Translate
Metro service changes reflect arrival of RapidRide in east King County
Summary
Council adopts fall service package that reshapes Eastside transit, increases service in West Seattle-Alaskan Way Viaduct corridor
Story
The Metropolitan King County Council today paved the way for a plan that will provide the ease of travel in east King County that has been moving bus passengers between Tukwila and Federal Way for the last year. The Council gave its unanimous approval to transit service improvements for 2011-2012 that include the implementation of Eastside “RapidRide” service in Bellevue and Redmond.
“Starting in October, transit riders on the Eastside will have better connections between major Eastside destinations with the arrival of RapidRide B Line and the service reorganizations that complement RapidRide,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, Chair of the Transportation, Economy, and Environment Committee. “We’ve kept our commitment toward RapidRide and increased transit service on SR520 even as the economy has challenged Metro’s ability to deliver some of the service enhancements expected in voter-approved Transit Now.”
“Rapid Ride B Line will provide better linkages to major business centers in Bellevue and Redmond,” said Council Vice Chair Jane Hague. “The short wait times will also make riding the bus a more attractive option for Eastside commuters.”
“In a challenging economy, the RapidRide service will help Eastside families with affordable transportation options,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert of Redmond. “This expansion of King County transit services on the Eastside benefits the business and residential hubs that drive our economy. RapidRide helps reduce traffic congestion, and it also will make using transit more convenient.”
Rapid Ride is part of the “Transit Now” initiative adopted by voters in 2006. The “B Line” is the second of six RapidRide routes and is scheduled to begin in October. Arriving every 10 minutes during the busiest morning and evening travel hours, the specially-designed buses will have low floors and three doors, so people can get on and off quickly. A new fare payment system will allow riders with passes to pay as they enter any door. The “A Line,” which travels between Tukwila and Federal Way, was launched last fall.
The “B Line” will operate from the Bellevue Transit Center to Redmond Transit Center via N.E. 8th Street, Crossroads, and Overlake Transit Center. In conjunction with the introduction of the RapidRide service, additional service improvements will provide more frequent all-day connections to Eastside destinations such as Totem Lake, Kirkland, Bellevue, Redmond, Crossroads and Eastgate.
Along with Eastside RapidRide, the adopted legislation also approved an increase of service hours and frequency of Metro’s Route 54, which travels between West Seattle and Downtown Seattle. 19,000 service hours have been added to this route, which serves Westwood, Fauntleroy, the Alaska Junction and Downtown Seattle, improving off-peak frequency in the corridor in anticipation of the arrival of the RapidRide “C Line,” scheduled to begin operation in the fall of 2012.
“As viaduct construction moves forward, West Seattle residents have seen their commutes impacted,” said Councilmember Joe McDermott, whose district includes West Seattle. “These additional 19,000 service hours will make getting around West Seattle and into downtown easier during both rush hour and throughout the entire day.”
