Metro is beginning three months of meetings across King County to inform riders of proposed bus cuts due to the absence of funding.

The first meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 20, in Federal Way.

Metro must take steps to reduce costs in 2014 and in 2015 as temporary funding expires and reserves are exhausted. The proposed cuts could mean a loss of 14 million rides annually, and would revert Metro’s service to levels not seen since 1997.

Metro faces an annual funding shortfall of $75 million needed for 600,000 hours of service and bus purchases. Another 150 daily bus trips between West Seattle and downtown Seattle – buses that ease construction congestion during the Alaskan Way Viaduct project – also are at risk of being canceled in June when state funding ends. The King County Council is expected next spring to consider the proposed service cuts.

Nearby meetings include.

Federal Way: Wednesday, Nov. 20, 6-8 p.m., Federal Way Community Center, 876 South 333rd St., Federal Way

Kent: Monday, Dec. 16, 6-8 p.m., Kent Commons, 525 Fourth Ave. N, Kent

Visit http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/future for more information.