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Week of Mar. 10, 2008
Popular Hyde Shuttle ready to expand
Starting next week, transportation services for seniors and people with disabilities will expand in a broader area of low and middle-income Seattle neighborhoods thanks to King County, Senior Services, and the legacy of one woman who wanted to make a difference for her neighbors.In 2003, King County Metro Transit and Senior Services began the Hyde Shuttle for people living in Beacon Hill and Southeast Seattle. Originally a single-van service, it was partially funded with a bequest from the estate of Lillian Hyde – a longtime local resident who wanted to give back to Metro's accessible services program. The shuttle provides free door-to-door service within the specific service area. Most of the current Hyde Shuttle passengers use the service to travel to medical appointments, shopping, and activities at local senior and community centers. On Monday, March 17, the Hyde Shuttle will be expanded to three vans and extended to all Seattle neighborhoods east of Interstate 5 and south of State Route 520.
Lillian Hyde | "We want to build on Lillian Hyde's legacy by removing transportation barriers for seniors and people with disabilities living in these communities," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "The shuttle service will help them live healthier and fuller lives by increasing their access to the services and opportunities that keep them physically and mentally active."The Hyde Shuttle is a part of King County’s Community Access Transportation (CAT) Program, which forms partnerships with agencies to serve seniors and people with disabilities. Metro provides vehicles and operating funds to assist the community agencies in setting up their own transportation program. King County established the Community Access Transportation Program to provide services beyond the accessible regular bus service and paratransit service required by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). It is intended to provide service that is more flexible and responsive to unique transportation needs. Currently, there are about 55 CAT vans in operation. Funding for the expansion of the Hyde Shuttle is coming from grants provided by Senior Services and Metro’s Transit Now expansion plan approved by voters in 2006. By the end of 2008, Metro hopes to have a fourth van operating on the shuttle. Anyone interested in using the Hyde Shuttle should call (206) 727-6262 for information. All trips are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, and can be booked up to 30 days in advance. All the vans are lift equipped to accommodate wheelchairs, scooters and other mobility aids. The shuttle operates Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
North Base posts Metro’s best safety record Congratulations to Metro’s North Base employees for posting the best collision-reduction record for 2007. North Base achieved a 25.5 percent reduction. North Base has won the Base Safety Contest on four previous occasions: 1993, 1995, 1999 and 2002. The annual transit safety award evaluates any collision - no matter how minor - between buses and fixed objects and other vehicles.
Buses make way for St. Patrick’s Day Parade Seattle’s annual parade to honor Ireland’s patron will cause a few hours of rerouting for some buses on Saturday, March 15, in downtown Seattle. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade travels along Fourth Avenue north from Jefferson Street to the Westlake Center. Buses that normally travel on Fourth Avenue could be rerouted from approximately 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festivities may also affect the electric trolley buses on Pine Street during this time. Information about the reroutes will be posted later this week on Metro Online. |
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KCDOT employees shake it up during disaster drill Staff from all divisions and work groups at the King County Department of Transportation (KCDOT) participated in the regional Sound Shake ’08 earthquake drill last week. On March 5, KCDOT employees held drills and training sessions at all of the department’s worksites. KCDOT was also well represented at the large-scale drill at the Regional Communications and Emergency Coordination Center in Renton. Participants at that drill worked through a scenario that involved responding to a large earthquake centered on the Eastside, with significant damage to the urban Seattle area. The exercise involved serious impacts to the region's transportation and communications systems. As the scenario played out, staff developed plans to deal with extended power outages, utility disruptions, and impacts to the health care system. | 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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