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Metro Route Changes

More Southeast Seattle Bus Changes on the Way

January 31, 2011

in News,Transportation

Route 36 at Othello Station

Starting Sat., Feb. 5, King County Metro Transit is updating its bus service. This includes routing and bus stop changes for approximately two dozen bus routes from various areas of the county that pass through downtown Seattle.

According to Metro, “the downtown changes are designed to keep people moving during the long-term construction along the Seattle waterfront and SODO area.”

Bus riders across Metro’s service area should check winter schedules for the routes they use most often to see what’s new. Go here for more information.

Southeast Seattle Bus Changes:

  • Select trips will be deleted on routes 14 and 27, and there are some schedule changes. Check new timetables for details.
  • New Route 309 will connect Kenmore with First Hill via Lake City and South Lake Union with commute-time express service.
  • In downtown Seattle, there are other bus routes shifting from First Avenue to Third Avenue; from Third Avenue to Second/Fourth avenues; and new bus stop locations on Third Avenue for several routes. This affects some local routes traveling into downtown.
  • Route 99 will loop to travel north on First Avenue and south on Alaskan Way, and buses will no longer be “wrapped” to look like the old waterfront streetcars.

Route 36 at Othello Station. Photo/Oran Viriyincy (Flickr)

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Metro Transit on Snow Watch for Tuesday: Morning & Afternoon Service Could Be Very Different

January 10, 2011

in News,Transportation

Snow is in the forecast for later in the day on Tuesday – and it’s likely to begin falling during the afternoon commute. King County Metro Transit is warning that situation could create very different morning and afternoon travel conditions for bus riders.

Transit users should plan ahead for afternoon and evening trips that could be disrupted, delayed, reduced, or on snow routing. Even though weather in the morning may be clear, leave from a bus stop or park-and-ride that also has service when buses are on snow routes in case travel conditions deteriorate by the afternoon commute.

Also, give yourself extra time to reach your evening destination. Buses are often very crowded in the early part of the afternoon commute when everyone tries to get home before snowfall is the heaviest.

Metro is urging bus riders to prepare by making sure they are signed up for Transit Alerts and know the snow routing for the buses they will ride tomorrow.

Then before traveling, riders should check www.kingcounty.gov/metro/snow for the most current status of Metro service. Updates to the online information begin as early as 4 a.m. and continue as needed until the storm is over.

Tuesday’s forecast could create challenges for all vehicles, especially if the snow begins to fall during the afternoon commute. Bus operations could change rapidly.

Tips for bus travel in the snow:

  • Know the snow routing for your bus route. Check the timetables at www.kingcounty.gov/metro for snow route maps for each route. Not every bus route has snow routing, but most do;
  • When buses are on snow routing, some streets and bus stops may be missed and there are often delays due to travel conditions. There is new snow routing in many areas that is different from past years, so be sure to check the snow routes for all the routes you use most often;
  • If you haven’t already, sign up for Transit Alerts to keep up with any major changes to bus service. The alerts can be received as email or text messages. Go to www.kingcounty.gov/metro/signup to subscribe;
  • Metro is using a new online color-coded map to keep riders informed of the status of its bus service, which can be found online at: www.kingcounty.gov/metro/snow. All bus routes are assigned into one or more of seven geographic areas within King County. When there is snow or ice on the roads, the service status of each area will be color coded and displayed on the online map. Green indicates buses are operating on normal routes; yellow that some – but not all – routes in the area are on snow routes (primarily in higher elevation areas); and red tells you that all bus routes in the entire geographic area are on snow routing;
  • People without online access can call the Customer Information Office at (206) 553-3000. General information about service will also be sent out via the kcmetrobus Twitter account;
  • Be patient. Buses are not always on schedule in snowy or icy conditions. And, increased ridership during bad weather can result in crowded buses and a longer-than-usual wait on the phone for the Customer Information Office;
  • Dress warmly for the walk to the bus stop, expect delays, and wear appropriate footwear for the weather;
  • Head for bus stops on main arterials or at major transfer points such as park-and-ride lots, transit centers, or shopping centers; and
  • Riders should wait at bus stops at the very top or very bottom of hills, because buses are often unable to stop for passengers on inclines.

