RapidRide
Under Transit Now, Metro is developing RapidRide, a bus rapid transit service. The first RapidRide project, operating in the Pacific Highway South corridor, will begin in 2010. RapidRide will provide frequent, reliable bus service that will keep people moving throughout the day along certain major corridors. New buses, upgraded passenger waiting areas, synchronized traffic signals, and real-time bus arrival signs are just some of the features that will distinguish this service in the following five corridors:
- Aurora RapidRide—Aurora Avenue N (SR-99) between Shoreline and downtown Seattle
- Ballard/Uptown RapidRide—Ballard to downtown Seattle along 15th Avenue NW and W Mercer Place
- Bellevue-Redmond RapidRide—Bellevue to Redmond on NE Eighth Street and 156th Avenue NE via Crossroads and Overlake
- Pacific Highway South RapidRide—SeaTac to Federal Way on Pacific Highway S (SR-99)
- West Seattle RapidRide—West Seattle to downtown Seattle using the downtown Seattle transit tunnel or Third Avenue.
Metro estimates the cost of implementing RapidRide at approximately $190 million, including roadway improvements, passenger facilities and amenities, and new buses. This funding will be secured through a combination of the Transit Now sales tax increase and federal and state grants.
What’s happening now
Metro’s current work on RapidRide includes:
- Working with cities to define the service routing and roadway improvements to be provided in each of the five corridors
- Taking inventory of existing transit service in those corridors, including bus stop locations and the speed and reliability of existing transit service
- Doing traffic studies in the affected areas
- Working with consultants and using the results of customer focus groups to design the passenger amenities and other features of RapidRide vehicles and facilities
- Working with community advisory committees that are advising Metro about routing, bus stop spacing, and other service-related matters
- Conducting public outreach for the Pacific Highway South, Bellevue-Redmond, and West Seattle RapidRide projects.
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Last update: January 18, 2008