| Route | Location | Hours | Description |
| RapidRide B | Bellevue Transit Center to Redmond Transit Center via N.E. 8th Street, Crossroads, and Overlake Transit Center | 55,000 | Implements second Transit Now bus rapid transit service corridor. |
| 211 | Issaquah, Eastgate, South Bellevue, Mercer Island, Union Station, First Hill (Transit Now Partnership Route) | 2,300 | Extend route so all trips begin and end at Issaquah Highlands Park-and-Ride; add two morning and two afternoon trips so all Seattle/Tacoma Sounder trips will have connecting trips to First Hill. |
| 212, 225, 229 | Eastgate Park-and-Ride, Downtown Seattle | 212 = +3,000 225/229 -5,500 |
Discontinue Routes 225 and 229; trips on Route 212 to provide replacement service to and from Downtown Seattle. Routes 221, 226 (formerly 233), 245 replace portions of 225 and 229 north and east of Eastgate Park-and-Ride |
| 221 | Redmond, Redmond Town Center, Overlake, Crossroads, Southeast Bellevue, Bellevue College, Eastgate | 0 | Route changes delete service to Overlake Transit Center, 148th Avenue N.E./S.E. between N.E. 8th Street and Bellevue College vicinity; new service on N.E. 8th St. between 148th Avenue and 164th Avenue and on 164th Avenue in Southeast Bellevue |
| 222, 241 | Eastgate, Southeast Newport Way, Factoria, Downtown Bellevue | 222 -15,600 241 +16,000 |
Delete Route 222; replace with Routes 241 and 249. New Route 241 is same as deleted Route 222 between Eastgate Park-and-Ride and South Bellevue Park-and-Ride; then serves Bellevue Transit Center via 108th Avenue S.E. The Route 249 serves Enatai and Beaux Arts on a route that includes part, but not all, of the deleted Route 222 segment in this area |
| 226, 233 | Bellevue, Bel-Red Road, east Bellevue, Crossroads, Bellevue College, Eastgate, Overlake, Redmond | 226 +24,000 233 -11,100 |
Delete Route 233; replace part of Route 230 east of 156th Avenue N.E. with new Route 226; new Route 226 serves Bel-Red Road from Bellevue Transit Center to 156th Avenue N.E., plus service through southeast Bellevue to Eastgate Park-and-Ride |
| 230, 235 | Kingsgate Park-and-Ride, Totem Lake, Kirkland, Bellevue, Crossroads, east Bellevue, Overlake, Redmond | 230 |
Delete Route 230; portion east of Bellevue Transit Center replaced by Rapid Ride Line B and Route 226; Kingsgate-Bellevue Transit Center service replaced by new Route 235 and Route 249 |
| 234 | Kenmore, Juanita, Kirkland, Bellevue | 0 | Revise route from Kirkland Transit Center to South Kirkland Park-and-Ride to follow State Street and Lake Washington Boulevard N.E., eliminating service on 6th Street and 108th Avenue N.E.; new route matches Route 235 and provides more frequent connections between Kirkland Transit Center and Bellevue Transit Center |
| 238 | Downtown Kirkland | 0 | Revise route to serve State Street and N.E. 68th Street between the Kirkland Transit Center and 108th Avenue N.E. instead of 6th Street S. and Kirkland Way; replacement service would be available on routes 245 and 255 |
| 240 | Bellevue | 0 | Revise Route 240 between Factoria and the Bellevue Transit Center to serve the Eastgate Park-and-Ride, Richards Road and 112th Avenue SE. Replacement service between Factoria and the Bellevue Transit Center via South Bellevue Park-and-Ride and 108th Avenue SE next to Surrey Downs on Route 241; eliminate portion of route from Bellevue Transit Center to Clyde Hill’ for this portion of route, replacement service on Route 246 |
| 245 | Kirkland, Houghton, Overlake, Crossroads, Bellevue College, Eastgate, Factoria | 4,000 | Revise route to eliminate service on 148th Avenue S.E., Lake Hills Boulevard, 156th Avenue S.E.; replacement service on Route 226; instead serve 145th Place S.E., 140th Avenue S.E., and Main Street; improve frequency to every 15 minutes between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. |
| 246 | Eastgate, Somerset, Factoria, Woodridge, Bellevue, Clyde Hill | 0 | Revise route to connect Factoria and Woodridge via Factoria Boulevard S.E. and Richards Road, and terminate at the Eastgate Park-and-Ride. Revise north end of route to connect the Bellevue Transit Center with Clyde Hill via N.E. 8th Street and 100th Avenue N.E. |
