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Week of Feb. 11, 2008
Transit Now targets 100,000 hours by year’s end
Demand for transit service is up across King County. | In just 12 months, King County Metro Transit has made steady progress on promises made to the voters who approved the Transit Now initiative to increase bus service. And, even more is in store for 2008.By the end of the year, an estimated 100,000 hours of new bus service will be on the street since voters approved Transit Now. With the February service change that begins this week, Metro has already delivered 54,000 hours of new bus service in communities such as lower Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, First Hill, Ballard, the University District, Juanita, Kenmore, Kirkland, Bellevue, Redmond, and on South King County routes serving Renton, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Burien. Now, Metro turns its attention to the needs of growing communities in East and South King County that currently have limited bus service. By the end of the year, Metro is proposing new or revised routes serving North Bend, Snoqualmie, Issaquah Highlands, Klahanie, Carnation, Maple Valley, Black Diamond, and the Kent East Hill. Specific routes will be finalized later this year following public input.
King County Executive Ron Sims announces more Transit Now service for 2008. | This year, Metro also plans to finalize several new partnerships that will leverage Transit Now funding to pay for additional targeted transit service. Through these partnerships, cities and companies can contribute funding to help pay for enhanced bus service serving their employees and communities. Those partnerships, modeled after a program launched last fall with Children's Hospital, will be phased in over several years beginning in September 2008.In addition to these short-term service improvements, Metro continues to develop five RapidRide routes to be introduced beginning in 2010. Those RapidRide corridors will include Pacific Highway South, Bellevue-Redmond, West Seattle, Ballard and Aurora Avenue.
RapidRide buses will look different. | New routes and more frequent service are just two benefits Transit Now delivers. As more service hours are added, the initiative is giving Metro better tools to ease overcrowding on buses, especially during busy morning and afternoon commute times.With Transit Now, Metro hopes to expand its system by up to 20 percent between 2007 and 2016 – an increase that will also produce huge benefits for the environment. By making it more convenient for people to take the bus instead of driving alone, Metro will have more tools to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and global warming as it helps fight congestion.
Most Metro bus routes will operate on a Sunday schedule for the Presidents’ Day Holiday on Monday, Feb. 18. That means many weekday commute-time bus routes will not be in operation. There are some exceptions, and it is best to visit Metro Online for specific information about your route. Metro customer service and Rider Information offices will be closed on Feb. 19.
The annual Seattle Spring Home Show will be held Feb. 16-24 at the Qwest Field Events Center, and Metro is offering free weekend shuttles from Bellevue, Northgate and Renton. Metro can help you beat the crowds and save on parking with either regular transit service or the weekend shuttles to the show from three suburban park-and-ride lots. For regular service and routes, use Metro's online Trip Planner. Or, call Metro Rider Information at (206) 553-3000 for trip planning assistance. Full details about service to the show are posted on Metro Online. The special shuttles will be available Saturday-Monday, Feb. 16-18 and again on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 23-24. They travel between Qwest Field and the Northgate Transit Center, South Bellevue Park-and-Ride, and the South Renton Park-and-Ride. The free shuttles will operate from approximately 9:20 a.m. until the show closes for the day. |
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Roads Division assists tribe in South King County The King County Road Services Division recently assisted the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe with some flooding problems along roads in Southeast King County. At the tribe’s request, the Roads Division analyzed and designed a solution for flooding issues along Southeast 400th Street between State Route 164 and 180th Avenue Southeast. The project area is located on the Muckleshoot reservation and in unincorporated King County. County engineers drafted plans to rebuild and regrade the existing ditch on the north side of the roadway, enclose 700 feet of the ditch, and replace four culverts that cross driveways. The county’s Road Maintenance section completed the projects, which the tribe paid for, in January. And during recent storms, it appears that the area is now draining properly.
King County International Airport at Boeing Field was the center of the political caucus universe last week, as three major presidential candidates flew through the airport in less than 24 hours. First came Sen. Hillary Clinton on Thursday night, with Sen. Barack Obama only 10 minutes behind her. They were followed by Sen. John McCain on Friday afternoon. All three candidates parked their private planes outside the KCIA terminal, and were whisked away by motorcade. There were no public gatherings at the airport. Even so, airport staff were kept hopping coordinating the extra security and logistics for three big planes and motorcade access on such short notice. But, KCIA staff are used to winning that race. "One of the things we pride ourselves on is being ready at a moment's notice for any kind of an executive or celebrity visit," said Airport Director Robert Burke. | 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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