Bothell council backs letter asking King County Metro to retain MetroFlex Juanita zone

Bothell City Council members on July 1 agreed that King County Metro should be asked to pause any decision to end the MetroFlex Juanita response zone and to discuss options before a final decision is made. City staff presented a draft letter and asked the council whether it wanted the city to send it to King County Metro.

The council’s interest stemmed from the service’s role as a first-mile/last-mile option for parts of southern Bothell. City Manager briefed the council on a letter Kirkland had already sent and introduced Public Works staff monitoring MetroFlex usage and communications with Metro. Deputy Director Steve Morikawa described MetroFlex as an on-demand minivan service operating in neighborhood response zones and said King County Metro was considering terminating the Juanita zone due to utilization and performance concerns.

Why it matters: Council members said the service helps residents reach transit and nearby destinations where fixed-route service is less frequent or does not drop riders close enough. Several members said the pilot has not run long enough and that outreach about the service has been insufficient; they urged Metro to extend the pilot or work with cities to improve awareness and user experience.

Council debate and direction: Multiple council members voiced support for sending the draft letter. Councilmember Zorns said she supported writing a letter, adding that the northern Lake Washington area deserves attention on transportation needs. Councilmember Dodd said, "I also support sending the letter. I don't think the pilot has run long enough to really show the value." Councilmember McCurdy asked that staff keep the council informed and offered to stay engaged if the decision moves up to the King County Council or Metro.

Staff follow-up: City Manager told the council staff would engage with King County Metro and return with updates. The packet included a draft letter and staff requested direction; by the end of the discussion the council had given clear concurrence to send a letter and to follow developments.

What the city did not decide: The council did not adopt a formal ordinance or make a funding commitment; it provided direction to send a letter and to continue coordination and monitoring.

Next steps: Staff will send the letter on the council’s behalf, continue communications with King County Metro, and provide updates to the council and public as Metro's process unfolds.