Last spring when voters rejected a measure to sustain county bus service with a new car-tab fee and sales tax increase, many opponents said Metro should tighten its belt more before going to voters for money. Metro appears to have gotten that message. Last week, King County announced that it now anticipates cutting its bus system by 400,000 hours of annual service, rather than the 550,000 hours proposed last year. The millions in savings come by way of a thorough scrubbing of its budget as well as an improving economic outlook.

On Vashon, some minimal cuts were proposed for the final round of Metro reductions in 2015. While the cuts to Vashon routes could have been much worse, some have also pointed out that trimming the island’s already sparse bus service could create a hardship for those who rely on the bus. And on Vashon, islanders have fewer alternative options for getting around.

Vashon cuts could still be on the table in the future, officials say, but are looking less likely. While The Beachcomber editorialized in favor of Proposition 1, which would have raised money for buses, it is welcome news that the county found another way, that after trimming its budget repeatedly it was able to find some new cost-saving measures and will take advantage of an improving economy as well.

But as officials note, the remaining cuts, the first of which will go into effect this weekend, are significant and will still be hard on the region. Metro ridership is growing, not shrinking, meaning many riders will be left at the curb or forced back into cars, congesting already crammed streets. And Vashon residents who use the bus in Seattle and beyond will likely feel these cuts as well. The express route that runs between Fauntleroy and Seattle, a busy line that many Vashon commuters use, is one of the routes slated for reductions in February.

King County has shown it can be creative and will make sacrifices to save bus service. Now lawmakers should play their part to sustain and eventually grow bus service to match our growing region. Whether the solution is found through further county efficiencies, new taxes, legislative action or even raising fares is not yet clear. Whatever the route, Metro should maintain its mantra of efficiency, remember the unique position Vashon is in as an island and ensure that any solution doesn’t unfairly burden those who already struggle financially. The low-income fare it recently moved forward with is a good place to start.