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Week of Jan. 12, 2009
Proposed bus service changes ready for review, comment
The proposal includes shortening Route 14 to end at the Mount Baker Link light rail station. |
Last fall, King County Metro Transit and Sound Transit gathered ideas from the public for bus service changes in 2009 and 2010 for neighborhoods in Southeast Seattle, Skyway/West Hill, portions of West Seattle, and bus routes serving areas in Tukwila, SeaTac, Burien, Kent, Federal Way, and the Tukwila Sounder station. Those suggestions have now been shaped into proposed plans for specific routes and service changes, and Metro and Sound Transit are again inviting the public to comment. All comments are due by Feb. 6.
Link light rail will begin serving many of these neighborhoods in the summer of 2009, and Metro is planning for RapidRide bus rapid transit service along Pacific Highway South in 2010. In order to maximize bus service and avoid duplicating the new express lines, Metro and Sound Transit are considering changes to some bus routes in these areas.
Highlights of the proposals now under review include:
- Routes 7 and 34 – Decrease some of the express service during peak periods that duplicate Link service, spread those express trips out more evenly, and increase evening service on the Route 7;
- Route 9 Express - Add more peak and midday service and extend the route to the Rainier Beach Link Station;
- Route 36 - Extend all trips to end at Othello Link station;
- Routes 42 and 42 Express - Replace these routes with Link service, and extend Route 8 along Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Route 8 will have more frequent peak-period service.
- Route 48 - Shorten to end at Mount Baker Link Station with more weekday evening bus service for the area.
- New Route 50 - Provide east-west service between southeast Seattle and West Seattle via the SODO district;
- Route 107 - Modify routing and improve frequency of service;
- Route 126, Route 140 & new Route 156 – Eliminate Route 126 and replace it with more service on Route 140 and the new route 156 between Tukwila/Southcenter and SeaTac via McMicken Heights;
- Route 154 – Revise to operate between Tukwila Sounder train station and Federal Center South.
- Tukwila International Boulevard Link Station & SeaTac/Airport Link Station – Revise routes 128, 129 (new), 140, 170, and 180 to provide more connections between local communities and these two transit stations. This includes replacing Route 170 with new Route 129 in north SeaTac;
- Pacific Highway South – Eliminate routes 174 and 191, and replace between Federal Way and Tukwila International Boulevard Link Station with service from the RapidRide A Line and the new Route 124, connecting Seattle and Tukwila; and
- Interstate 5 South – Revise service on routes 179, 194, ST Express 574 and ST Express 577 to reduce duplication between the bus routes and to provide connections to Link light rail.
Metro is considering discontinuing Route 174 to avoid duplicating RapidRide service that begins in 2010. | The goal of all these changes is to better connect neighborhoods with light rail stations and RapidRide stops by updating bus service in these neighborhoods and avoiding duplication of service.
The overall list of routes that may be affected by all of the proposals are: 7, 7 Express, 8, 9 Express, 14, 32, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 42, 42 Express, 48, 60, 106, 107, 126, 128, 140, 154, 170, 174, 179, 180, 191, 194, ST Express 574, ST Express 577.
Metro and Sound Transit will be hosting several open houses and information tables at locations in Southeast Seattle and Southwest King County between Jan. 17 and Feb. 4. You are invited to stop by to learn more about the proposed changes and talk with Metro staff about bus routes and service. Sound Transit staff will also be present to talk about Link service, Link fares, and related matters.
Metro will review all the comments for its service, and then develop recommendations for King County Executive Ron Sims to consider. Sims is expected to develop a proposal this spring for the Metropolitan King County Council to review. Link light rail is scheduled to begin service in July. Any approved bus service changes would be phased in, and not begin any sooner than September 2009.
If you can’t attend a meeting, there are several ways to provide feedback by Friday, Feb. 6. Check Metro Online for more information.
Repairs on the Woodinville-Duvall Road began as soon as flood waters receded.
| King County Road Services Division crews continue the monumental task of repairing and cleaning up county roads as the floodwaters from last week recede. While there are still roads closed, crews are making progress. The busy Woodinville-Duvall road was reopened Saturday night after completion of major repairs. Northeast 124th Street between West Snoqualmie Valley Road Northeast and State Route 203 was reopened Sunday afternoon following removal of massive debris and completion of a bridge inspection. Fortunately, the road was not damaged during the flood.
Road crews are continuing to work on numerous other road problems, including: - Removing large chunks of asphalt and logs off of Carnation Farm Road. The damage to this road is significant – an estimated 2,000-foot section of road surface has been damaged. It will likely be a few more days for repairs to be complete.
- Work on 415th Way in the Uplands area near North Bend includes repairing deep ruts, washouts and clearing debris. That work will likely continue for a couple more days. Repairs to gas lines will also need to be made.
- Debris removal and repairs to Moon Valley Road also in the North Bend area. The damage to this road is significant and is cutting off neighborhood access. No estimate as to when the clean up will be complete.
- Continued repairs on David Powell Road in the Fall City area.
- Support to the Department of Natural Resources and Parks in making emergency repairs to damaged levees along the Tolt River; and
- Clearing slides and making temporary repairs to allow access for residents along the Cedar River in South King County. Some examples impacted or damaged roads in this area include Byers Road and 216th Ave. SE off of State Route 169.
Crews have also been contending with several smaller washouts and landslides all across the county. They also continue to monitor roads that are already closed so they can be reopened as quickly as possible if no damage has occurred. |
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Metro Transit will be operating with a reduced weekday schedule on Monday, Jan. 19 for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. That means some commuter-oriented routes will be canceled that day, and there will be individual trips canceled on other routes. Many routes will have no changes. This is the same reduced schedule that was used recently on Nov. 28, Dec. 26, Dec. 29, Dec. 30, Dec. 31, and Jan. 2. It features more bus service than on weekends, but somewhat less than normal weekdays with some route or individual trip cancellations. This schedule will be used on at least 10 days in 2009. Please refer to the regular weekday schedule for your bus route – either online or in the paper timetables – and look for the trips marked with an "H" or read the Special Service information.
All King County residents and employees are invited to attend the 22nd Annual King County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, "Breaking Barriers" to celebrate the memory of Dr. King and recognize the achievements of individuals in this region whose life and work were shining examples of Dr. King’s goal of being judged by the “content of their character.” This free event will be held on Thursday, Jan. 15 at the Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine Street in downtown Seattle, from noon – 1 p.m. Come enjoy the music of the Paul Rucker Quartet, and be inspired by the King County Employee Humanitarian Awards and the Dr. King, Jr. Student Essay Award ceremony. |
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