554 Bus Schedule: Seattle, Mercer Island, Eastgate, Issaquah, Sammamish & Redmond Route Guide
The 554 bus schedule most often means Sound Transit ST Express Route 554, the Seattle–I-90–Mercer Island–Eastgate–Issaquah corridor route, with Redmond and Sammamish timepoint details in the official PDF. This guide gives you the official route page, embedded PDF timetable, route map help, first and last trip summary, fare rules, live-arrival checks, holiday notes, lost-and-found help, and wrong-route protection.
554 Daily Check Board — Use This Before Walking to the Stop
Seattle · I-90 · IssaquahDo not start with a saved screenshot. Start by confirming the operator, direction, stop, alert status and fare. A route number alone is not enough because another official Route 554 exists in Illinois under Pace, and Sound Transit 554 itself has different weekday, Saturday, Sunday and eastbound/westbound patterns.
Confirm Sound Transit
Use this page for Seattle, Mercer Island, Eastgate, Issaquah, Sammamish and Redmond-area Route 554 trips.
Pick direction
Choose Seattle-bound or Issaquah / Redmond-bound before reading any timetable row.
Check the official route page
Sound Transit’s Route 554 page includes schedule, arrivals, alerts, operating hours, fares and rider help.
Use the PDF as backup
The PDF is excellent for printed timepoints, but live arrivals and alerts matter before leaving.
Verify stop or bay
Mercer Island, Eastgate, Issaquah TC and Issaquah Highlands require careful bay and direction checking.
Prepare payment
Use ORCA, tap-to-pay, Transit GO Ticket, or exact cash before the bus arrives.
Need live arrivals, route map and alerts right now?
📍 Open Official Sound Transit 554Quick Answer: What Is the 554 Bus Schedule?
The 554 bus schedule is the Sound Transit ST Express Route 554 schedule for the Issaquah – Seattle route. The official PDF is labeled ST Express 554 Seattle – Issaquah / Redmond and is valid for the March 28 – Aug. 29, 2026 service period.
Use the official route page for same-day arrivals, alerts and first/last trip checks. Use the PDF for the full printed timetable, stop timepoints and weekday/weekend pattern comparison. Sound Transit warns that buses may arrive before or after scheduled times because traffic can change exact arrival times.
Main operator
Sound Transit publishes the official Route 554 route page, route map, schedule, arrivals, alerts and fare information.
Main corridor
Seattle, Mercer Island, Eastgate, Issaquah Transit Center, Issaquah Highlands, Sammamish and Redmond-side timepoints.
Adult fare
Sound Transit lists adult Route 554 fare at $3.00, with reduced fare options and free youth fare rules.
Biggest risk
Using a Pace 554, old screenshot, wrong direction, wrong bay or outdated PDF instead of official live checks.
Official 554 Links: Schedule, Map, PDF, Fare, Alerts and Payment
These official links are placed near the top because they solve the rider’s main problem first. This article explains the route in plain English, but Sound Transit controls current schedules, stop details, alerts, fares, and service changes.
Source Verification and Editorial Safety Notes
Updated for 2026 rider planning. This page uses Sound Transit Route 554, the official ST Express 554 PDF, Sound Transit fare and payment pages, ORCA payment guidance, King County Metro’s 218/554 page and Pace Route 554 only for wrong-route protection.
Important: BusSchedules.org is an independent rider-help guide. It is not Sound Transit, King County Metro, ORCA or Pace. Always verify final departures, alerts, stop changes, holidays, fares and accessibility details on the official source before a time-sensitive trip.
ST Express 554 Route Overview: Seattle, Mercer Island, Eastgate, Issaquah, Sammamish and Redmond
Route 554 is a regional ST Express route, not a small local loop. Riders use it for downtown Seattle work trips, I-90 commuter travel, Mercer Island Station, Eastgate Freeway Station, Issaquah Transit Center, Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride, South Sammamish Park & Ride and weekday Redmond-side travel.
