Metro Transit’s bus service in the Covington, Maple Valley and Black Diamond areas has increased. Officials said that includes:

• New Route 157, now with peak-hour service connecting the Lake Meridian Park-and-Ride and downtown Seattle with stops at Kent East Hill, Glencarin, South 212th Street and Interstate 5.

• Route 161, which runs to the Lake Meridian Park-and-Ride.

• Route 143, which has added two more morning trips between Maple Valley and Seattle and one more evening trip from Seattle to Black Diamond. Click More information is available from Metro at transit.metrokc.gov and (206) 553-3000.

• New Route 211, connecting south King County-area riders of the Sounder commuter train with First Hill in Seattle.