100 days and counting: Metro Transit’s first RapidRide line launches Oct. 2

Transition to bus rapid transit in full swing in South King County

With 100 days to go, King County Metro Transit is in the final stages of transforming Pacific Highway South/International Boulevard into the new RapidRide A Line – King County’s first bus rapid transit line. The conversion will signal a dramatic change in future bus service along the busy South King County corridor.

“Rapid Ride will live up to its name with fast-boarding buses that arrive every 10 to 15 minutes, and more green lights and other improvements to keep buses moving – cutting travel times by nearly one-third,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. "At the new bus stops and stations, there will be real-time arrival information, plus more lighting, benches, and bike racks. October 2nd can't come soon enough.”

Constantine said the combination of improvements is expected to cut travel times and attract more bus riders along the busy 11-mile A Line serving the cities of Federal Way, Des Moines, Kent, SeaTac, and Tukwila.

Installation of RapidRide features is already underway along the transit line, currently served by the Metro’s Route 174. Crews are removing existing shelters and replacing them with new shelters and stations.

In addition to bike racks and benches, RapidRide customers will find larger well-lit shelters that offer more protection from the wind and rain.  Many shelters will also come equipped with stop-request signals so riders can alert bus drivers when they are waiting for a bus at night.

Crews are also completing the installation of fiber optic cable for a new communications network. The corridor will become a Metro “IntelliDrivesm” network, a fiber optic wireless system that gives buses more green lights at selected intersections to reduce travel times. The network will also operate 24 real-time bus information signs at stations.

Once launched, the A Line will offer frequent 10 to 15-minute service the majority of the day, eliminating the need for schedules. The added frequency will account for nearly 34,000 additional hours of service each year. By taking steps such as consolidating bus stops, expediting fare collection and having transit priority at intersections, RapidRide travel times are expected to be as much as 30 percent faster than current trips.

That frequent service is also expected to draw more than 2.5 million riders annually to the A Line within the next five years - a 50 percent increase over current ridership.

Customers riding the A Line will also be introduced to new 60-foot hybrid-electric buses. The red, black and yellow European-style coaches are equipped with three doors for easy boarding, have security cameras and will offer convenient WIFI service for customers who like to surf the web while they ride.

In the remaining weeks leading up to the launch of the A line, Metro customers and those who live and work near the new RapidRide line, will have several opportunities to check out a new RapidRide bus and talk with Metro staff about upcoming service improvements. To find out when RapidRide is coming to your community, visit the RapidRide website.