From the King County Department of Transportation today, a reminder of upcoming holiday-related schedule changes for Metro and the Water Taxi over the next month – plus another nudge about the Metro fare changes that take effect on New Year’s Day. Read on for full details:

News release from KCDOT:

King County Metro Transit is reminding bus riders that there will be a week of reduced service beginning Friday, Dec. 24, which includes the week after Christmas. And, several routes that serve the University District have fewer trips between Monday, Dec. 20 and Friday, Dec. 31 because the University of Washington is not in session.

Also, the King County Water Taxi will not operate the Vashon or West Seattle routes on the next two Fridays, Dec. 24 and 31, nor will the water taxi shuttles be in service.

Metro has planned reductions for holiday periods where there has historically been 20-40 percent fewer weekday riders. On several of the upcoming legal holidays, Metro will use a Sunday schedule.

Sunday schedules will be used on the following holidays:
* Saturday, Dec. 25 – Christmas
* Saturday, Jan. 1 – New Year’s Day

The reduced weekday schedule will be in effect on:
* Friday, Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve
* Monday-Friday, Dec. 27-31 – winter holiday period, including New Year’s Eve
* Monday, Jan. 17 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

On days with reduced weekday schedules, some commuter and school-oriented routes do not operate, and other routes will have individual trips canceled. Many routes will have no changes.

The reduced weekday schedule features more bus service than on weekends, but somewhat less service than on normal weekdays. This schedule is being used on 10 days in 2010, and is estimated to save Metro about $1 million each year.

A complete list of routes that are canceled or have trip cancellations on these days can be found on Metro Online at: http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/holiday-service.html.

For the water taxi, both routes will not operate on Dec. 24, Dec. 31 and Jan. 17. The free West Seattle Water Taxi shuttles – Routes 773 and 775 – will not operate on those holidays either.

For information about King County Water Taxi service – and shuttle routes 773 and 775 – during the holidays, please visit: www.kingcounty.gov/watertaxi

Metro Transit reminds passengers of several fare changes that begin on Saturday, Jan. 1. Those changes also apply to a number of transit pass products. All adult Metro riders will see a 25 cent fare increase for the new year. Fares for other Metro products, such as passes and ticketbooks, also increase. Also, all-day passes and family fares will no longer be available on weekends and holidays. Youth fares will remain unchanged.

This fare increase, which was adopted by the King County Council in 2009, is one of several approaches Metro is using to help ease the effects of a severe budget shortfall. In addition to fares, Metro is pursuing a number of other actions to deal with the shortfall including efficiencies and staff reductions.

Visit Metro Online for more information about fares and schedules, or call the Customer Information Office at (206) 553-3000.