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Seattle Transit Blog on Rainier Valley Mobility: Eliminate the 7

October 25, 2010

in Opinion,Transportation

By Martin H. Duke:

Although Metro executed a pretty major service revision in Southeast Seattle in response to Link’s opening, that change manifestly failed to provide frequent, efficient worthwhile Link connections to the great mass of people east of the line, particularly in the Rainier Avenue corridor. The, 7 one of the system’s workhorses, was left essentially unchanged and does not provide a transfer opportunity until it reaches Mt. Baker, by which time the transfer is essentially a wash time-wise. If that weren’t bad enough, the transfer from transit center to Link station there is a difficult one.

Aside from the core mission of serving the stations, connectivity within the Southeast hasn’t improved. Unlike more radical plans like my double-loop circulator proposal, trips between the dense, linear corridors along Beacon and Rainier Avenues can still involve three bus trips, with headways as long as 45 minutes.

Oran’s frequent service map (detail at right) illustrates the problem very well. Frequent service is siloed into three parallel corridors along Beacon, MLK, and Rainier. There is no frequent east/west connectivity at Columbia City, to the west only at Othello, and to the east only at Rainier Beach. If you live near, say, the Group Health on Rainier, forget it. Read more.

Martin Duke says that the 7′s many purposes can be better met with other solutions. What do you think? Photo/do communications

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Metro Adding 80 Trips/Week to Route 7; Rainier Valley Bus Service Changes Start Saturday

September 28, 2010

in News,Transportation

This weekend, King County Metro Transit will roll out the first of six RapidRide lines, along with other new bus routes, and schedule and routing adjustments as part of its fall service change that begins Sat., Oct. 2:

Metro is making some scheduling and routing changes this fall to save money, preserve bus service, and operate more efficiently. In some cases, you may notice differences in the schedule for your route, along with longer wait times for transfers or irregular spacing between bus trips. Unfortunately, due to reduced sales-tax revenue for transit, Metro also had to eliminate some trips on designated routes. These trip reductions were chosen to minimize the disruption for bus riders whenever possible.

Bus riders should check fall schedules for the routes they use most often to see what’s new. They can prepare by picking up a new orange timetable, Special Rider Alert brochure, or use the online Trip Planner for some advance research. Be sure to input a date of Oct. 2 or later, when using the Trip Planner.

Locally, the revisions to Metro routes serving the Rainier Valley include:

  • Route 7 – About 80 trips per week will be added to improve frequency to every 15 minutes during weekday evenings and weekend mornings.
  • Route 36 – Route 36 will return to its regular routing between Beacon Avenue South and South Myrtle Street, and South Myrtle Street and 39th Avenue South. It will no longer operate on Beacon Avenue South between Myrtle Street and Othello Street. The Route 36 shuttle will be discontinued.
  • Route 38 – All service before 9 a.m. will be discontinued.
  • Route 39 – Route 39 will return to regular routing between South Othello Street and 38th Avenue South and South Myrtle Street. It will no longer operate on Martin Luther King Jr. Way South and Renton Ave South between South Othello Street and South Henderson Street.

Photo/do communications

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Metro Route Changes Start Saturday

February 2, 2010

in News,Transportation

metro-39Seattle Times (RVP News Partner)

King County Metro will update its bus service starting Saturday, affecting more than 80 bus routes — either by adding or reducing trips, adjusting schedules or changing routes.

[Some of] the most significant revisions include:

  • More frequent service on routes 8, 9, 36 and 60 in Southeast Seattle as Metro makes a second set of service changes to better connect bus service with light rail.
  • More bus trips on existing routes between West Seattle, Sodo and downtown Seattle to keep people and businesses moving during the first stages of Alaskan Way Viaduct construction

Read more.

King County Metro will update its bus service starting Saturday, affecting more than 80 bus routes — either by adding or reducing trips, adjusting schedules or changing routs. Photo/do communications, inc.

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Most SE Seattle Route Changes to Take Effect Later This Month

September 1, 2009

in News,Transportation

062009-sesea-map1

In May, the Metropolitan King County Council in May adopted changes that will be made to Metro bus routes in the southeast Seattle area this September and next February. According to Metro, the changes are designed to improve the public transportation network and connect bus routes to Link light rail stations so riders can enjoy fast, reliable travel on Link and Metro.

Beginning Sept. 19, Metro will make the following changes to bus routes:

  • Revise routing on ten routes (8, 9 Express, 14, 36, 38, 39, 42, 48, 106, 107) to better meet the needs of most riders and to serve light rail stations.
  • Provide more frequent service on six routes (8, 38, 39 [Sundays], 48, 106, 107).
  • Expand the hours of service on two routes (8, 60).
  • Discontinue routes 32 and 42 Express and provide fewer trips on routes 7 Express, 34 Express, 39, and 42. By making these reductions Metro can add trips to more heavily used routes and reduce duplication of bus and light rail service.