| 247 | Overlake, Crossroads, Eastgate, Factoria, Renton, Kent | -2,800 | Delete Route 247; replacement service available on Routes 226 and 240 connecting with Sound Transit 560 and 566 at Bellevue Transit Center; vanpools may be an alternative for some riders |
| 249 | Overlake, Bel-Red, South Kirkland, Bellevue, Enatai, Beaux Arts | 11,100 | Revise route in Overlake area, delete 116th Avenue N.E./N.E. 10th Street segment in Bellevue, replace with service on Bellevue Way N.E. between South Kirkland Park-and-Ride, and the Bellevue Transit Center; add service between the Bellevue Transit Center and the South Bellevue Park-and-Ride on 108th Avenue N.E., Main Street, Bellevue Way S.E., 104th Avenue S.E., S.E. 34th Street, and 112th Avenue S.E. |
| 250 | Redmond, Overlake, SR 520 | 0 | Revise route to start at Overlake Transit Center, run on N.E. 40th Street, West Lake Sammamish Parkway, N.E. 24th Street to Overlake Park-and-Ride, revision in Overlake area to serve 148th Avenue N.E. between N.E. 36th Street and SR-520 |
| 253 | Redmond, Overlake, Crossroads, Bellevue | -26,500 | Delete Route 253; replacement service RapidRide Line B, Routes 221, 248, 249, 269, Sound Transit 545 |
| 255, 256 | Totem Lake, Juanita, Kirkland, Overlake, Bel-Red, South Kirkland, SR-520, Downtown Seattle | 255 +6,200 256 -3,300 |
Delete Route 256; replacement service on Route 255 with South Kirkland Park-and-Ride connections with Route 249 (or routes 234 and 235 as far east as 116th Avenue N.E.); add Route 255 service to include 10-minute frequency during morning and afternoon peaks, 30-minute frequency on weekday evenings (up from 60 minutes) |
| 261 | Overlake, Bellevue, Clyde Hill, Medina, downtown Seattle | -4,200 | Delete Route 261; replacement service on Rapid Ride Line B, Sound Transit 550, Route 271 |
| 265 | Redmond, Overlake, Old Redmond Road, 148th Avenue N.E., Rose Hill, SR-520 | 0 | Revise easternmost part of route to delete service east of 148th Avenue N.E. via Old Redmond Road [replacement service on RapidRide Line B, Route 221, Sound Transit 545]; add new segment between N.E. 70th and Overlake Transit Center via 148th Avenue N.E. and N.E. 40th Street |
| 266 | Redmond, Overlake, SR-520 | -4,800 | Delete Route 266; replacement service on Rapid Ride Line B, Routes 221, 250, 265, 268, Sound Transit 545 |
| 271 | Issaquah to University District via Eastgate Park-and-Ride, Bellevue College, Bellevue Transit Center | 7,500 | For service in the part of the route between Eastgate Park-and-Ride and the University District, add three westbound trips in the morning peak, three eastbound trips in the afternoon peak, and improve midday frequency to 15 minute service |
| 272 | Eastgate, southeast Bellevue, N.E. 8th Street, University District | -5,600 | Delete Route 272, serving the University District, SR 520, N.E. 8th Street in Bellevue, 164th Avenue N.E., and S.E. Lake Hills Boulevard, 148th Avenue S.E., Eastgate Park-and-Ride, and part of the Eastgate neighborhood south of I-90. Replacement service is available on Routes 221, 226, 271, RapidRide Line B, and Sound Transit 556; Routes 271, 277, 542, and 556 would connect at Evergreen Point freeway station |
| 303 | Shoreline, Northgate, First Hill (Transit Now Partnership Program) | 2,000 | Add two morning and three afternoon trips in the peak direction |
| 309 | Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Lake City, North Seattle, South Lake Union, First Hill (Transit Now Partnership Program) | 1,200 | Add two morning trips and one afternoon trip in the peak direction |
| 926 | Eastgate, southeast Bellevue, Crossroads | -5,100 | Delete Route 926; replace by revised Route 221 |
| 54 | Westwood, Fauntleroy, Alaska Junction, Downtown Seattle | 19,000 | Improve off-peak frequency in Rapid Ride C corridor before implementation of Line C in Fall 2012; adds 15-minute frequency 9:00 am-3:00 pm weekdays and Saturdays until 7:00 pm |