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.
| Corridor | Route Length (Miles) | Stations & Stops | New-style Buses Per Line | Roadway Improvement Elements |
| A Line | 11 | 50 | 16 | HOV Lanes |
| B Line | 10 | 45 | 18 | Dedicated bus & turn lane; Bus bulbs; Turning radius improvements |
| C Line | 12 | 30 | 15 | Dedicated bus & turn lane; Bus bulbs |
| D Line | 8 | 50 | 28 | Dedicated bus & turn lane; Bus bulbs |
| E Line | 13 | 55 | 23 | Dedicated bus & turn lane |
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