Metro will make several additional changes in February 2010. Go here for details about all the route changes.

This map shows the revised system of Metro bus routes in southeast Seattle beginning September 19, 2009. Courtesy of Metro

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Rainier Valley Riders Dominate Public Comment Portion of City’s Metro Hearing

August 13, 2009

in News,Transportation

42bus1

Yesterday, in a special public hearing at City Hall, the City Council’s transportation subcommittee met to discuss the future of Metro and its $700 million revenue shortfall, and our esteemed colleagues at Capitol Hill Seattle were there:

Representatives from South Seattle and the Rainier Valley area dominated the public comment portion of the hearing. Concerned about service cuts to routes 42, 48, 106, and 107, sign-holding audience members and a parade of citizens came up to the microphone protesting bus stop removal and frequency reductions.  Citizens called those routes their “lifeline,” and added that the cuts have a disproportional effect on people with low income and people of color. Read more.

Find all your RVP’s coverage on Metro Route Changes here.

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This Week: Kid Stuff, Politics, Metro Changes & More

August 9, 2009

in Arts/Living

metro-39See our Big Dates Page – the only comprehensive calendar of events in all of southeast Seattle – for more information on these and other south-end gatherings, events, meetings, groups, etc. In the meantime, here’s a sampling of what’s happening around the community this week…

Monday:

  • Tamarack Place Groundbreaking, Rainier Vista
  • 37th Legislative District General Meeting, Columbia City

Tuesday:

  • Anime Club for teens, Beacon Hill

Wednesday:

  • Bats of Seward Park, Seward Park
  • Columbia City Farmers Market, Columbia City
  • Brown bag meeting on Metro service cuts, Downtown

Thursday:

  • American Sign Language Story Time, NewHolly
  • Bee-Boppin’ Bugs! Rainier Beach

The Seattle City Council Transportation Committee will host a public brown bag meeting on Metro service cuts this Wed., Aug. 12, at noon at City Hall (600 4th Ave. – Council Chambers, Floor 2). Photo/do communications, inc.

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What Your City Council’s Up to This Week: Reclassifying Streets, Rerouting Metro, Etc.

July 12, 2009

in News,Politics

This week, among other things, the Seattle City Council plans to address upcoming Metro changes and how it will effect some south-end streets:

Amendment to the Transit Classification Map (Res. 31141): This resolution would allow for the reorganization and rerouting of some buses in order for transit and light rail to work together in the most efficient ways. It requires the reclassification of several streets in Southeast Seattle in order for them to be used for transit routes.

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings will take place in Seattle City Hall Council Chambers (600 4th Ave.).  The easiest access to the City Hall building is on 5th Avenue between Cherry and James Streets. Meetings and Public Forums in Council Chambers are also cablecast live on Seattle Channel 21 and webcast live here. Source: Seattle City Council

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Metro to Reduce Number of Route 7 Stops in Rainier Valley

July 1, 2009

in News,Transportation

This fall, Metro plans to reduce the number of stops made by Route 7 buses in the Rainier Valley, from a total of 107 stops to 76:

Many stops along Route 7 are only one or two blocks apart, and the average distance between stops is around 800 feet. Metro prefers bus stops spaced about every quarter mile, or about every 1,320 feet. After the bus stop spacing project is completed, Route 7 stops would be three to four blocks apart, with an average distance of about 1,200 feet between them.

Metro plans to close stops in two phases, with most closing on Sept. 19, 2009. Comments are being accepted through July 31. For more info, go here.

Northbound stops proposed for closure:

  • S Prentice St & 64th Ave S
  • 64th Ave S & S Cooper St
  • Waters Ave S & S Norfolk St
  • Waters Ave S & S Carver St
  • Rainier Ave S & 54th Ave S
  • Rainier Ave S & S Fisher St (2010)
  • Rainier Ave S & S Kenyon St
  • Rainier Ave S & S Fontanelle St
  • Rainier Ave S & S Myrtle St (2010)
  • Rainier Ave S & S Willow St (2010)
  • Rainier Ave S & S Morgan St
  • Rainier Ave S & S Juneau St (2010)
  • Rainier Ave S & S Hudson St (2010)
  • Rainier Ave S & S Dakota St
  • Rainier Ave S & S Court St
  • Rainier Ave S & S Byron St
  • Rainier Ave S & S McClellan St
  • Rainier Ave S & S Plum St
  • Rainier Ave S & S Norman St
  • Rainier Ave S & S Dearborn St
  • S Jackson St & Boren Ave S (14th Ave S)

