail will operate extended hours: 7:30 a.m. to midnight on Friday, 8:30 a.m. to midnight on Saturday, and 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday, with departures every 10 minutes.
Commuters should also be aware of the ongoing Revive I-5 project, which has closed two northbound lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge 24/7. To ease the pain, the Express Lanes will remain open northbound around the clock from July 18 to August 18, providing some relief to drivers and bus riders alike.
King County Metro encourages riders to take advantage of its Text for Departures service—simply text your stop number to 62550 for real-time departure information. Riders can also sign up for email or text alerts tailored to their favorite routes, ensuring they stay informed about any last-minute changes or disruptions.
While Seattle grapples with weekend closures, Madison, Wisconsin, is preparing for a more permanent set of transit changes. Starting Sunday, August 17, Metro Transit will implement a range of route, schedule, and stop adjustments, most notably the launch of all-day service to Verona, a suburb southwest of Madison. This expansion, made possible through a partnership with the City of Verona, introduces the new Route D2, which will offer 30-minute service on weekdays and hourly service on nights and weekends. The route will connect riders to key destinations such as Verona Park & Ride, Verona Area High School, and the sprawling Epic Systems campus.
According to Metro Transit, “Route adjustments will include updates to Route B around the Central Wisconsin Center, minor schedule updates to Route C, D2 extension to Verona and D1 adjustments, timepoint updates to Routes E, F, and R at Capitol Square, downtown update near Market St. for Route S, schedule and map updates due to construction on University Row for Routes 28 and 38, and trips reallocated to Route D2 with timepoint update at Capitol Square for Route 75.”
Updated maps, schedules, and additional information will be available at MyMetroBus.com/AugustUpdates, with new trip planning data going live the same day the changes take effect. Riders with questions are encouraged to reach out to Metro’s Customer Service by phone or email.
The expansion to Verona is expected to benefit a wide range of riders. Epic Systems, a major employer in the region, is a key destination for the new D2 route, making the commute easier for the company’s workforce. The addition of all-day service also means greater flexibility for students, families, and other residents traveling between Madison and Verona, whether for work, school, or leisure.
These changes come at a time when both Seattle and Madison are working to adapt their public transit systems to evolving commuter needs, construction demands, and the realities of urban growth. While construction and special events can throw a wrench in travel plans—sometimes quite literally—both cities are emphasizing communication and flexibility. With real-time alerts, updated schedules, and expanded service, transit agencies are striving to keep riders moving, even when the road ahead gets a little bumpy.
For those navigating Seattle’s weekend maze of closures and events, or Madison’s new connections to Verona, staying informed is half the battle. As always, a little planning—and maybe a backup route or two—can go a long way in ensuring a smooth ride.