Seattle side
Downtown Seattle timepoint areas include Lenora Street, 2nd Avenue, 4th Avenue, Pike, Seneca, Yesler, Jackson and Blanchard depending on direction.
Mercer Island
Mercer Island Park & Ride / Mercer Island Station is a major I-90 stop where direction and stop side matter.
Eastgate
Eastgate Freeway Station is a key stop. Check the bay, route sign and direction before boarding.
Issaquah
Issaquah Transit Center, E Sunset Way / Rainier Boulevard and Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride are core 554 stops.
Sammamish
The official weekday PDF includes South Sammamish Park & Ride and Sammamish-side timepoint areas.
Redmond pattern
The official weekday PDF includes Redmond Fall City Road / 185th Avenue NE and 228th Avenue NE timepoint areas.
⚠️ Service-period warning
The embedded PDF is valid through Aug. 29, 2026. For travel after that date, use the official route page first because schedules can change at service changes.
554 First and Last Bus Summary: Weekday, Saturday and Sunday
This first/last table helps you plan quickly, but it does not replace live arrivals. The official route page says exact arrival times can vary due to traffic conditions, and buses may arrive before or after the listed times.
| Service day | Direction | First trip | Last trip | What riders should check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday | Eastbound | 5:22 a.m. | 12:02 a.m. | Use for Seattle-to-Eastside planning, then confirm your exact stop and alert status. |
| Weekday | Westbound | 4:19 a.m. from Issaquah; 4:22 a.m. from Redmond | 10:56 p.m. | Useful for early Eastside-to-Seattle commuting. Confirm Redmond/Sammamish pattern before leaving. |
| Saturday | Eastbound | 6:25 a.m. | 11:27 p.m. | Weekend pattern differs from weekday; do not assume every weekday extension applies. |
| Saturday | Westbound | 6:25 a.m. from Issaquah | 10:20 p.m. | Check the travel date and final stop before relying on late-evening trips. |
| Sunday | Eastbound | 6:22 a.m. | 11:31 p.m. | Check holiday notes because a holiday may not behave like a normal Sunday. |
| Sunday | Westbound | 6:25 a.m. from Issaquah | 10:20 p.m. | Use official live arrivals for late trips, transfers and park-and-ride pickup planning. |
💡 Last-bus rule
If your 554 trip connects to work, class, a medical visit, Link, ferry, Amtrak, a flight, a pickup or a paid parking plan, do not rely on the last possible trip. Build one earlier safe option.
554 Stops and Route Map: Downtown Seattle, Mercer Island, Eastgate, Issaquah Highlands and Redmond
For Route 554, stop-side and bay choice matters. Downtown Seattle streets, Mercer Island, Eastgate, Issaquah Transit Center and Issaquah Highlands can have direction-specific stops. A correct route number at the wrong bay can still make you miss the bus.
Major weekday timepoints to Seattle
Redmond Fall City Rd / 185th Ave NE, 228th Ave NE / NE 8th St, South Sammamish P&R Bay 1, Issaquah Highlands P&R Bay 4, E Sunset Way / Rainier Blvd, Issaquah TC Bay 2, Eastgate Freeway Station Bay 1, Mercer Island P&R, Rainier Ave S / S Charles St, 4th Ave S / S Jackson St, 4th Ave / Pike St and Blanchard St / 5th Ave.
Major weekday timepoints to Issaquah / Redmond
Lenora St / 4th Ave, 2nd Ave / Seneca St, 2nd Ave / Yesler Way, Rainier Ave S / S Charles St, Mercer Island P&R, Eastgate Freeway Station Bay 4, Issaquah TC Bay 6, E Sunset Way / Rainier Blvd, Issaquah Highlands P&R Bay 3, South Sammamish P&R Bay 1, 228th Ave NE / NE 8th St and Redmond Fall City Rd / 185th Ave NE.
