King County Metro’s Route 75, a critical transit service, operates between Northgate station and the University District, primarily traversing NE 125th Street and Sand Point Way NE.
This route has garnered significant attention, particularly with an average of 3,393 weekday boardings noted in August 2025.
However, the Route 75 experience is unique, as inbound trips are integrated with Route 45, effectively cutting them off after passing Sand Point Way NE & 40th Ave NE.
Conversely, outbound journeys on Route 75 often begin with passengers who have embarked on the Route 45 prior to their destination.
Route 75 not only connects notable destinations such as Northgate, Lake City, Magnuson Park, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and the University of Washington (UW), but also plays a pivotal role in the daily routines of the community.
As per the ridership data, Northgate station stands out as the busiest stop throughout the day, particularly in the afternoon with each inbound trip accommodating over 10 passengers, while the morning outbound trips drop off over 10 passengers as well.
The strategic location of Northgate station adjacent to the Northgate Station mall, Kraken Community Iceplex, and various medical offices, as well as a pedestrian bridge to North Seattle College, contributes substantially to its traffic.
Here, passengers also have interchange options with the Link 1 Line and multiple Metro routes, including 40, 61, 303, 322, 345, and 348.
Further observations indicate that the stops at 5th Ave NE & 112th St for inbound and 112th St, Northgate Way for outbound trips facilitate significant passenger flow, likely due to their proximity to Northgate’s commercial core.
These stops exhibit a fairly balanced boarding and alighting pattern in both directions, underlining their importance for transfers to Link services or as a last-mile connection from other destinations.
Around NE 125th St & 15th Ave NE, there are several apartment buildings and a grocery store contributing to higher ridership.
Inbound buses often pick up more passengers here while outbound ones generally drop off more than they pick up, reflecting a vital connection between Lake City and Northgate.
Lake City’s commercial area, crucially served by Route 75, is centered at NE 125th St & Lake City Way NE.
It consistently registers higher boarding numbers on outgoing trips to Northgate while also facilitating alighting for those on inbound trips heading toward Magnuson Park, signifying its role in linking Lake City with Northgate services.
Passengers in Lake City can also connect with Metro routes 61, 65, 322, 372, and Sound Transit Route 522.
Meanwhile, the ridership data reveals minimal traffic at Matthews Beach’s Route 75 stops on Sand Point Way NE, particularly during peak hours.
In contrast, blocks around Magnuson Park, especially the stops at NE 70th St and NE 74th St, demonstrate consistent ridership patterns throughout the day.
The stop at NE 65th St, adjacent to several low-rise apartment complexes, reflects a commuter trend where inbound trips typically pick up passengers in the morning and mid-day, while more passengers alight during the afternoon as outbound buses operate.
It’s worth mentioning that Routes 62 and 79 facilitate transfers at this stop, underscoring its significance in the transit landscape.
Near Sand Point Way NE and NE 50th St is Seattle Children’s Hospital, which generates considerable ridership with trips predominantly dropping off patients and visitors in the morning and collecting them in the afternoon.
Additional services provided by Routes 31, 32, and 65 also connect to this integral area.
On the University of Washington campus, Route 75’s stops see substantial ridership during mid-day and afternoon hours, illustrating the importance of these connections for students and faculty.
Despite continuing as Route 45 in Loyal Heights, the inbound and outbound patterns reinforce the foundational role of Route 75 in the transit network.
Analyzing daily totals per stop further emphasizes the critical role Route 75 plays in linking Lake City with the 1 Line at Northgate station.
As we look ahead, Sound Transit is set to unveil the Pinehurst station near I-5 and N 130th St in 2026.
To accommodate residents in nearby communities, Metro is restructuring several routes, although Route 75 will remain unchanged.
However, a new Route 77 is set to enhance connectivity between Lake City and the Pinehurst station, ensuring continued growth and improvement in transit services across the region.
image source from：seattletransitblog
