About RapidRide

 On the A Line, for example, buses arrive every 10 minutes during the busiest morning and evening travel hours. At other times between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m., they come every 15 minutes. Between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., service is similar to the previous regular service along the same corridor.

RapidRide buses have low floors and three doors, so people can get on and off quickly. A new proof-of-payment system allows riders with ORCA cards to pay at the station and board at any door. The inside of the buses has been designed to make it easier for passengers to move to seats and exits.

 RapidRide stations are being placed where most riders gather, spaced at easy walking distance along the corridor. Metro planners work with the communities along the lines to choose the best places for stations.

Roadway improvements such as HOV lanes, bus bulbs, and queue jumps will keep buses moving, even in heavy traffic. As RapidRide buses approach intersections with traffic lights, they’ll send signals requesting that green lights stay green longer or red lights switch to green faster.

RapidRide stations with shelters are lighted so people can see around themselves and be seen. With buses arriving more often, riders spend less time waiting at the bus stations.

Metro is providing increased security on RapidRide buses and at the bus stations for fare enforcement and other monitoring.

RapidRide shelters and signs look different from those at regular Metro bus stops. They have a special RapidRide style and color scheme, and new features, too. The stations have ORCA fare card readers so riders with ORCA cards can pay before boarding. They also include electronic signs that will tell how many minutes it will be before the next bus will arrive.

Most stations include shelters. Waiting areas are well-lit, increasing security. Stop-request signals, which people can use to alert the bus driver when they are waiting for a bus at night, are provided at all stations.

RapidRide buses are easy to recognize with their unique design and red, yellow, and black color scheme. Designed especially for RapidRide service, they are high capacity, low-emission hybrid-powered vehicles with three doors for easy, fast boarding.

Voters launched RapidRide when they passed the Transit Now initiative in November 2006. Some Transit Now funding for RapidRide comes from the sales tax in King County, and some comes from special partnerships with cities, employers, and other organizations that will benefit from RapidRide service. Learn more about Transit Now.

More recently, Metro has been successful in obtaining state and federal grants to help fund the program.

In Seattle, the Bridging the Gap initiative, passed in November 2006, will help fund traffic signal and roadway improvements. These modifications are critical to improving transit travel times and schedule reliability.