Bay number matters
Issaquah TC, Issaquah Highlands, Eastgate and Mercer Island areas can have different bays by direction. Check the official route page before boarding.
🚏 Stop and bay checklist
- Downtown Seattle: check whether your stop is on 2nd Avenue, 4th Avenue, Lenora, Pike, Seneca, Yesler, Jackson or Blanchard.
- Mercer Island: confirm the Mercer Island Park & Ride / station direction before standing at the stop.
- Eastgate: freeway-station stops can be confusing; use the bay and direction, not only the route number.
- Issaquah TC: Seattle-bound and Issaquah / Redmond-bound trips use different bay logic.
- Issaquah Highlands: the PDF uses Bay 4 for Seattle-bound timepoints and Bay 3 for Issaquah / Redmond-bound timepoints.
- Redmond / Sammamish: verify date and service pattern because weekend tables are not the same as weekday tables.
⚠️ Map warning
This map is for discovery only. Use the official Sound Transit route page and embedded PDF for final stop, bay, date, timepoint and alert details.
Official 554 PDF Viewer: Full Sound Transit Timetable Inside This Article
The official ST Express 554 PDF is embedded below so riders can view the full timetable inside this WordPress page. It includes weekday, Saturday and Sunday tables, fare details and route timepoints. On some phones, PDFs may load slowly; use the direct open button if the viewer does not display.
Official document
ST Express 554 — Seattle – Issaquah / Redmond.
What to verify
Correct direction, travel day, weekday/weekend table, bay, timepoint and starred notes before using any time.
PDF not loading on your mobile browser?
📄 Open Official 554 PDF554 Live Tracker: Arrivals, Alerts and App Mismatch Help
A static timetable gives the planned schedule. The official route page gives the stronger same-day check because it includes schedule, arrivals, alerts and route information in one place. This matters on I-90 because real travel time can change with traffic, weather, construction, events and incidents.
Open official 554
Start with Sound Transit Route 554, not a random screenshot or third-party-only listing.
Choose direction
Eastbound and westbound are not interchangeable. Translate them into plain language: to Seattle or to Issaquah / Redmond.
Check stop or bay
Use the exact stop, bay, station or park-and-ride name. Do not wait at a nearby bay just because it looks close.
Read alerts before walking
A live arrival is not enough if your stop has been moved, skipped or affected by service alerts.
💡 App mismatch rule
If Google Maps, Apple Maps, Transit App, an old PDF and Sound Transit disagree, use the official Sound Transit route page, current alerts and latest PDF first.
554 Fare and Payment: ORCA, Tap-to-Pay, Exact Cash and Transit GO Ticket
Sound Transit lists Route 554 fare information on the official route page. Adult fare is $3.00, ORCA LIFT is $1.00, senior/disabled fare is $1.00, and youth 18 and under ride free on Sound Transit services.
| Payment or fare type | What 554 riders should know | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Adult fare | Sound Transit lists Route 554 adult fare as $3.00. | Using fare information from another Route 554 in another region. |
| ORCA card | Tap your ORCA card on the reader as you board the bus. | Forgetting to tap or using a different method than your transfer. |
| Tap-to-pay | Sound Transit lists credit/debit tap-to-pay as a bus payment option. | Switching between phone, watch and card when you wanted one payment record. |
| Cash | Cash riders need exact fare because bus drivers do not carry change. | Boarding without exact fare and delaying yourself or other riders. |
| Transit GO Ticket app | Buy in the app, activate before boarding and show the screen when required. | Buying the ticket but forgetting to activate before boarding. |
| Youth fare | Youth 18 and under ride free on Sound Transit services. | Not checking current youth pass instructions before school or family travel. |
Need current fare, pass or reduced-fare eligibility details?
💳 Open Sound Transit Fares⚠️ Exact-fare trap
If you pay cash, prepare the exact fare before the bus arrives. Bus drivers do not carry change.
