King County Metro Transit’s Bus Rapid Transit System

RapidRide is Metro Transit’s new streamlined bus service that will provide frequent, all-day service in the following five corridors beginning in 2010:

• Line—Between Tukwila and Federal Way on International Boulevard/Pacific Highway South/State Route 99 (scheduled to launch summer 2010)
• Line—Between Bellevue and Redmond on Northeast Eighth Street and 156th Avenue Northeast via Crossroads and Overlake (2011)
• Line—Between West Seattle and downtown Seattle via Fauntleroy Way Southwest, California Avenue Southwest and Alaskan Way Viaduct /State Route 99 (2011)
• Line—Between Ballard, Uptown/Lower Queen Anne, and downtown Seattle along 15th Avenue Northwest (2012)
• Line—Between Shoreline and downtown Seattle via Aurora Avenue North/State Route 99 (2013).

RapidRide is an arterial bus rapid transit system, and buses will operate on shared roadways but will use transit-priority lanes, traffic-signal priority, and other roadway and intersection improvements to speed up travel. Metro has been working with local jurisdictions to add roadway improvements along the corridors.

Stop Spacing

RapidRide will have an average of half-mile stop spacing. Where there is no other service, stops may be as close as one-quarter-mile. Stations will be spaced every one to two miles. Where there is other local service on a segment of a RapidRide alignment, RapidRide may skip stops.

Passenger Amenities

RapidRide will have three levels of station and stop amenities:
  
100+ stations
30+ enhanced stops     
85+ standard stops
                
The amenities at all stops include:

• Distinctive branding
• I-Signal – passenger-activated lights to signal that someone is waiting at the stop
• Benches

Additionally, stations and enhanced stops include:

• New-style shelter with interior lighting
• Bike racks
• Trash receptacles

Real-time information signs at the stations will display the number of minutes until the arrival of the next two buses.

RapidRide Buses

• 100 new 60-foot articulated New Flyer coaches with seating for 48 passengers
• Highly visible red, black, and yellow color scheme with advanced styling
• Low floor for easy boarding
• Three doors for faster boarding
• “Pay-as-you-board” fare collection, with prepayment options at some A Line stations
• Hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system

Budget and Funding

Metro estimates the infrastructure cost of RapidRide at about $180 million, including roadway improvements, passenger facilities and amenities, and new buses. This funding is coming from a combination of the Transit

Now sales tax revenue, partnerships with cities, and support from federal and state grants. Costs include:

• BRT corridors/roadway improvements, $40.9 million
• Passenger facilities, $20.3 million
• Real-time information signs, $6.5 million
• Vehicles, $111.8 million