Summary

Transit riders in South King County can expect more and faster transit service starting this fall with the County Council approval today of legislation establishing the first of six RapidRide transit lines. King County Executive Dow Constantine applauded the vote.

Story

Transit riders in South King County can expect more and faster transit service starting this fall with the County Council approval today of legislation establishing the first of six RapidRide transit lines. King County Executive Dow Constantine applauded the vote.

“Establishing the first Rapid Ride line from SeaTac to Des Moines and Federal Way will give South King County riders quick, frequent, all-day bus service connecting with light rail at the airport,” said Constantine. “Enhanced transit service helps to take cars off the road and lets people get where they need to go quickly and reliably”

Approval of the service change ordinance authorizes Metro to replace the current Route 174 with the new RapidRide A Line—a more frequent, streamlined bus service along Pacific Highway South/International Boulevard (State Route 99) connecting the cities of Federal Way, Des Moines, Kent, SeaTac, and Tukwila with faster, more frequent service throughout the day.

Starting Oct. 2, A Line buses will run every 10 to 15 minutes most of the day and their three-door design will allow riders to get on and off more quickly.  The new buses will be easy to recognize because of their red and yellow color scheme and sleek European design.  The new articulated coaches will also be low-emission hybrid-powered, similar to the many other environmentally-friendly buses in Metro’s fleet.

Come October, customers will discover there’s more to RapidRide than coach design and frequent service. New stations and shelters will reflect the new RapidRide brand and some stations will have ORCA fare card readers to speed boarding. Stations will also have electronic signs displaying the actual number of minutes before the next bus will arrive.

Following launch of the A Line, additional RapidRide lines will be added along five of the county’s busiest corridors through 2013.
In addition to clearing the way for the RapidRide A Line, today’s service revisions will expand or modify transit service in Auburn, Federal Way, Issaquah and Kent.