554 Holiday and Service-Change Checks
Sound Transit’s Route 554 page lists holiday schedule notes, including Memorial Day as Sunday service, Juneteenth as weekday service and Independence Day as Sunday service. Holiday rules can change by year and service period, so confirm the exact travel date on the official route page.
- Set the travel date: weekday, Saturday, Sunday and holiday patterns can differ.
- Check first and last trips: late workers, event riders and early commuters need this most.
- Read alerts: construction, special events, bridge incidents or stop moves can change boarding.
- Check service-period validity: the current embedded PDF runs through Aug. 29, 2026.
- Use one earlier trip: especially for airport, ferry, train, work, school and medical connections.
554 Transfer Planning: Link, Downtown Seattle, Park-and-Ride and Eastside Connections
Route 554 is often one part of a larger trip. Riders may connect with Link light rail, downtown Seattle offices, King Street Station, International District/Chinatown, Westlake, Pioneer Square, local Metro routes, park-and-ride pickups, medical appointments, campus trips or evening events.
Downtown rail connections
International District/Chinatown, Pioneer Square and Westlake-area connections can require walking time between bus stops and station entrances.
Park-and-ride buffer
At Mercer Island, Eastgate, Issaquah TC and Issaquah Highlands, add time for parking, walking, bay check and crowding.
Weather and I-90
Rain, traffic, crashes, sports events and construction can affect reliability. Build a buffer for important trips.
💡 Transfer-safe rule
For Link, Sounder, Amtrak, ferry, flights, appointments or timed pickups, plan one earlier 554 whenever possible.
Lost and Found, Accessibility, Bikes, Scooters and Safer Boarding
Sound Transit says King County Metro operates Route 554 and holds lost-and-found items for 30 days at King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson St., Seattle. Riders can report a lost item online, by phone, or by visiting King Street Center during posted weekday hours.
- Report quickly: include route number 554, direction, date, time, boarding stop, exit stop and item description.
- Phone reporting: Sound Transit lists Metro phone reporting at 206-553-3000 or 1-800-542-7876, option 2, weekdays 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Visit option: King Street Center is listed at 201 S. Jackson St., Seattle, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Emergency: Sound Transit lists security dispatch at 206-398-5268.
- Accessibility: check current stop and vehicle guidance if you need ramp, mobility, seating or stop-access help.
- Bikes and scooters: capacity can be limited; check official ST Express guidance and have a backup plan during peak trips.
⚠️ Lost item detail tip
“I lost a black bag on 554 around 5 p.m. from Issaquah TC to Seattle” is more useful than “I lost a bag on the bus.” Add stop, bay, direction and time.
Wrong 554 Route Protection: Sound Transit 554 vs Pace 554
Search results can show more than one Route 554. Sound Transit 554 is the Seattle / Issaquah route. Pace 554 is a separate Illinois fixed route called Elgin – Woodfield, serving Elgin Transportation Center, Elgin Metra, Hanover Park, Schaumburg, Woodfield Mall and Northwest Transportation Center.
| Route 554 result | Use it when your trip includes | Payment clue | Correct official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sound Transit 554 | Seattle, Mercer Island, Eastgate, Issaquah, Sammamish or Redmond | ORCA, Transit GO Ticket, Sound Transit fare | Sound Transit Route 554 page and official PDF |
| Pace 554 | Elgin, Streamwood, Hanover Park, Schaumburg, Woodfield Mall or Northwest Transportation Center | Ventra, Pace cash fare, Illinois route alerts | Pace Route 554 page |
⚠️ Agency-first rule
A 554 time is useless if it comes from the wrong transit agency. Match city, operator, direction, stop and payment system first.
554 Troubleshooting: When Times, Apps or Stops Look Wrong
- The bus disappeared from the live page: refresh the official route page and check alerts; live data can lag.
- The PDF and app disagree: use the official route page and alerts for the same-day final check.
