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What's
new this week in transportation
Transit service to receive boost in September
The Bellevue
Transit Center is among Eastside sites that will see increases in service
in September, pending approval by the King County Council. The Transit Center will also undergo reconstruction this fall to
accommodate new service.
Update: The County Council approved the service change ordinance on June 11.
Legislation before the King County
Council would allow Metro Transit to regain service levels lost because of passage of Initiative 695--a move that will mean more frequent, reliable service in many parts of the county.
While approval of the council ordinance would reverse deep reductions experienced in recent years, the change nevertheless represents the second largest service improvement in the agency's 28-year history. The proposed investment of 124,000 hours of new service, starting in September, is made possible by voter approval of the Yes on Metro campaign and council approval of a fare increase.
The improvements would enable Metro to complete implementation of its Six-Year
Transit Plan, which was interrupted after passage of I-695. The
proposed changes, rescheduled for council action from June 4 to June 11, would improve operating efficiencies, increase frequency, reduce travel time and make the system easier to use.
East King County
The Eastside would see the most change in September as Metro increases
its transit service at the same time Sound Transit adds regional
express service along the Interstate 90 corridor from Issaquah to Seattle. The new Metro service would
- provide Eastside residents with more frequent, faster connections
within and between Eastside communities.
- offer more direct service to the Overlake employment area.
- run buses more often and extend hours of operation for many routes.
- streamline State Route 520 service to reduce the number of empty
seats on buses crossing Lake Washington.
- reorganize I-90 service in response to proposed new ST Express routes connecting Issaquah to Seattle and to Northgate.
- revise or discontinue routes with lower ridership and use savings to
fund other improvements on the Eastside.
- take riders to more places in downtown Bellevue.
Seattle/North King County
Many September service changes respond to requests for better access in
Seattle and north King County. Proposed changes would
- re-extend Route 74 from the University District
to Seattle Center via Fremont.
- expand the hours of operation of
Route 37 shuttle service in West Seattle.
- reroute Route 302 by Northwest Hospital, Four
Freedoms and North Seattle Community College to replace Route 318.
- provide more trips or extended hours to routes 15, 37 Express, 39, 56, 314, 315 and 358.
- put additional trips on routes 135 and 312 to reduce overcrowding.
- extend Route 46 to Seaview Avenue Northwest (Shilshole).
South King County
South King County service changes would improve neighborhood service
in the Renton Highlands and Kennydale areas. Proposed changes would
- improve
evening service.
- provide better service to developments along
Union Avenue Northeast and Duvall Avenue Northeast.
- modify Dial-A-Ride routes 908 and 909.
- respond to requests from Kennydale
residents to limit the use of large buses in their neighborhood.
Metro adjusts its service level and timetables three times a year--in
February, June and September. Adding or changing a route involves
months of advance planning and public notice. Once needs are
identified, new routes or route changes are evaluated for how they might
affect ridership on other nearby or connecting routes. Proposals for significant changes are
taken to the community six months in advance for public comment.
After new routes are plotted, trial runs must be made to make sure buses can
make all the turns and that good spots can be found for bus layovers at
the end of routes. The routes must then be presented to bus drivers, who choose the routes they want to drive in order of driver seniority.
Related links
""Sims' bus service increases adopted," County Executive news release, June 11, 2001
"Eastside
reaps Metro improvements," South County Journal, May 31, 2001
"Package Adds Hours, Increases Service to East Side, Integrates Routes,"
Council news release, May 31, 2001
"Metro
Transit Service Change Update," Council news release, May 30,
2001
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