For more than 20 years, Route 554 connected Issaquah directly to downtown Seattle, often in about 26 minutes. With its removal on August 29, that direct service is gone.

After speaking with riders and hearing the public outcry over this loss of service, we believe gathering signatures is the right next step. We will use this petition to engage our elected representatives and transit agencies around one simple goal, Restore 554: Issaquah's One Seat Ride to Seattle.

Now, riders take the 556 to Bellevue, get off, wait, transfer to Link, and continue to Seattle. A trip that took about 26 minutes now takes more than 40, if everything goes right.

We understand the rationale and talking points. But no matter how you spin it, that’s not progress for Issaquah.

We support Link. We support more frequent transit. We support connecting Issaquah to the 2 Line. In fact, many of us are the tip of the spear when it comes to supporting and using public transit.

But adding a new connection shouldn’t require eliminating a good one.

This matters whether you commute every day, ride to a Mariners game, occasionally head into Seattle, or drive I-90 and benefit from having fewer cars beside you.

What we're asking for is simple:

Restore frequent, all-day, one-seat transit service between Issaquah and downtown Seattle aka the 554!

We are asking Sound Transit and King County Metro to make it happen. And we're asking our elected leaders, including Issaquah's Mayor Mark Mullet and City Council, our state legislators, Rep. Kim Schrier, and other regional leaders, to publicly support that goal.

We understand the arguments for the new system. We actually support many of them. But this is a false choice. Issaquah can have better access to Link and a direct connection to Seattle.

Sign this petition and share it to help us #RESTORE554, our One Seat Ride to Seattle!

For Transparency, A Bit More On Why I Care
I’ve called Issaquah home since 2007 and have been a transit advocate in my “free time” for years. I’ve relied on our buses for daily commutes, taken transit adventures with my kids, and strongly advocated for Link and regional transit every step of the way.

A disability I acquired in 2000 further strengthened my belief in public transit and the independence it can provide. But even beyond that, good transit simply makes sense for a healthy, connected community. It's actually pretty dang fun when you take random bus routes across the region or while visiting new cities. 

When all is said and done, I like to start with the obvious. And this feels like one of those times when what needs to be done is pretty obvious.

Please join us. Sign the petition, share the petition, share your story, make your voice heard, and hopefully soon, enjoy the one-seat ride to Seattle again.