- Your bay is confusing: use the exact station, park-and-ride, bay number and direction.
- You need Redmond or Sammamish: verify weekday/weekend pattern before assuming the bus continues past Issaquah.
- You are close to the last trip: check live arrivals and have a backup plan.
- You are carrying a bike, scooter or luggage: check capacity and crowding before relying on a tight transfer.
Common 554 Bus Mistakes That Cause Missed Trips
Wrong agency
Sound Transit 554 and Pace 554 are different routes in different states.
Wrong direction
Seattle-bound and Issaquah / Redmond-bound trips use different tables, streets and bays.
Wrong bay
Mercer Island, Eastgate, Issaquah TC and Issaquah Highlands require careful bay checks.
Old screenshot
Saved screenshots can miss current alerts, service-period changes, holidays and stop changes.
No exact fare
Cash riders need exact fare because drivers do not carry change.
No transfer buffer
Downtown Seattle, Link, park-and-ride and local route transfers need walking and waiting time.
554 Bus Schedule FAQs
What is the main 554 bus schedule?
The main U.S. intent is Sound Transit ST Express Route 554, officially shown as Issaquah – Seattle, with the PDF labeled Seattle – Issaquah / Redmond.
Where can I find the official Sound Transit 554 PDF?
The official ST Express 554 PDF is embedded in this article and can also be opened directly from the Sound Transit PDF link.
Does Route 554 go to Seattle?
Yes. Route 554 serves downtown Seattle timepoint areas such as 4th Avenue, 2nd Avenue, Pike, Seneca, Yesler, Jackson, Lenora and Blanchard depending on direction.
Does Route 554 go to Issaquah?
Yes. Route 554 serves Issaquah Transit Center, E Sunset Way / Rainier Boulevard and Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride.
Does Route 554 go to Redmond?
The official weekday PDF includes Redmond-side timepoints such as Redmond Fall City Road / 185th Avenue NE. Check your exact travel date because weekend tables differ.
How much is the 554 bus fare?
Sound Transit lists adult fare as $3.00, ORCA LIFT as $1.00, senior/disabled as $1.00 and youth 18 and under as free on Sound Transit services.
Can I pay cash on Route 554?
Sound Transit lists cash as a payment option, but riders need exact fare because bus drivers do not carry change.
Can I use ORCA on Route 554?
Yes. Tap your ORCA card on the reader as you board the bus.
How do I check live arrivals for Route 554?
Open the official Sound Transit Route 554 page, choose your direction and stop, then review arrivals and alerts before walking to the stop.
Why can a 554 bus arrive before or after the printed time?
Sound Transit says exact arrival times may vary due to traffic conditions. I-90 traffic, weather, events, construction and stop changes can affect the ride.
What is the difference between Sound Transit 554 and Pace 554?
Sound Transit 554 is the Seattle–Issaquah route. Pace 554 is an Illinois route between Elgin and Woodfield-area destinations. Do not mix their schedules or fares.
Who handles lost and found for Route 554?
Sound Transit says King County Metro operates the route and holds lost-and-found items for 30 days at King Street Center, with online, phone and visit reporting options.
Is BusSchedules.org the official operator of Route 554?
No. BusSchedules.org is an independent rider guide. Always verify exact times, fares, alerts and stop details with Sound Transit before travel.
Final Rider Summary: Best Way to Use the 554 Bus Schedule
The safest way to use the 554 bus schedule is simple: confirm Sound Transit, choose direction, open the official route page, check arrivals and alerts, verify your exact stop or bay, then use the embedded PDF as your printable backup.
For Seattle, Mercer Island, Eastgate, Issaquah, Sammamish and Redmond riders, Route 554 can be a strong I-90 corridor option when used with live tracking and buffer time. For Illinois riders, use Pace 554 instead. The number alone is not enough; match the agency first.
Official Sound Transit 554 route page · Official 554 PDF · Sound Transit fares