Bus route 156 recently underwent a service change in late March, which altered the route’s last southbound stop from Highline College’s South Parking Lot to the newly constructed Kent-Des Moines Station. The service change was done in an effort to connect the 1-Line Light Rail to more local bus routes, which would in turn connect the ridership of the rerouted buses to the train.

This expansion of the 156 bus route was not the only change to King County Metro’s plethora of buses. Other routes such as 165, 128, and many more were also modified to accommodate longer run schedules, expanded weekend service, and ongoing construction in surrounding areas.

Local opinions on the change have so far been mixed.

Buster, a bus operator who has been driving the 156 route for “a long time” and has adapted to the many modifications, said, “I started driving buses along the new route Saturday [March 28]. I think it’s wonderful, I think it’s terrific. I like this service change because there are more terminals [at the train station], it’s like a transportation hub. It connects people from place to place.” 

Caelum Larson, a student at Highline College who takes the 156 to Tukwila, thinks that the reroute is “…awful! All of my classes right now are literally next to the South Parking Lot because I have two in-person classes and they’re right [next to the South Parking Lot]. Having the bus stop in the South Parking Lot was so convenient because all the science classes are on the south side of campus. 

I barely had to walk down or uphill when the bus stopped in the South Parking Lot. Now I have to walk all the way up campus! There is a reason I have never gone to the East Parking Lot. I’m not walking up a hill I have to hike up to be able to reach the top of campus. Having the bus stop all the way up there is insane. Not only does it add like ten minutes to my commute, it’s just so inconvenient.”

While Highline’s South Parking Lot stop (47260) may be permanently shuttered, Highline students are still able to board the bus without having to make the trek across Pacific Highway. In addition to the new train station stop, a new stop (50500) has opened just past the East Parking Lot, making the 156 widely available to commuters coming and going from school.