Southbound stops proposed for closure:

  • Rainier Ave S & S King St
  • Rainier Ave S & S Byron St
  • Rainier Ave S & S Court St
  • Rainier Ave S & S Hudson St
  • Rainier Ave S & S Morgan St
  • Rainier Ave S & S Willow St (2010)
  • Rainier Ave S & S Myrtle St (2010)
  • Rainier Ave S & S Kenyon St
  • Rainier Ave S & Sturtevant Ave S
  • Waters Ave S & S Carver St
  • Waters Ave S & 61st Ave S
  • 62nd Ave S & S Norfolk St
  • 62nd Ave S & S Ryan St

Route 7 bus stop spacing Segment 1 Map:

062009-rt7-seg1map1

Route 7 bus stop spacing Segment 2 Map:

062009-rt7-seg2map1

Route 7 bus stop spacing Segment 3 Map:

062009-rt7-seg3map1

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County Council Good to Go on Metro’s South-End Route Changes

June 30, 2009

in News,Transportation

seattle-metro-busThe King County Council has adopted the following changes to Metro bus routes in southeast Seattle to begin Sat., Sept. 19:

  • Revise routing on ten routes (8, 9 Express, 14, 36, 38, 39, 42, 48, 106, 107)
  • Provide more frequent service on six routes (8, 38, 39 [Sundays], 48, 106, 107)
  • Expand the hours of service on two routes (8, 60)
  • Discontinue routes 32 and 42 Express and provide fewer trips on routes 7 Express, 34 Express, 39, and 42

Additional changes will be made in February 2010. Go here for more info.

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ACRS: Save the 42! Councilman Phillips Agrees, Asks Metro to Reconsider

May 10, 2009

in News,Opinion,Transportation

42bus1

From Rainier Beach neighbor Kim Tran, also board president of Asian Counseling Referral Service (ACRS) on Martin Luther King Jr. Way who wants to save Metro Bus Route 42, which travels from downtown Seattle, through the International District, including local stops in southeast Seattle on MLK Jr. Way S. and continuing on to Rainier Beach:

Metro opted to eliminate the heavily-used Bus Route 42 (serving more than 3,000 people daily) to help fund the new South Lake Union trolley. Many individuals who rely on Route 42 are low income, linguistically isolated, and rely on the bus system to access health care, social services and to commute to work.

We must maintain alternatives which complement the new light rail system.

Elders and those with limited physical mobility cannot cover the long distance between the light rail stops. Others who take multiple buses count on the direct access from the downtown hub to Rainier Valley and Rainier Beach that Route 42 provides. Riders from south King County rely on Bus Route 42 because they do not often travel to downtown Seattle, but may work along the Rainier Beach and Rainier Valley corridor.

We believe Metro route changes in and around the Rainier Valley will create further barriers and decrease access for our communities. Cutting the 42 cuts a vital link.

Last week, after receiving letters and hearing testimony from community members concerned about the proposed elimination of Route 42 in September, Metropolitan King County Councilmember Larry Phillips asked Metro Transit to develop options that retain a bus connection from the International District for those who rely on transit service to  the Rainier Valley.

“Metro Transit riders like their existing bus service, and aren’t shy about letting us know when they depend on it,” said Phillips. “Light rail will soon open for service, providing a great opportunity to revise existing Metro bus service to enhance overall transit opportunities. But within those revisions, we must ensure people continue to have access to the bus connections on which they depend.”

At a joint public hearing recently, members of the Council’s Physical Environment Committee and Budget and Fiscal Management Committee heard many riders speak in favor of retaining service along the Route 42 corridor because of its importance to low-income, veteran, disabled, non-English speaking, and elderly riders, many of whom commute between the International District and the facilities of Asian Counseling and Referral Services (ACRS), located on Martin Luther King Jr. Way. ACRS provides health and social services to 22,000 people per year, and clients and agency officials provided compelling testimony in favor of keeping in place some of the connections provided by Route 42.

The proposed elimination of Route 42 is a part of a plan for restructuring Metro service in southeast Seattle, and southwest King County in response to the arrival of Link light rail service July 18. The changes must be approved by the County Council and would take effect in September or February.

