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Week of Oct. 8, 2007
Metro Transit looking to break ridership record in 2007 The latest ridership numbers for King County Metro Transit shows demand for bus service in King County continues to grow at a very strong rate - and it's barely into October, which historically has been Metro's busiest month.
"In 2007, we've been able to offer more service and more choices," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "It proves that people are willing to green-up their commute and daily travel, if you give them the right options." Sims pointed out that in addition to the monthly ridership gains, the newly reopened transit tunnel in downtown Seattle is busy again. New service delivered through the Transit Now initiative approved by voters last year has been immediately popular with bus riders. "People can't wait for us to launch 'RapidRide,' our version of Bus Rapid Transit," he said. Sims said all indications point to Metro surpassing last year's record-breaking ridership numbers. In 2006, Metro had more than 103 million boardings for the entire year, with an average daily boarding of 341,000 riders on a typical weekday.  So far in 2007, each month's ridership has been significantly higher than the same month in 2006. In some months, there has been an increase as high as 32,000 more daily boardings. Overall, Metro's 2007 ridership is running almost 7 percent higher than 2006.
That puts Metro on the top of the pack nationwide. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announced national ridership figures last week for the first six months of the year. Metro was mentioned as having the biggest bus ridership increase among the 26 largest agencies in the nation. In addition to exceeding ridership growth trends for the large agencies, Metro's trend far exceeds the national rate of growth in bus transit systems. Nationally, APTA reported Americans took 78 million more trips on public transportation during the first six months of 2007, compared to the same time in 2006. Metro's ridership has been on a growth trend for almost three years. Comparing the 2007 figures to date with the same period in 2004 shows average weekday ridership up 14.7 percent throughout Metro's system. High gas prices have been a factor in the ridership growth, but it's also tied to the region's high employment rate. Metro Transit General Manager Kevin Desmond said more jobs, more traffic and higher gas prices are driving people to seek out alternatives. "With more jobs, more traffic, and higher gas prices, more and more people are seeking alternatives," said Desmond. "In addition to the bus ridership gains, we have a record number of vanpools and vanshares on the road, another indication of strong demand."
National report says congestion costs time and money Sitting in traffic continues to cost Puget Sound residents time and money, but it could be worse without recent investments in our transportation network. A report released recently by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) shows that public transportation and congestion management tools continue to keep our area moving better than other large metropolitan regions. Here are some of the findings: • Congestion in Seattle is bad, but about average. We are almost exactly at the average per capita values for extra fuel consumed, delay, and added travel time among the 85 largest urban areas in the U.S.; • Congestion has been kept somewhat in check because of our investments in transit and roadway operational efficiencies. We are 14th largest area in population but have the 8th best fuel/drive time savings from transit and 11th best savings from roadway operational treatments; • Congestion cost motorists in this region $1.4 billion in 2005 in extra fuel and lost time. That number would have been $225 million higher, if we didn't have the transit programs we have; and $133 million higher if we didn't have HOV lanes, ramp metering, signal synchronization and fast incident response. • Congestion got worse in 2005 as the economy improved. The average motorist lost 45 hours to delay in 2005 compared to 42 hours in 2004.
Fall auto auction set for Saturday, Oct. 13 
King County's semi-annual vehicle auction featuring dozens of cars, trucks, vans, and a limited amount of heavy equipment will be held Saturday, Oct. 13 at 9 a.m. in Renton. The popular auction hosted by the Department of Transportation's Fleet Administration Division will be held at 3005 NE Fourth Street, near the Renton Technical College. A preview will be held Thursday and Friday, Oct. 11 and 12, at the auction site from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Saturday starting at 8 a.m. This fall's auction features a large number of vehicles, particularly retired police patrol cars. A more complete preliminary list of auction items is
available online, along with driving directions and auction terms. For more information, visit the auction website. |
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The Seattle Seahawks have a home game Sunday evening against the New Orleans Saints at 5 p.m. at Qwest Field. Why not use Metro Transit to beat the traffic? There will be special shuttles to Qwest Field from the following park-and-ride lots: Northgate, South Kirkland, Eastgate, Kent/James Street, and Federal Way/South 320th Street. The fare is $3 each way. Or, check the Trip Planner to see if there is regular bus service to the stadium from your starting location. See Metro Online for details on service to Sunday's game.
Metro is offering both regular and special transit service to the Seattle Fall Home Show this weekend at the Qwest Field Events Center. The show opens on Thursday, Oct. 11 and runs through Sunday, Oct. 14. Show-goers should use regular Metro service to get to the center on Thursday and
Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 13 and 14, Metro offers regular weekend service and free non-stop shuttles every half hour to and from the Northgate, South
Bellevue and South Renton park-and ride lots. Visit Metro Online for all the details about service to the event. | Subscribe to DOT DashSign-up to receive an e-mail text version of "Transportation Today," along with other significant DOT news by sending an e-mail to us with subscribe King County DOT Dash in the subject line.
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