News from King County Department of Transportation
Release date:  Jan. 4, 2008

Metro Transit looking for feedback on Eastside RapidRide plans

King County Metro Transit is hosting several gatherings to solicit community ideas as it works in partnership with the cities of Bellevue and Redmond to design new RapidRide bus service connecting the two downtown cores.

The new streamlined bus service is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2011, and is funded by the Transit Now initiative approved by voters in 2006. The Eastside RapidRide line would operate between the Bellevue Transit Center and the new downtown Redmond Transit Center via the Crossroads and Overlake neighborhoods. It would travel along major arterials, including Northeast Eighth Street, 156th Avenue Northeast, Northeast 40th Street, and 148th Avenue Northeast. It is one of five planned RapidRide lines in King County.

Metro’s initial plans call for buses to arrive on the route every 10 minutes during the busiest morning and evening travel hours, and every 15 minutes during midday and evening hours. The new-style buses will have low floors and three doors to speed up boarding, with limited stops to make RapidRide trips faster.

The upcoming open houses and information tables for the Eastside service will be:

Tuesday, Jan. 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Bellevue City Hall, 450 110th Ave. NE, Bellevue

Thursday, Jan. 17, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Redmond City Hall, 15670 NE 85th St., Redmond

Saturday, Jan. 19, Noon-2 p.m.
Crossroads Mall, 15600 NE Eighth St., Bellevue

Wednesday, Jan. 23, 4-6 p.m.
Bellevue Transit Center, 108th Avenue NE & NE Sixth, Bellevue

At the meetings, people can get more information about RapidRide plans and talk to Metro staff. Comments will be collected at the meetings, or by one of the following methods:

• Fill out an online questionnaire;
• Send by email;
• Mail to: King County Department of Transportation, Community Relations, KSC-TR-0824, 201 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104.
• Or, call to record your comments on a phone message line at (206) 684-1146.

All comments are due by Friday, Feb. 1. More information about the Eastside RapidRide plans is available online.