Go here to see the proposed changes in southeast Seattle.

Help Save Bus 42:

From ACRS:

Email the King County Council today and ask them to save the #42. Time is of the essence as the King County Council may vote on this issue at the end of May. Please act now! King County Council member email addresses are below:

General: council@kingcounty.gov

Council members: bob.ferguson@kingcounty.gov; larry.gossett@kingcounty.gov; kathy.lambert@kingcounty.gov; larry.phillips@kingcounty.gov; julia.patterson@kingcounty.gov; jane.hague@kingcounty.gov; pete.vonreichbauer@kingcounty.gov; dow.constantine@kingcounty.gov; reagan.dunn@kingcounty.gov

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MLK Neighbors Concerned Metro Service Changes Will Leave Them Stranded (LETTER to EDITOR)

02.05.2009 Opinion

The following comes to us from Rainier Valley neighbor Peter Schumacher: I’ve got an important favor to ask of all of you! I’d really appreciate it if you could fill out Metro’s questionnaire about the latest proposed bus service revisions in Southeast Seattle that attempt to reduce redundancies with the upcoming Link Light Rail service. [...]

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S3 to Discuss TOD & Metro Service Changes; 2/11

02.05.2009 Transportation

The community is invited to join Sustainable South Seattle (S3) for its next monthly meeting on Wed., Feb. 11, at 6 pm at Columbia Library (4721 Rainier Avenue South). There are two guests on the agenda, including a planner from Sound Transit who plans to discuss light rail service in south Seattle, and a representative [...]

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Metro Adds to Upcoming Changes Road Show; 2/4

01.29.2009 Uncategorized

King County Metro has added two additional open house events to its southeast Seattle tour soliciting feedback on upcoming service changes. “We want to get as much community input as possible on the possible changes under consideration before final recommendations are made to the King County Council this spring,” said Community Relations Planner Sarah Luthens. [...]

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Metro Releases Revisions to Proposed Plans for Upcoming Service Changes

01.13.2009 News

Remember last fall when King County Metro Transit and Sound Transit gathered ideas from the public for bus service changes in 2009 and 2010 for neighborhoods in neighborhoods that will soon be served by light rail? Well, they took all those suggestions, went back to the drawing board and have now released highlights of their [...]

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Metro Can’t Get Enough of Your Opinions on Upcoming Changes; 1+ Round of Outreach Planned

12.31.2008 News

Remember last fall when King County Metro was talking about the potential for massive changes to southeast Seattle routes in September 2009? Well, it seems that community feedback from all those meetings and questionnaires sent Metro back to the drawing board because it’s revised its earlier proposals and wants to hear from you again, on [...]

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HCBA to Discuss Bus Service Changes With Metro; 11/5

11.04.2008 Uncategorized

The community is invited to join Hillman City Business Association (HCBA) members tomorrow, Wed., Nov. 5, at 9:30 am at Kawali Grill (5300 Rainier Ave. S.) to discuss upcoming changes to Metro bus service in southeast Seattle. King County Metro representatives Sarah Luthens and Doug Johnson will present. The general meeting will also include a [...]

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MBCC to Discuss Future of #14 With Metro + Darigold’s Plan to Expand Its Parking Lot

11.01.2008 Uncategorized

Just a reminder that the Mount Baker Community Club (MBCC) will meet this Mon., 11/3, from 7 to 9 pm at Mt. Baker Community Club (2811 Mount Rainier Dr. S.). According to MBCC President Pat Murakami, there are two important items on the agenda: 1. Representatives from Metro will take input regarding changes to the [...]

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Bus Bitch: “WTF Happened to My Bus?: Bus Bitch’s Pocket Guide to the Proposed Bus Service Changes in SE Seattle”

10.23.2008 Uncategorized

[A note to “Bus Bitch” readers: Yeah, I know you haven’t heard from the Bitch in awhile (And some of you— ahem, Metro, Sound Transit, the city— are probably happy about this.). There is good reason for Bus Bitch’s recent hiatus though (mainly, football and being swept away with the election), but never fear: the [...]

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Metro Considers Cuts to Southeast Service, Including Route 7 Express & Others

10.21.2008 News

Last week we told you that some massive bus changes are on the way for Southeast Seattle and how you could get involved and make your opinion heard on this important topic. Big thanks to the Slog’s Erica C. Barnett for detailing the most major changes that Southeast residents should be aware of while Bus [...]

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